Growing up I associated the word "gratin" with a dish smothered in so much cheese and creamy goo that the vegetables lying beneath were barely detectable. I later learned that gratin simply means a casserole with a browned or crusted topping ... usually from a generous sprinkling of breadcrumbs or cheese. With that more loosely defined definition, this fresh and hearty dish seems to fit its given name of Rustic Potato Summer Gratin. However, rather than breadcrumbs or cheese, it is topped simply with a final layer of fresh herb-seasoned potatoes that are browned to a delicious potato chip-like crisp. This style allows it to remain dairy-free, vegan, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free with ease! I added the word "summer" into the title, as this is a particularly seasonal dish, made with semi-local potatoes (yes, it is potato season!), tomatoes, garlic, and fresh-from-the-windowsill herbs. See One Frugal Foodie for the recipe.

The August issue of Foods Matter Magazine showcased a "Burger Fest" of recipes, with a selection each for vegans, pescatarians, and meat-lovers. With barbecue season still in full swing, and labor day weekend get-togethers fast approaching, this seemed like the perfect time to provide some grilling inspiration. But keep in mind, the chickpea / sweet potato and mackerel burgers are quite soft, so it is best to make them a day in advance for overnight refrigeration should you wish to fire them on the barbecue.

All three of the picnic-friendly recipes are wheat-, gluten-, corn-, soy-, dairy-, egg-, nut-, and nightshade-free to accomodate food allergic or intolerant guests or party hosts! ...

Yes my friends, the giveaways are back! Due to sporadic travel over the summer months, I had to put a hold on the giveaways ... but there was no way I was going to give them up completely. In fact, the product line-up has already started, and first on the giveaway menu is an awesome gift package from Pamela's Products ... all gluten-free and dairy-free I might add.

You can quickly enter by commenting on the giveaway post on One Frugal Foodie, letting us know which Pamela's product you are most interested in trying, or are already in love with. The winner of this giveaway will receive ALL of the following:

GoodBelly is a relatively new probiotic fruit drink line from NextFoods, a company started by Steve Demos, the founder of the world's largest soy foods and soymilk company. Though Steve has kept true to his dairy-free mantra, he has stepped away from soy with this recent venture. Anyone who wants the benefit of probiotics, but doesn’t like the taste of yogurt, or simply wants a non-fat, dairy-free, soy-free option (it can be hard to find a low-fat vegan yogurt!) will be dazzled by this new creation.  Plus, it is a nutritious option for fruit juice lovers and their little ones.

Of course, I wasn't willing to speak this highly of it until our product review crew had a taste of it. You can read Alisa's Review and Sarena's Review for some specifics on the taste, texture, and six different flavors. Then, once you are completely convinced that you must try some for  yourself, head over to the GoodBelly Website and check their Coupon Page. At last glance they had a Buy-One, Get-One Free printable coupon available. You can find GoodBelly in the refrigerated section of natural food stores.

In search of the perfect gift for her father's summer birthday, Hannah Kaminsky, author of My Sweet Vegan and blogger at Bittersweet, baked up these creatively seasonal cupcakes. Though they may not cool you off on those hot summer days, the sweet tea flavor enhanced with lemon is certain to perk you up Plus, these personal-sized cakes will fit nicely into any picnic spread or fill that necessary spot for a post-barbecue dessert. Best of all, the ingredients are all quite easy to find in any grocery store, and the recipe is naturally vegan (dairy-free and egg-free), nut-free, and optionally soy-free ...

From Hannah, "Mixed into both the cake and the frosting, the instant tea powder brought me right back to my childhood, thinking how grown up it was to be drinking this fancy iced tea concoction. These cupcakes are decided less “grown up,” but way too much fun to pass up.