So many variations of rice pudding have been created, yet cravings for a classic version "like mom used to make" often hit when you transition to a dairy-free diet. Luckily, rice pudding transitions over fairly seamlessly. You can enjoy a simply creamy stove-top vegan version sans eggs, or go for a classic with eggs that is baked and set. The first Dairy-Free Rice Pudding recipe below is a stove-top version from Allergycooks (a wheat, egg, and dairy-free website), so it is vegan and gluten-free by default, and optionally soy-free and nut-free. I have added some conversions below for those of us who are not yet converted to the metric system. The second recipe is a baked version from Nourish This that plays on the healthful aspects of rice pudding and has a surprise ingredient! Finally I have included a list of links to other dairy-free rice pudding recipes that might peak your interest. Enjoy ...

Here we are, embarking on one of the most glorious three-day weekends of the year. Memorial Day weekend stands for so much, but I can't help but dwell on its symbolism as the unofficial beginning of the barbecue / picnic / sunshine season. When we all emerge, eyes squinting, winter arms glowing, to fire some food on the barbecue and soak up some sun (hopefully!). Of course, no outdoor event would be complete with out some salad options, but those mayo-rich dressing don't hold up well or safely in the hot sun. That is where my Sweet and Tangy Curry Vinaigrette Recipe comes in. Not only is it fat-free, but it can also be whipped up in mere seconds, using everyday items from your pantry! Really, what more could you ask for? Oh, and of course it is dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and optionally vegan.

If you had told me that I could grab a cake from the freezer, let it thaw for two hours, and a deliciously moist and tender dessert would emerge, I would never have believed you. But, now I have tasted the proof. In fact, dare I say, the new little organic cakes from Amy’s are seemingly perfect.

Available in two flavors, Orange (much more delicate than the name implies) and Chocolate (for serious fudge cake lovers), Amy's Organic Cakes have really hit on the need for convenient and delicious all natural desserts (and just in time for Memorial Day barbeques and potlucks!). They are available in natural food stores of course, but even better, you can actually find these in the frozen food section of most major grocers. But before you head out to snatch them up, you may enjoy reading what I and another reviewer thought of them, in detail. Click to read Hannah's Review or Alisa's Review.

As mentioned in last month's News Bits and Bites, we are nearing the time for the second annual Vegan Waffle Party. And the best part is, you can live anywhere in the world and join in. Whether it is a party for one or a social gathering for twenty, for brunch or for dinner, you are invited to join in the festivities this Saturday, May 23rd by making vegan waffles (that would be egg-free and dairy-free; and if you are used to throwing bacon in it, try for a veggie version)! If you are leaning toward a social gathering, contact Dave Wheitner, the Waffle Party founder, and he will email you the Vegan Waffle Party Host Primer, with several vegan waffle cooking tips and recipes. You say the 23rd won't work for you? To avoid scheduling conflicts, Dave is inviting people to throw waffle parties anytime in May and June.

Isa Moskowitz put vegan cookbooks on the map. I am not throwing out an opinion here, it is a simple fact. There are many fabulous vegan recipe authors out there, but somehow Moskowitz captured the formula that brought the word vegan onto the bestseller lists and made her books an instant success. She now has four top ranking cookbooks, and the most recent ... just released ... hot off the presses ... is Vegan Brunch: Homestyle Recipes Worth Waking Up For.

If you have eaten vegan or even dairy-free, then you know that breakfast can be one of the trickier areas when you think beyond a standard bowl of oats and milk alternative. But Isa gets creative, and the results are delicious. Just a sampling of the recipes includes ...