After twisting her rubber arm, Nicole of Another One Bites the Crust, agreed to review some of the vegan products from Fabe's Bakery here on Go Dairy Free. She taste-tested each of their naturally sweetened cookies and wheat-free oat bran muffins (they also offer vegan cakes, vegan pies, and gluten-free vegan pies) ...

"I was quite shocked when I received the package from Fabe's.  It was HUGE!  Fabe's Bakery was so generous with the samples. I opened the box to discover nearly every flavor of mini-cookies, regular sized cookies, and two kinds of muffins. Most of the treats at Fabe's Bakery are vegan, refined sugar free, organic.  How sweet (hehe pun-always-intended) is that?

Not being able to control myself one second more, I tore into the first package my hand could grab- mini chocolate chip cookies.  One bite and I was taken back to my childhood- these tasted exactly like the Entenmann's cookies I used to love.  They were delightfully soft and chewy, and of course, the flavor was spot on! 

Q: Jeanette - I recently purchased a mix for making chocolate chip cookies that was labeled dairy free on the front.  I was so excited, but when I read the back ingredients I saw that they used semi- sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin and vanilla). I am confused; don't these chips contain dairy?

Q: Nicole - I've found lots of chocolate chips that the only ingredient I'm confused on is cocoa butter. Is cocoa butter dairy free?

Q: Terri - My daughter has recently been diagnosed with eosiniphilic esophagitis due to a milk allergy.  Her birthday is approaching and some of the milk free deserts say to use chocolate chips.  Doesn't that have milk in it?

Q: James - You posted a recipe that called for dark chocolate. I thought this was a dairy-free website?

A: Alisa – As you can see, we get questions on chocolate frequently. This is just a random sampling of our many chocolate inquiries, so I thought it was high time we address those chocolate cravings for all of you dairy-free consumers …

The second annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale has been offiicially announced, and you are invited to participate. From April 24 through May 2. 2010 (two weekends and the weekdays in between), groups from across the world will hold vegan bake sales. Each participating group gets to choose its venue, what to sell, and how it uses the proceeds. Anyone interested in holding a bake sale can do so on any day during the period—or on more than one day.

In 2009, the first year of the event, a hundred groups participated and raised over $25,000 for a variety of causes, earning the The Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale the title of "Veg Event of the Year" by VegNews Magazine. Nearly every 2009 participant has vowed, with enthusiasm, to return in 2010.

In honor of the event launch, the founders offered to share with us their go-to bake sale recipe. Dubbed "Can't Miss" chocolate chip cookies, these little morsels are a vegan and dairy-free spin on the classic Tollhouse variety ...

March 6, 2010 – Soy Foods innovator Nasoya will celebrate its fresh new look, new website and new Tofu Plus product line at the “Nasoya Tofu Trivia Tweet Up!” on Saturday, March 13th, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Natural Products Expo West, Booth 2142, Anaheim, CA. (Follow the event on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nasoya).

“The challenge the tofu category faces is that even consumers open to tofu, they are not sure what to do with it” said Susan Rolnick, Nasoya Marketing VP.” We are looking to make tofu less “scary” and more approachable and fun.”

Prizes for the tofu trivia contest include high quality tofu presses from Tofu Xpress, steel water bottles, and necklaces and T-shirts featuring specially commissioned art inspired by the Nasoya logo’s leaves. Nasoya’s sampling menu for the festivities includes delicious Spinach Feta Ravioli, Chocolate Silken Style Creations and Chef’s Eggless Salad.