This week we have a special guest reviewer. Hannah of My Sweet Vegan and Bittersweet is one of our regular Go Dairy Free reviewers, but when her schedule became a bit too overloaded, her mom jumped in to test drive one of the hottest new vegan cookbooks, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats. And what makes the review even more fun is the fact that Hannah's mom is not a vegan herself. She is however an experienced baker and editor (yes, this woman can write) who has taste-tested literally hundreds of vegan sweets from her daughter's recipe creations.

So for all of you who like to hear what non-vegans think of vegan cookbooks and recipes, I think you will enjoy this review. Take it away Margo ...

When viewer Nicole emailed in her favorite gluten-free flour blend for our Pillowy Whole-Grain Pancakes (recipe in Go Dairy Free), I couldn't wait to share it. Like my family, Nicole had become a big fan of this recipe, but her family can no longer consume gluten. Determined to keep pancakes on the table, Nicole began experimenting. Unfortunately, all-purpose gluten-free mixes like Bob's Red Mill didn't make the cut, but she finally struck gold when she stumbled upon a gluten-free flour blend from Erin of My Aspergers Girl (Adventures in ASD and GFCF Living).

Amazingly, there are very few egg-free, dairy-free, (vegan) and gluten-free pancake recipes floating around, making the tested and approved recipe below a real gem. Enjoy and thank you for sharing Nicole and Erin! ...

The big holiday season has passed, and New Year's resolutions are still firmly planted in so many minds. But does healthier living really mean giving up the things you crave? More nutritious versions of sugar-laden favorites may be different, but they can be equally indulgent ... without the guilt. And such is the case for these scrumptious raw cinnamon rolls from The 30-Minute Vegan Cookbook by Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray.

Sweetened only with dates and just the necessary amount of agave nectar, this cinnamon roll treat will also save you on time and utilities, since the recipe doesn't require use of an oven or a dehydrator. Plus, these gems are packed with fiber-dense buckwheat and some Omega-3 rich walnuts (but not too many! I know how some raw desserts can be a bit too rich, but not this one) for a good dose of nutrition. The icing will of course take this recipe from a tasty sweet snack to an indulgent dessert, but you might just decide that you deserve it anyway.

The following recipe is Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, and Free of Refined Sugars ...

Intentions to post up numerous recipes in December were quickly thwarted by that lovely time of year known as the holidays. Planning for parties, shopping for gifts, decorating, and (alas) a bad cold interrupted work schedules and free time alike. I wasn't sick myself, but my poor husband had a cold that he tangled with for two full weeks.

Even when he isn’t sick, he loves soup. So with the sniffles, sneezing, and coughing on the go, I did my best to keep him stocked with warm liquids. This particular Chicken Barley Soup has been on repeat for many months now. When I first made it, my husband asked, “Where did you learn to make such good soup?” I wasn’t sure whether or not to take that as a compliment, but I did take it as a firm nod of approval for this ridiculously easy recipe. Head to One Frugal Foodie for the recipe.