What a wonderful surprise it was when a beautiful (and rather large!) "milk," white and dark chocolate santa showed up on my doorstep. Luckily we got to the package before the bears did, as I would have hated to have missed out on a single bite of Premium Chocolatiers' chocolate. This marvelous little company hand crafts chocolates and truffles that are milk-free, nut-free, gluten-free, egg-free, vegan, and most importantly, amazing! I also love their pricing, which is surprisingly inexpensive and stocking-stuffer worthy for such high end, special diet appropriate foods.

Back to jolly old St. Nick ... The santa was oversized, hollow (but thick), and incredibly delicious. I loved the flavor blend of white, "milk," and dark chocolates all rolled up into one bite. I admit, I had a bit of a hang-up about decapitating santa, so I started with the hat ... but once I tasted the very sweet and smooth chocolate, the pangs of guilt subsided and it was good-bye santa!

Philadelphia, PA (December, 2009) – As the holiday season approaches, many of us think of fun and excitement; good times and good food. But for millions of parents whose children are on special diets due to food allergies, Autism, Diabetes or other health issues, this time of year is particularly challenging. During this month of school celebrations, family dinners and holiday parties with food, desserts and special treats in abundance, how can parents protect their children from the hidden dangers lurking on the dessert table?

Just remember, a little awareness goes a long way. Here are just a few affirmative steps parents can take to reduce the risk to their children:

My friend asked the other day, "Should I bring some egg nog to the party?" Unfortunately, though they try, most of my friends do not realize the reach that dairy has into so many foods. That classic egg nog is usually way, way off limits for anyone who lives without milk products. But, there are some deliciously rich options for us all to enjoy ... some store-bought and some we can make right at home.

For ready-to-pour options, Silk Nog (available during the holidays and soymilk based) and Vitasoy's Holly Nog (also limited to the holiday season, and not shown on their site) have stood the test of time. Hmm, but what about soy-free options? This year we spotted two: Amazake Rice Nog and Rice Dream Rice Nog.

Now when we move onto homemade, the playing field really opens up. Rice, soy, or other alternatives can be used to create your own dairy-free and/or vegan "egg nog," customized to your own personal tastes and special diet needs. To get you started, here are a few recipes ... 

Having just hosted our first holiday party, I can relate to the need for good, make-ahead finger food recipes. Luckily, this month's issue of the Vegan Culinary Experience (which is free to download) is filled with wonderful options that all take inspiration from the Middle East.

From the December issue, Chef Jason welcomed us to feature his Dolmas recipe. Dolmas are one of those wonderful international foods that tend to be naturally dairy-free, yet under-loved in places like the U.S. Chef Jason notes, "Dolmas are a commitment, though well worth the effort [and very fun to make!]. I like to spend a weekend afternoon doing a large batch of them and then snack on them throughout the week."

Preparing these in advance, and serving them up with a platter of olives, hummus, babaganoush, and tomato stewed green beans will offer a flavorful spread (with a cool theme!) that is open to most special diets, from vegan to gluten-free.