Author: Alisa Fleming

This simple vegan herb seed cheese is another healthy creation from Janet L. Doane, and her cookbook Almond Essence.  Janet uses half cashews, half sunflower seeds in this herb seed cheese for a creamier finish. It also gives this alternative a more versatile taste that works in Italian dishes. But if you need nut-free, you can use all seeds, or try her Sunflower Seed Cheese Recipe, which is already nut-free. Special Diet Notes: Herb Seed Cheese By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. It’s also paleo-friendly and keto-friendly. Vegan Herb Seed Cheese…

Interestingly enough, this vegan sunflower seed cheese recipe is a sample recipe from Almond Essence by Janet L. Doane. Janet uses almond milk in the original recipe, but gives water as an option to keep it completely nut-free. And here are her notes on this recipe: We use sunflower seed cheese in any recipe that normally would call for sour cream, cheese, or yoghurt. It has found its way to roasted veggies, salads, soups, crackers, fruits, green chilies, and much more. Sprouted seed cheese is an enzyme-rich food that will last 2 – 3 days, covered, in the refrigerator.  Sometimes…

Special Diet Notes: Simple Melty Cheese Sauce By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, peanut-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and optionally gluten-free. Simple Melty Cheese Sauce Print Author: Alisa Fleming Ingredients ½ cup nutritional yeast flakes ½ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder 2 tablespoons flour (your choice on the type, can be GF) 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 cups water 1 teaspoon prepared mustard Instructions Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook and stir until the sauce thickens and bubbles. It will thicken the longer it cooks. This is a kid approved recipe for spreads, sauces, and…

This raw cheese sauce recipe is altered from “May All be Fed” by John Robbins. Special Diet Notes: Bold & Raw Cheese Sauce By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Bold & Raw “Cheese” Sauce Print Author: Alisa Fleming Ingredients 1-8 ounce package firm tofu, crumbled ⅓ cup lemon juice ⅓ cup nutritional yeast flakes ⅓ cup raw tahini 3 tablespoons wheat-free tamari or low sodium soy sauce 3 tablespoons water 1 teaspoon dried basil ⅛ teaspoon turmeric 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper or paprika Instructions…

Making your own dairy-free cheese is not only more affordable than store bought, but also more wholesome. Plus it’s easy to prepare! This vegan melty cheese has a lovely creamy texture that melts nicely into pasta or casseroles and on top of pizza or nachos. It’s versatile and incredibly delicious! Special Diet Notes: Vegan Melty Cheese By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Melty Vegan Cheese II Print Author: Contributed Ingredients 1-16 ounce package of silken tofu ½ cup nutritional yeast flakes ½ cup raw cashews 1 cup dairy-free milk beverage…

This simple tofu cream cheese alternative reminds us of the old-school alternatives. The original uses firm silken tofu and olive or vegetable oil. That does produce softer results, so we’ve updated the recipe with ingredients that make it a little firmer, but still very spreadable. Tofu Cream Cheese Alternative: The Classic Dairy-Free Recipe There are a few brands of silken tofu on the market, but the shelf-stable ones by Morinu seem to work best. They aren’t as heavily soaked in water, and still blend into a nice puree. You can also adjust the seasoning to taste. The original contributed recipe…

There are the obvious dairy foods such as cow’s milk (chocolate, whole, skim, malted, evaporated, etc.), buttermilk, half and half, cream, butter, cheese, ice cream, milk shakes, and yogurt. However, did you know that the majority of processed foods also contain dairy? Some are fairly easy to spot, such as that good old macaroni and cheese or creamy ranch salad dressing. But milk proteins and lactose, the culprits of milk allergies and lactose intolerance respectively, often lurk in some of the strangest places. Below we have a partial list of manufactured foods where dairy ingredients may be hiding, check out…

Here it is – Our handy guide to identifying milk ingredients on food labels, from the obvious to the downright obscure! The list below is from my book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Please do not rely solely on this list, as it is intended for informational purposes only. If you are dealing with a severe milk allergy or intolerance, always check with the manufacturer prior to consumption of any food product. Ingredients and processes are subject to change at anytime, which means a once “safe” product or ingredient may…

This collection of Dairy-Free Grocery Shopping List Suggestions is from Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. The 2nd edition of my flagship book includes over 250 recipes, including homemade dairy alternatives, and quick guides for everyday needs. This shopping list guide has been updated a bit in the 2nd edition. The one below is from the 1st edition. Dairy-Free Grocery Shopping List Suggestions Navigating the aisles can be somewhat daunting for special diet consumers.  Start with the basics. Our descriptive grocery shopping list offers suggestions for “almost always” dairy free foods…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (otherwise known as IBS) is a common, yet vague disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. IBS is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and bloating, accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, or an alternating combination of both. These symptoms tend to be chronic, but may come and go over a period of several months or years. Research estimates that 10 to 20% of adults within the United States alone suffer from IBS, placing it at the top of the list for the most common functional GI disorders. Dairy is a potential offender for many IBS sufferers, and it may attack…

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is the name given to a group of disorders, which cause the intestines to become inflamed. Although less common than Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it is estimated that more than a half a million adults in the United States suffer from IBD each year. General symptoms tend to “flare-up” periodically, and may include abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and bleeding from the intestines. The two most well-known types of IBD are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative colitis. Diagnosis by a physician is essential for IBD. The cause of IBD is still quite a mystery, however, many…

Who doesn’t swoon over creamy macaroni & cheese casserole with that golden, bubbly top? This baked macaroni and cheese is ultra rich and full of cheesy flavor. BUT it’s made without any cheese substitutes! It’s a from-scratch recipe that keeps it real with a roux-based dairy-free sauce and all the right seasonings. Unlike many other cheesy recipes, this one doesn’t contain any lemon or vinegar. So it has more of a savory “cheese” flavor without the tang. It was originally shared with us by PETA back in 2006, but we’ve given the post a big update! Special Diet Notes: Vegan…

This Lessarella Cheez came from the 5 star “Country Life Vegetarian Cookbook” by Diana Fleming. You can use this Lessarella Cheez on pizzas, to make lasagna, macaroni cheese, on the top of mashed potatoes when making a bean shepherd’s pie, on toast with tomatoes. You can make it thick and set it and cut it the next day or you can make it thinner and pour it over vegetables as a cheese sauce. I use this recipe most frequently as it has no nuts or seeds which makes it cheaper. However, if you can afford them, the recipes with nuts and seeds are so…

This Cheezy Sauce is a vegan cheese sauce made from simple ingredients and unlike most vegan cheese sauces, it’s nut-free! It’s a plant-based cheezy sauce that is smooth, creamy, and flavorful. It’s incredibly versatile – it’s a great substitute in mac and cheese, makes a delicious dip, or a nice creamy element to spaghetti. Special Diet Notes: Cheezy Sauce By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. “Cheezy” Sauce Print Author: Alisa Fleming Ingredients 1 cup tomatoes 1 cup water ½ cup lemon juice 1½ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoon oil ⅛…

This dairy-free almond cream recipe was shared with us by a reader. It’s a great substitute for sweetened heavy cream or whipped cream for topping desserts. If you need a savory option, you can omit the maple syrup and extracts. The almonds provide richness, but for thickening, the recipe uses agar agar. This ingredient can be found at natural food stores, like Whole Foods. Special Diet Notes: Almond Cream By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, peanut-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian. 4.2 from 5 reviews Almond Cream Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time…

When I took on a strict dairy-free diet, I was amazed by the number of breads that contained milk ingredients.  From whey to caseinates to nonfat milk – I was hard-pressed to find a loaf without dairy. Undeterred, I decided to take up bread baking. After all, milk isn’t needed for a good loaf of bread. And my first success was this classic dairy-free whole wheat bread recipe. I’ve since made several variations, which can be found in my flagship book, Go Dairy Free: The Ultimate Guide and Cookbook. But this mild, hearty loaf is where it all started. Really,…

Dairy consumption has been positively linked to acne for many teenagers and adults. There have been numerous studies proving this association, including a portion of the landmark Nurses Health Study involving 47,355 women in 1998. Unfortunately, the reasons behind this milk-acne connection are much less concrete. Regardless, the facts are that thousands of people have given up dairy foods only to have their acne magically disappear. The results these people have seen speak for themselves and they need no particular explanation. For those of you who are still hesitant on the trial and error method, here are a few different…