Saturday, July 24, 2010

Vegan Spinach Dip - Recipe

At Last!

I have always loved creamy, gooey, rich spinach dip.
We used to make it for parties and it was always such a treat.

After giving up most dairy, I just sort of forgot about it but today I decided to create a vegan version of our beloved dip. I was inspired by some vegan recipe books I have been reading to expand our food repertoire. They all have some type of creamy spinach dip...sometimes with stuff added like artichoke hearts.

Some are cold...some are hot.
Below is what we did...just try it and see if you can tell that there is no dairy or eggs!

Simple and Safe Vegan Spinach Dip

1 box or bag of frozen spinach, thawed, with the water squeezed out
1 container of vegan sour cream (12 oz.)
1/3 cup vegan mayonnaise (you can add a little more if you want it creamier)
1 can drained and chopped water chestnuts
1 package of dried vegetable mix

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl making sure to break up the clumps of squeezed spinach.
Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours or so (if you can wait to dive in) to bring out the flavors.

We have used this as a dip with veggies and chips or you can use it to stuff tomatoes or olives.
Serve it in a pretty bowl, a martini glass or a scooped out loaf of bread.

You Are What You Eat - Book

I picked this book up at an airport waiting for my flight.

I liked the cover and have a personal belief that we are indeed, what we eat.

I read almost the entire thing on the plane and found the information really practical and easy to comprehend.
Her style of writing was clear and made sense to me. It was broken into small sections, which I really like.
I like to be able to find the information that applies to me directly.

I would recommend this book to someone that is interested in learning how to decipher physical symptoms and learn more about how their body works and how what we put in our mouth effects it.

She has another book out too that I got after finishing this one.

Non-Dairy Premade Chocolate Syrup - AH!LASKA

So creamy and good!

This non-dairy chocolate syrup tastes great over our raw, vegan (non) ice cream as a special treat.
We found it at our local health food store.

Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Kosher
Natural or Organic Ingredients
Vegan
Wheat Free

Friday, July 23, 2010

Vegan The New Ethics of Eating - Book

Ok, so I posted about getting this book close to when I began writing this blog but at the time I had just started reading it.


Recently, on our vacation, I finished it. I basically couldn't put it down.

Wow.

I was really effected by it. It was a quick read and very simple to navigate.
The subject matter, however, was disturbing and eye-opening.

I have made personal changes in my diet as a result.

A cool thing is that I shared it with my mom (who we were visiting) and positive changes at our family dinner table happened as a result.

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning more about where our food comes from.

Let me know what you think.

Wheat and Gluten Free Bread and Bagel Mix - Pamela's

My son was a bagel freak!

So you can imagine his distress when he found out about his allergies to wheat and eggs.
We gave them up for a while but then found this mix...note the word "bagels" on the front!!

Yea!

They didn't come out pretty but they actually tasted really good...just like real bagels.
(Especially when they were crispy and toasted.)

Eggless Premade Mayonaise - Spectrum

I used to need my sandwiches smothered in mayo...then I gave up dairy and I lost the taste for it.
It actually began to gross me out.

Now there are some recipes that call for it and I am happy to have found this brand of egg-less mayonnaise.
I occasionally use the soy based varieties too but I think this is a great option for people with an additional sensitivity to soy.

Let me know what you think...


Wheat and Gluten Free Pancake Mix - Pamela's

This is our favorite pancake mix...mmmmm
So simple to make and totally yummy!

We use an egg replacer and rice milk so they work within our allergy guidelines.


Sometimes we use the pig griddle just for fun!

Coloful, Binder Clips Storage Solution - Tip

I love office supplies...weird, I know.

It is so hard for me to walk by all of those colorful, patterned clips and bands without wanting a handful.

No too long ago I succumbed to the pretty things and filled a small bin...
not knowing what I would do with them.

They sat on my desk for a while but I don't really have a huge call for binder clips.

I found a new use!

I use my colorful clips to close our food products...flours, nuts, chips, etc...

Now I get to use them all the time and they make me happy.

Egg Replacer Substitute - ENER G

I find that of all our food allergies, the egg allergy is the toughest one to navigate.

There are tons of gluten free foods on the market now but most have eggs!
ughhh...

This product has really helped.
We use it in recipes and have had good luck.

It is a powder that you mix with a little water and is readily available at most natural food markets.

Gluten, Dairy and Egg Free Premade Cookies - Lucy's

A yummy find...

My son and I have many food allergies but were thrilled to find cookies that actually taste good and that fit within our dietary guidelines.

This company has other flavors but these are our favorites.
Wonderful dunked in rice milk...

Give them a try!