Ben and Jerry's Non-Dairy Coffee Caramel Fudge

 

 A couple of months ago I signed up through Ben and Jerry's for a free pint of their Non-Dairy ice cream. Last month, I got my so-called free pint. The company sent me an empty container of their ice cream since it would have probably melted before I would get it. I recently used one of the coupons for a free pint to try their Coffee Caramel Fudge.

When I first took it out, I had to let it thaw before I ate it. I tried to take a spoonful and could not even make a small mark in the pint, which is when I decided to let it sit before I bent the spoon. Once it was soft enough to eat, I dug my spoon in and took my first real bite. For me, the ice cream did not taste any different than their regular dairy flavors. The coffee flavor was strong and the chocolate chips were great. Also, the caramel tasted delicious. I did not taste a difference in the ice cream unlike other dairy free ice creams. (Cough, soy ice cream, cough.)

My dad, however, did taste a difference. I feel like it is always good to get a second opinion on food, especially if you normally eat certain foods.. He told me it had a strange taste, which my taste buds must not have picked up on. Despite the opinion, I still ate it and did not have any problems caused by lactose (stomach cramps, gas). I would definitely recommend this ice cream and cannot wait to try their other flavor, Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

Dairy-free Frozen Yogurt On the Go

Did you know that diary-free frozen yogurt exists? Yep. Yesterday, I found a place that serves it.

Sarandipity, located in the Exton mall, sells dairy-free frozen yogurt. They have a few flavors ranging from chocolate to cake batter. I got the cake batter flavor and it was delicious!!! Their toppings are great too. Some of the toppings you can get are gummy bears, candy, fruit and cookies. My cup had strawberries, frosted animal crackers and a little marshmallow. Yummy!! 

Delicious Fall Treat

Sorry I didn't post in a while. To make up for it, here's a fun treat for fall.

Pumpkin Seeds!

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 tablespoon Butter

Pumpkin seeds from 2 pumpkins

1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon

Steps: 

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees

2. Wash seeds until clean

3. Place in pan 

4. Add pad of butter into pan and melt

5. Mix until seeds are completely covered

6. Sprinkle brown sugar onto seeds and mix (can add more if desired)

7. Sprinkle cinnamon onto seeds and mix 

8. Bake until seeds are dark (Mix will be sticky)

9. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Happy Halloween!! 

Delicious Dessert Idea

Yum!! Here's a quick, delicious dairy-free dessert.

Ingredients:

1 piece Pound Cake
3 Strawberries
A few squeeze Chocolate Syrup*

1. Put one piece of pound cake in a bowl
2. Cut up 3 strawberries, place in bowl
3. Pour chocolate syrup over cake and berries

 *There is no milk in chocolate syrup

This is a great summertime treat.  You dig your fork into the yummy chocolatly goodness and taste the strawberries, sweet cake and of course, the syrup. It's so good.

Ice Cream Discovery

It might just be me, but I found an ice cream that I can eat without problems. When I eat Breyers brand ice cream (regular flavors, not Blasted) I'm fine. No stomach pains or gas. It might be that there's less milk in this brand of ice cream but I'm not sure. Whatever it is, it makes me very happy. This is why I feel it's always good to try different kinds of foods with lactose in it to see what your body can handle.

Taking a Chance with Generic Lactaid Pills

Up&Up Target Digestive Aid Review

So, last Friday I bought Target's Up&Up lactase pills. They were out of Lactaid, so since I didn't want to wait, I thought I'd try them. They work pretty well.  At first, I had red velvet cake and had two pills, which is what I usually have to take in order to get the full effect. I had gas at first but then I felt fine.

However, the second time I took them I thought they didn't work. I ate a chocolate chip cookie and had one pill to see if I could handle it. Again, I had a little gas and then I was fine. I guess my body had to learn that I took a pill or it's just the brand. Honestly, the Lactaid brand pills did this too, so I am not really sure why this happens. I feel it's easier and cheaper to just avoid dairy.

Yes, they are wonderful when I go somewhere and   h ave a slice of pizza with friends. That's what they're really good for. It's better to eat Lactose-free ice cream than take a pill just to eat regular ice cream with a lactase pill. This is my opinion and these pills may work differently for you since everyone's body is different.
     

Lactose-Free Yogurt

Are you craving yogurt but don't want the lactose? Here are some lactose-free yogurts you can try. Yoplait makes four lactose-free flavors (cherry, peach, strawberry and vanilla). The strawberry yogurt has a lactose enzyme in it that makes it easy to digest; it also has more calcium and vitamin D than the regular strawberry yogurt. I have tried their regular yogurt and it tastes great, so I have high hopes for the lactose-free version.

Another type of yogurt is Green Valley. This company makes yogurt and kefir (drink made with milk), which both come in a variety of flavors, such as honey, peach, blueberry, strawberry pomegranite acai and vanilla. Their honey flavor is smooth and has those good for you probiotics to help with digestion.

Stonyfiield's soy yogurt is a third type of lactose-free yogurt that isn't made of milk. Instead, it's made from soy milk. Soy milk is mixed with yogurt bacteria along with sweeteners. There are many varieties of this type of yogurt such as WholeSoy yogurt, Nogurt yourt and Silk soy yogurt.

Do you want to make your own? Here's a recipe to make it:

Ingredients:

4-cup microwave-safe glass measuring cup or bowl

1 quart lactose-free milk

Microwave oven

Candy thermometer

Freeze-dried yogurt starter (1 packet)

Small cup

Spoon

Electric yogurt maker

 

1. Pour 4 cups of lactose-free milk into a microwave-safe glass measuring cup or bowl.

2. Heat the lactose-free milk in a microwave oven. Use the microwave's high setting for about 7 minutes or until the milk reaches 180 degrees F.

3. Cool the milk to 108 to 112 degrees F. This may take one or two hours, depending on the ambient temperature in the kitchen. If you let it cool a little too much, re-warm it briefly in the microwave oven until the milk reaches the proper temperature.

4. Combine freeze-dried yogurt starter with some of the milk. Dissolve one 5g packet of yogurt starter with a small quantity of the milk in a separate cup. Use a spoon to combine them well, and then stir the combination into the larger bowl of warm milk.

5. Pour the milk and starter mixture into the incubation container of an electric yogurt maker.

6. Incubate the yogurt until it reaches the desired firmness. Do this by following the instructions provided with your yogurt maker. Incubation time will be about five to six hours. Refrigerate to stop incubation.