Book Review: Go Dairy-Free

When I went dairy-free after discovering I was allergic, I was at a bit of a loss. Not that I consumed a huge amount of dairy. I wasn’t a regular milk drinker, and I no longer ate ice cream nearly as often as I once did. But now I knew I needed to avoid it in all of my food products. How would I know what to look for on labels? What non-dairy ingredients worked in baking? And most importantly, how would I replace cheese?

I turned to the first major site I knew about for some answers – GoDairyFree.org. It seemed to be a great resource, but I wanted even more. I wanted recipe inspiration, and I felt a little lost. So I ordered a copy of Go Dairy Free – The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living by Alisa Marie Fleming.

This book is an amazing wealth of information. It not only explains what dairy is and where to find it, but also delves into health and wellness, how to navigate restaurants, and how to grocery shop safely. But most importantly (at least in my opinion!), there are a ton of recipes.

While a lot of recipes can be made naturally dairy-free (and quite a few in Alisa’s book are just that), she also provides what many people on a dairy-free diet long for – substitutes! There are recipes for various non-dairy milks, margarines and spreads, cheeses, sour cream substitutes, yogurts, and creamy desserts.

First, I whipped up a batch of Creamy Margarine Spread. It’s a lovely spreadable butter substitute, perfect for slathering on a dairy-free muffin or slice of bread. It was very reminiscent of butter and kept my taste buds happy!

Next I made a batch of Orange Cheesy Sauce to stir into some gluten-free pasta. It’s a lovely sauce, creamy and orange (from the healthy secret ingredient – cooked carrots!), and passed the dairy-eating husband and kids’ test. I loved that it brought a bit of comfort food from my childhood back on the menu.

Since we eat a lot of salads, I opted to make a batch of 5-Star Ranch Dressing. It’s really easy, and I love having a non-dairy ranch I can enjoy alongside my ranch-loving husband. It’s a bonus to have something on hand that is made with all-natural ingredients (I used homemade mayonnaise). I’m looking forward to salads this week for sure!

And last but not least, dessert. I made a half-batch of the Rice Crispy Cake. That’s right, a Rice Crispy Cake! I loved that I could make this vegan, corn syrup and dairy-free. It’s essentially rice krispie treats with vanilla frosting on top – perfect for a child’s birthday party or any special treat. (I will admit, I had to sneak a bite or two for myself!)

Whether you’re dairy-free by necessity or by choice, Go Dairy Free is definitely a “must-buy” book and is great to refer to time and
again!