"nondairy" news and stories

The most widely available non-dairy nog is the Silk brand Soy Nog, although Vitasoy and Oregon Chai also have non-dairy nogs available. All three are good choices for anyone who is vegan, lactose intolerant or simply looking for a healthier - lower fat and lower calorie - alternative to traditional eggnog. I picked up Silk Nog, along with "light" and regular nogs (Rockview Farms brand from Trader Joe's) for an impromptu taste test.

The regular eggnog was the thickest and most yellow - no doubt to reassure the drinker as to the number of egg yolks - and the others were progressively less so. Personally, as I have a preference for thinner, uncooked eggnogs, I liked the "light" version better than the full fat. Neither had a strong egg flavor, but both had the feel of custard and a nice nutmeg-y taste, although there was an almost minty quality about them that seemed like it would work well with alcohol (I tasted all these plain). The Silk nog was not too sweet and was drinkably thin, making it more refreshing than either of the eggnogs. It also had a much milder taste to it, which I preferred. Overall? An eggnog aficionado is not going to be satisfied with the Silk nog and will probably enjoy the heavier stuff, but the Silk nog is tasty - and at only 90 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving, it's a holiday treat worth having.

Jonathan mentioned that Oregon Chai has a soy Chai Nog on sale for the holidays for anyone who avoids dairy or is just a fan of chai in general. If you fall into the former category and prefer soy milks to dairy, there is another nog option available: Vitasoy's Holly Nog. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, the creamy holiday drink is a good stand-in for traditional eggnog. As an added bonus, it has only 120 calories per serving, a fraction of the dairy-based recipe.

If eggnog - or soy nog - isn't you're cup of tea, Vitasoy also has a new Peppermint Chocolate Soy drink out this year, which it touts as being delicious hot or cold, and an excellent choice for chocolate fans. It is low in fat and makes a great, seasonal creamer for coffee. Both drinks are dairy, lactose, cholesterol and gluten-free and both are USDA certified organic.

I have had good luck when I have tried my hand at making dairy-free ice creams in the past, so the idea of a whole cookbook devoted to them is appealing, if for no other reason than it would expand my dessert horizons. Vice Cream: Over 70 Sinfully Delicious Dairy-Free Delights is full of wonderfully creamy and creative desserts that are all vegan and suitable for anyone with lactose/dairy intolerance. There is even a selection of completely raw recipes, which you probably won't find anywhere else.

Many cookbooks that focus on specific dietary requirements also cast an eye towards health conscious recipes, which is not the priority in this book. The recipes here are intended to be at least as rich as "real" ice cream and just as satisfying by using ingredients like maple syrup, agave nectar, peanut butter, raw cashews and fresh fruits. The Vice Cream lineup features Chocolate Chip, Mint Carob Chip, Strawberry, Blueberry, Black Forest, Peanut Butter and Apple Strudel. The majority of the recipes are easy to prepare and have short ingredient lists, but you will definitely need an ice cream maker and something to blend all the vice cream bases together, like a food processor or blender. Top each serving of the finished product off with one of the topping recipes at the back of the book and you will have a dessert worthy of the description "sinfully delicious"

Source

Vanilla is the best selling ice cream flavor in the US. Not only is it popular as a stand-alone flavor, but it goes perfectly with so many other foods: brownies for brownie sundaes, apple pie for apple pie a la mode, root beer for root beer floats, etc. In this month's issue, Real Simple magazine did a taste test of vanillas and picked out their favorites in six categories, thoughtfully including some options for those who don't eat regular, full-fat ice cream:

• Best old-fashioned: Ben & Jerry's Vanilla
• Best organic: Stonyfield Organic Gotta Have Vanilla Ice Cream
• Best gelato: Ciao Bella Vanilla Gelato
• Best low-fat: Breyers Double Churned Light Creamy Vanilla
• Best low-sugar: Breyers Double Churned No Sugar Added Vanilla
• Best nondairy: Whole Soy $ Co. Organic Vanilla Bean

Unfortunately, they didn't list all the brands of ice cream that they taste-tested. It would have been interesting to see what the runners up in each category were, but the list can still be used to stock the fridge with everyone's favorites.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you're going to make ice cream at home, it is worth it to get an ice cream maker. In fact, it is necessary to get an ice cream maker because it ensures that you will always get the optimal results from your frozen desserts. There are a wide range of ice cream makers to choose from, but there will definitely be at least one that fits your kitchen and your budget. After a batch or three of homemade ice cream, every single one will pay for itself in taste alone.

Ice Cream Ball - play with it and make ice cream. It's a great way to give your kids something to keep them occupied while they wait for the ice cream to be ready. $29

Cuisinart 1.5-qt. Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker - a great, easy-to-use all-purpose machine that can handle most family-sized jobs. Keep the extra freezer bowl in the freezer at all times so you're ready to go. Recommended by me (I own this model, pictured, and love it) and America's Test Kitchen. $49.95