It just so happened that the lovely Alisa Fleming over at One Frugal Foodie sent me her book, Go Dairy Free and I hate it that I was going through a rough patch at the time and it has taken me so long to do a review but I am here to tell you all that THIS BOOK IS GREAT!! Really, this book is not just for someone who wants to go dairy free, I feel like this book can be used by anyone. The over 225 recipes are great for all people even those with food allergies (egg, soy, wheat, gluten, nut, etc), vegans, vegetarians, people cutting back on dairy or just your average everyday cook or foodie.
The book takes such a great approach and isn't trying to convince or persuade you to be dairy free its just stating the facts. If you don't believe me just check out the ratings here. 33 reviews all 5 star except for two which were 4 star.
All the chapters are laid out neatly addressing any concerns you may have about going dairy free such as calcium intake, infant and childhood allergies, health concerns related to dairy (acne, IBS, headaches), eating away from home and a million other things.
I could go on and on about how great this book is but I think you all should definitely pick up a copy for yourselves!!! The recipes are seriously amazing and of course I made one to share with you all.
I present you with Alisa's very own BANANA CRUMB COFFEE CAKE
I quote Alisa when she says, "According to my husband this cake should be sold at Starbucks. The first time I made it, the two of us polished off the entire pan within 24 hours".It is that good!!
My only criticism is the crumble is so good I think it needs to be doubled :). Cant wait to make more recipes outta this book and thank you again Alisa for allowing me to review it.In other news the great and wonderful GT's has graced me with all of these lovely coupons to sample all the flavors of my favorite drink....
Talk about a freakin score!!!On a quick stop by Whole Food's I managed to use two coupons on these babies...
So Divine Grape is my absolute favorite, so far. It has some added grape juice to make a magnificent flavor along with amazing health benefits. The Raspberry Rush was a new flavor for me. I am not a picky person at all so I loved this flavor as well but it did not beat my love for the Divine Grape.Anyway, I thought that you all would also want to try out this awesome drink so in my next post look for details of a giveaway!!!
CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I feel 100% better after stopping my journey with raw foods. It may work for some people but not for me. I still love raw desserts so expect more to come and of course I still eat raw food, can you say S-A-L-A-D!!
I also wanted to share that I feel like I fell into a bad place with food. Looking at blogs all day began to influence me. I didn't want to believe that it happened but it did. *Has this happened to any of you? I am just glad to say that I shook it and I am back to my old self again :) :).
HAVE AN AMAZING WEEKEND!!!!
It doesn't work for me either!! I love oat bran and MIScombining :):)
ReplyDeleteThat cookbook is so awesome - I have a copy too.
Glad you're back! Happy weekend!
Go Dairy Free changed my life. I love Alisa and every single one of her recipes!
ReplyDeleteSooooo glad your back - I missed my J and Little One so much.
In answer to your confession - yes, staring at food blogs all day has messed with my head. I totally cleared out my Google Reader and only read a few everyday. Much better now. :)
PS - Divine Grape is my favorite too!
Yay I'm so glad you're back! I always loved how real and honest you were on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely felt myself being influenced by all the food blogs out there. I almost found myself feeling guilty for eating meat, or cheap for not shopping at Whole Foods, or uncreative with my meals. When it comes down to it the blog is meant for me, and what works for my lifestyle is not going to be the same as someone else's.
Stay true to yourself and be proud of it!
WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent book review - I hate to be selfish, but I DO have recipes in there, hehe.
OMG, thank you so much for the wonderful review! I am so glad you are enjoying the book :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the blog influence - totally. I recently had to take a step back and do a reality check. It seems like so many health-oriented bloggers gradually migrate toward vegan and then further toward raw. These diets don't work for me either, but I am coming into my own, enjoying whole foods in general.
And yes, Welcome Back!!
Hey so good to see you are back.. I've missed your daily confessions!
ReplyDeleteglad also to see that you are in a better place now with food. Hopefully that will continue.. i love seeing all the great recipes.. like the coffee cake.. its looks delish! must have the recipe!
Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteFor the second part of your confession, of course. I've posted many times about how blogs have been helpful, but they have also taken my thoughts back to an obsessive level at times.
When that happens, I have to ask myself why I'm reading a certain blog and what I get from it. If it's truly healthy for me, then I'm fine. If I find it's just to obsess, I move on! It's hard, as it was having an influence on my food thinking again, but being aware is important.
Moderation...Glad you're back!
Welcome back sweetheart! I have missed you and thought of you many times during your break. I think staring at food obsessively all day long and get anyone, anyone!, off track unless you're really grounded going into it, knowing exactly where you stand and if you're sorta experimenting, the constant influx of all these different blogs, foods, diets, opinions, yeah it can be totally overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I am high raw all vegan and it works for me. I hope no one hates me because of that :) I am one of the people who feels best this way and this is my path. And I can completely understand and encourage you and everyone else to find their path. You gotta eat what makes you feel good and happy and groovy :)
Much love to you Miss Justine and I have missed you tons!
xoxo
averie
I don't mean to pick on the raw foods people and I don't want to say anything negative towards their philosophies either, but I found that the raw lifestyle wasn't for me either. I just found it too restrictive, and not particularly effective for me (like you!). I had to step back and stop reading the primarily raw blogs as well, so I totally know where you're coming from!
ReplyDeleteOh wow that coffee cake looks amazing, and definitely starbucks worthy. I LOVE coffee cake :)
Did i mention that I have a mild obsession with Kombucha? I love them all except the green and botanic flavors. The green tastes like seaweed and the botanic tastes like perfume to me (probably from the lavender)
We missed you too!!! Welcome back, my dear :)
I'm glad you are back to your old self again! Don't let others influence you too much! That's never a good thing. But getting recipes and ideas isn't bad!!
ReplyDeleteI'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK.
<3 jess
xoxo
Gad you're back!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Been there and done that with being influenced. I was obsessively hooked to Figure athlete. My BF% got so ridicuously low that my hormones were almost non existent! I deleted that from the faves and went cold turkey from it. So much better for my psyche.
ReplyDeleteThat crumb cake looks A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!
I don't want to be anonymous!!! How do i post, if i am just on the plain old internet and don't have a website :-( Can't figure it out with the choices given...thanks!!...I'm just a comcast gal...Carolyn
ReplyDeletedef happens to me. i get so intamidated by food blogs sometimes. but i'm really impressed that you took a step back and let yourself get back in tune with YOU before it became a problem. that crumble cake looksso freaking good!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are back!:) I would love to read that book but have never seen it. I can do a little dairy, but try to avoid it when I can.
ReplyDeleteI have to be VERY careful about looking at food blogs all the time. Recovering eating disorder and staring at food and 'diets' all the time doesn't usually work for me. I have to just really monitor myself as to how much and what I am reading. I like to read blogs that are healthy and positive about food, not focusing on weight loss etc.
Missed you!!! I am sooooo in love with Kombucha! I can't pick a favorite! I hope your having a great weekend!!
ReplyDeletei think we have all been there - that's why sometimes i read and sometimes i take a break. ya gotta rest once in awhile, ya know?
ReplyDeletesooooooooooo glad to have you back! glad you are feeling better and can't wait to hear more on your dairy-free life :)
Girlfriend, YOU WERE MISSED! I kept checking back and hoping for a new post lol. And today I got my wish :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your back and feeling better. That book sounds so interesting - no make that amazing.. with that recipe! DAMN! I hope you're feeling better about food stuff!
XO
welcome back!!!! ok.. im with veggie girl. i dont have any recipes in there, but still i am mentioned a FEW times in it!! lol
ReplyDeleteim glad you decided to take a break and reflect, im going thru a rough patch with food right now and its gotten worse in the last few days.. trying to put myself on auto-pilot and its semi working, but its tough! some of it did come from reading blogs i think, but mostly from my own stress in life..
well im babbling.. but glad to see you are making a comeback!!! : )