Fake the Taste: Cheese

Lactose intolerance prevents many of us from enjoying cheese.  But do not fret! You can mimic its taste and texture by using the following:

Veggie Slices or Shreds

These dairy-free cheeses are available in various flavors: American, Provolone, and Cheddar, to name a few.  The slices are great for sandwiches, and the shreds can be used in cooking and baking. Try the shreds as a garnish on your favorite soups or salads.

Nutritional Yeast Flakes
Use them for cooking or to sprinkle on food as cheese substitute.  They provide richer and creamier dishes and serve as a powerhouse of protein and vitamins B that are essential to health.

Mochi
Mochi, made out of brown rice, adds creamy texture to dishes.  It’s available in the refrigerator section of many health food stores.  Since it is sold in blocks, you can shred it or cut it into chunks as needed for cooking and baking.

Pear Tart

This tart is extremely quick to make and is delicious.  In fact, the recipe is so simple that my husband made it the other night in a jiffy!

Ingredients:

1 ready-made pie crust at room temperature
8 pears (any variety), sliced
3 tablespoons sugar


Preheat oven to 425F.

Unroll the pie crust, arrange pear slices as shown, sprinkle evenly with sugar.

Bake for about 20 min, until the crust is golden brown.

Serve with a dollop of dairy-free whipped topping.

Dairy-Free Banana Smoothie

This smoothie is very easy to make.  I often have it for lunch at work - I just freeze it overnight,  then leave it out on my desk to thaw out, and voila!

Makes 1 serving

2 ripe bananas
1 cup So-Delicious original coconut milk
cinnamon or allspice, to taste (optional)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender and serve immediately, sprinkled with cinnamon or allspice to taste.

You can also freeze the smoothie overnight and enjoy as a sherbet!