Every month I look forward to that email from Chef Jason Wyrick announcing yet another edition of his complimentary online magazine, The Vegan Culinary Experience, and this month certainly didn’t let me down. As an enormous tea fan [pausing to take another sip of lemongrass infused white tea] this issue not only excites for its in depth detailing of the many types of teas and how to prepare them, but also with actual recipes for both homemade tea infusions and full blown recipes that play off the many flavors tea has to offer.  In this issue you will find recipes for Green Tea Sushi, Oolong Tea Stir Fry, Rooibos French Toast, Maple Matcha Ice Cream, and yes, that Chai Tiramisu pictured at right.  All recipes are of course dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan. Visit the VCE website, click on the image of the e-magazine and save it to your computer … it is that easy.

Just in time for those New Year's resolutions, the Go Dairy Free Diet & Health Journal has been updated, and is now available as a FREE download via the Go Dairy Free Ebook & Downloads Page. The Journal was originally created a few years ago in conjunction with The Dairy Free Challenge, a simple 10-day dairy elimination "test" to help identify milk sensitivities and intolerances that may be leading to unwanted symptoms (digestive distress, acne, headaches, respiratory problems, fatigue, etc.). The challenge has proven successful for many Go Dairy Free viewers. However, for those of you who are already committed to a dairy-free diet, or who have other dietary concerns, such as weight loss, chronic disease, additional food sensitivities, or general health and disease prevention, this journal is a great way to track your diet and how you feel each day.

A couple of weeks ago, we received an email from Leslie, a Go Dairy Free viewer.  She shared a couple of her favorite recipes including one for vegan "cheese" cake, "I found this in a [magazine]. It was ranked best cheese cake and was tested next to a real one and they could barely tell difference. I don't like tofu and I thought it was great. The credit goes to a woman named Nicole Weston November 2004 on a web sight called bakingsheet." So we contacted Nicole, who's blog/website has now transformed from Bakingsheet into Baking Bites (a new addition to my personal favorites!), and she was kind enough to permit reprint of this recipe and of the accompanying photos for you to view below. Thank you Leslie and Nicole for this lighter (read: New Year's resolution-friendly), yet still indulgent version of a traditional favorite! ....

Almond cake, ganache, creme brulée, a chocolate crisp, and chocolate mousse doesn't exactly shout "New Year's Resolution," but when you put the phrase dairy-free in front of this assortment of goodies, it is impossible to pass up! Those of you who have been around the foodie blogosphere for a while are probably quite familiar with the Daring Bakers.  This ginormous (and growing) group of baking bloggers takes on a specific recipe challenge each month. However, it was just last year that the Daring Bakers relaxed their rules, permitting "alternative" bakers to make substitutions and changes to the original recipe as needed. And thus, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan bloggers were able to join in. In December, I was particularly smitten by the daring baker challenge as posted by Dog Hill Kitchen. She not only made the recipe as intended, but she also made a dairy-free version, comparing the two and breaking down each portion of the five part cake, so that you can make any or all of the components ...

Stay tuned on Go Dairy Free and One Frugal Foodie (stop by and say "hi" at my personal blog). We have many wonderful recipes, giveaways, and frugal / healthy living ideas planned for the year ahead! See you in 2009 ...

Best Wishes for a Healthy and Prosperous New Year! ~ Alisa Fleming