Dairy Free Mac and Cheese

Recipe! 

Since being in Morgantown and having my favorite cheese (Earth Balance) been taken off the shelves at stores for having traces of milk in it. I haven't found the right mac and cheese that I've liked...... UNTIL TODAY! 

The recipe calls for a certain cheese but I used a couple of modifications. For the milk I used Silk Soy milk, I used the box directions for the corn-starch, I used go veggie cheese (although I really like Follow Your Heart Cheese too, but we don't have a whole foods :( ) and I added hot sauce at the end for a kick. This also has bacon in it. WHO DOESN'T LOVE BACON?

I think I've found my new favorite and easy mac and cheese. :) 

Temptation is everywhere!

Today was a day let me tell you. I picked up my client then went on a 3.23 mile walk with our dog. After that I made my brother and my favorite food: Chicken and Rice. It's fast and easy to make. I made the title for today's post "Temptation is everywhere" because whenever my brother makes chicken and rice it normally has cheese with it.

That's where the temptation comes in. I will admit I did put a little cheese (non-dairy free) in my chicken and rice. It's so hard not to give in, but I'm going to try harder to give up cheese and other dairy products.

Amanda & Scott's Chicken and Rice:
1 lb of chicken
2-3 bags of instant (10 minute) Rice (depending on how much rice you like)
salt and pepper to taste

Add ins:
Cheese, hot sauce and broccoli

-Cut Chicken into small bite size pieces.
-Place chicken in a skillet and put on stove until fully cooked.
-In a pot, put some water in it and put it up to a boil.
-Once the water is boiling, place the instant Rice in the water and cook for 10 minutes.
-After the 10 minutes, take the packages out to drain then put in a bowl.
-When everything is done mix together and Enjoy!

I'm pretty excited because tomorrow is my birthday & I'm going to make my first dairy free cake with icing. So look out for that post!

My First time making Dairy Free food.

This week I asked my dad if he would try my dairy free Chicken pot pie recipe that I found. The recipe I found a recipe on Go Dairy Free: Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie.

I made the chicken pot pie without mushrooms (because that is one food I can't stand.) I can say that this recipe was good for my first time. I love making my food from scratch so I know where all my ingredients come from and I can control what I put in it.

This is one of those recipes that even the beginning cooks can do. I found it to be one of the easiest recipes I've ever made.

What I like about this recipe is that you can put whatever you like in your chicken pot pie in it. If you don't like peas you don't have to put them in.

The one thing I will say about this recipe is with the spices make sure you have the right amount. I will admit I think I put too much rosemary in with the chicken, so next time I think I won't put so much in.

I cannot wait to find another recipe to make. Maybe mac and cheese. (Dairy free of course. :)

Living Life Dairy Free.

My grandma will tell you when I was little and I came to her house I would eat a lot of cheese. When I mean a lot I mean at least a half a pound during the course of just a weekend of being there. So when I recently found out that I need to stop eating dairy I was kind of heart broken. I haven't drank milk in the longest time and I wasn't yogurt/ ice cream like I used to, but the cheese was the upsetting part.

These past few years, I could start to see myself get the signs of being lactose intolerant. So, this summer I decided to do change my ways and start being dairy free. Let me tell you it's not been easy. You never really know how much things have dairy are in until you have to read the labels.

One day I went to 7/11 with my friend and I got a bag of doritos.. not realizing it had dairy products in it. Ever since then I've been reading the labels and making sure that I'm not eating any dairy.

So, I got online and looked for organic markets that have dairy free products. I found the store Mom's Organic Market. (if you live in Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia this is your store.) I walked in and it was amazing. They have so much fresh things, dairy free and gluten free things. I recommend checking it out.

My first time there I didn't get much. I only got dairy free cheese, granola, pasta and yogurt. The granola had apples in it (which apples are my favorite) and I probably ate the whole bag before the day was over. (not really but it felt like it.)

I'm not a big fan of the cheese or yogurt I got. So if anyone has any suggestions I am always open for what kinds of brands are good.

The next time I went I looked for Cake, ice cream and icing. (Since my birthday is next week.) I cannot wait to make it and see what it taste like.

All of this is new to me. I'm learning as I go. I'm up for any ideas people have. I am going to post my favorite recipes that I have made. :) Come join me on this journey.