Friday, March 18, 2011

Dairy Free Friday

Happy Friday, everyone! I've been dairy free for just over 2 weeks and so far, it is going really well. It has not been as hard to remove from my diet as I thought it would be. Yes, I miss things like sour cream and regular cheese, but I don't feel like I am depriving myself by not eating dairy. I've had to switch up my breakfast and stop having scrambled eggs + salsa because I just did not like scrambled eggs using a dairy alternative... they just tasted 'off'. So now I have my eggs over-easy with some gluten free toast - which is still a delicious breakfast!

Last week I made a 'thank you' dinner for the 2 friends who co-hosted my 30th birthday party. I wanted it to be healthy, delicious, gluten free, and dairy free. I worried that wasn't possible, but it was actually a total success. We started with some steamed edamame, which I made in the microwave since it's super easy. The main dish was a Chinese Chicken Salad, which is sort of a signature dish of mine. Whenever I have a work potluck, I bring this because it's a healthy, filling salad.

Dessert was the tricky part... What could I make that was dairy free and gluten free? Well, luckily Amber came through once again with a great suggestion - Banana 'Softserve'. It's super simple, healthy, and delicious!

First you freeze some cut up bananas (but not over-ripe ones like you'd use in banana bread... I don't think that would work for this). Put them in a food processor.



Add maybe 1 T. of milk (I used almond milk) and let it blend away for about 5 minutes or so...

And voila!


It's like banana soft serve! You could add some chocolate sauce or maybe a little melted peanut butter or some fresh strawberries or raspberries. Or it's really good on its own.

My girlfriends were both very impressed and said they'd both make it again. I will say, it works best to do this in a food processor. I used my friend's blender when I made it for them but it didn't turn out as well as using a food processor.

Lastly, I have to say that my skin looks really good right now. I've had multiple people comment on how great my complexion looks. Is it 100% because I removed dairy? Who knows. It might be too early to tell, but so far, the results are encouraging!

This weekend I am planning on making this vegan alfredo! The recipe intrigues me... Will the combination of all of those ingredients mimic the taste of alfredo? I'll be back next week to let you know! Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!

20 comments:

Marlys said...

I do have to try that banana soft serve! And good luck with the Vegan Alfredo! Your lasagna turned out well so maybe this will, too!

Nora said...

Ooo, curious to hear about the vegan alfredo! I'm glad to hear that the dairy-free diet is going so well for you so far and that you're seeing results, enjoying making new recipes and it sounds like you're kind of having fun with it! I think I'd be a huge Eyeore if I couldn't have cheese (which is probably super pathetic).

Jess said...

That banana sort serve does look pretty delicious! I may have to try it.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

Good for you! I am glad you are experiencing improvement. And, you are making some wonderful new meals as a result of your experiment.

Win/win!!

Miss you! Home in one month.

Leigh said...

I've never tried the banana soft serve before but it looks pretty tasty! I might have to try it out this weekend :)

Hope you have a fabulous weekend Lisa!

Amber said...

1. I am SO HAPPY this is working for you because I'm such a big believer in nutrition/diet making big differences in our bodies (other than just weight loss) and I LOVE IT when people find solutions through natural remedies.

2. I'm so glad you like banana soft serve!!! I actually can't get over how delicious and creamy and ice-cream like it is because it's JUST frozen bananas (and maybe a splash of non-dairy milk). But it's SO GOOD. I'm going to make it for my mom when she's down here in April :)

A said...

My skin never looked better than it did when I stopped eating dairy. And banana soft serve is delish!

J said...

Yum Yum!! Looks great! It is so hard to be dairy and gluten free but you are definitely making it work!

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

I'm glad the dairy free diet is working for you- I'm with Amber- it's awesome when we can change things through diet like that. So much better than Acutane or however you spell that medicine haha.

I made banana soft serve once and it was delicious but I just hate the process of making it, such a pain to have to wash the food processor haha. I admit I'm lazy but I usually have it for dessert and by then I'm done with dishes and all that.

Becky said...

Yum! That banana soft serve looks AWESOME! I would say let's make it when you're out here but I don't have a food processor, just a blender. (Hmm...maybe that should be my next CSN Review product!)

crystal said...

Yum!! Im making this tonight!

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Ooh that's awesome that your skin has been doing better! Banana soft serve is pretty tasty. I want to try it with a variety of mix ins. However, I have this funny rule about only eating one banana a day and I usually have one in my cereal so...I guess I just have to eat regular ice cream. ;)

Shoshanah said...

Why are your scrambled eggs not dairy free? Do you usually add milk to them? I don't normally add anything, and just scramble them as is. So maybe if you didn't use the dairy alternative and just ate the eggs with salsa it would taste more normal?

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I think I need to try this dairy free diet... or at least cut some out. I eat A LOT of dairy. It's kind of sick actually. I am so glad this is working for you and admire your will power so much. I have seen this banana soft serve at Iowa Girl Eats and have been meaning to try it... I also can't wait to see how your vegan alfredo turns out, I hope you blog about it! :)
Have a good weekend, Lisa!

Unprofessional said...

OH I need to try that banana deliciousness! Like....I'm getting up to put the banana in the freezer now.

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

Banana soft serve sounds good. I keep getting charley horses (lovely pregnancy side affect ha) and woke up to another today and told A that I am going to have buy more bananas this week.

Lisa-Marie said...

The banana soft serve thing? Try heating the banana up in the microwave and mashing it, then adding your version of milk/yoghurt and a wee bit of honey/syrup. This is the favourite pudding of the kids i look after.

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

Your link isn't working for the vegan Alfredo, but if you were linking to Angela's Alfredo, it is AWESOME!!!!!!

I don't use any dairy, or dairy substitute in my scrambled eggs ... just eggs! I cook the whites first (until they look like a snow storm), then toss in the yolks and cook a bit so they are still creamy.

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

Um that banana soft serve looks kind of amazing.

meents said...

I loved both the chicken salad and the banana treat! Lisa, you are a fantastic cook!