Dairy Free Chocolate Pretzel Pie

Looking for an impressive dessert. This dairy-free chocolate pie is so creamy and rich in flavor. The pretzel crust adds a nice touch.

This post contains affiliate links.

 My family loves chocolate pie and every year that is what I make at Thanksgiving. This pie is a great change from serving pumpkin pie. There is nothing wrong with pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, my family just wants to enjoy a different pie as we already had pumpkin pie in October for my teen's birthday. My teen always requests pumpkin pie for his birthday instead of cake. 

 The Thanksgiving chocolate pie tradition started back in 2013 when I made this creamy mint chocolate pie and my family loved it. My family has from then on requested chocolate pie for Thanksgiving dessert. This year I had to learn how to make a dairy-free chocolate pie as I discovered that a milk allergy was the cause of my severe asthma symptoms. I was not going to let a dairy allergy get in the way of my family enjoying a delicious dessert.

 So I had to find a recipe for a dairy-free chocolate pie that my family and I could enjoy. I came across several online that were gluten-free and dairy-free but I can have wheat so there was no need to make it gluten-free. So I made some modifications and made a delicious pie that my family enjoyed. They could not even tell it was dairy-free. This is a pie that vegan lovers will enjoy.

 

They could not even tell it was dairy-free.

 Dairy-Free Chocolate Pretzel Pie is

~ Dairy-Free

~ Creamy

~ Full of Chocolate Flavor

~ Plant-Based

~ Can be made gluten-free

  Pretzels and chocolate come together for an amazing taste!

 My delicious creamy chocolate pie has a crust that is made from crushed pretzels. The salt in the pretzels just adds wonderful flavor to the chocolate pie, think salted chocolate! For the milk chocolate flavor pie filling, I used dairy-free chocolate chips along with coconut milk. Who knew that coconut milk could turn dark chocolate chips into dairy-free milk chocolate chips. The chocolate chips that I used were from Enjoy Life. You can also use Nestle Toll House Simply Delicious Allergy-friendly Morsels. The Nestle Toll House chips are my favorite dairy-free chocolate chips. These chocolate chips are allergy-friendly and made for people who follow a vegan diet. If you follow a gluten-free diet you can make this delicious pie gluten-free by using gluten-free pretzels.

You will have a hard time believing this creamy chocolate pie is dairy-free

  This creamy chocolate pie did take a while to make but it was so worth it. I have already made this pie two times as my family loves it. I so thought that it being dairy-free would keep them from eating the chocolate pie but nope, once the pie is made it is gone in two days after everyone eats 2 slices. This pie also tastes great with homemade dairy-free whipped topping. 

 My family has already requested that I make this pie at Christmas and I will be doing just that but will have to use coconut milk for the almond milk as my daughter has a nut allergy. I may also add a peppermint taste to this pie with pure peppermint extract. I am glad that my daughter lives on her own as her nut allergy and my milk allergy can be challenging when we eat out.

Chocolate and salt make an amazing taste-think salted chocolate

Dairy-Free Chocolate Pretzel Pie

INGREDIENTS
FOR THE CRUST:
3 1/2 cups pretzels crushed into small pieces
1/4 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons vegan butter, melted

FOR THE GANACHE:
1/3 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
2 teaspoons coconut oil

FOR THE CHOCOLATE PUDDING:
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 (13.5oz) canned (not boxed) coconut milk
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2/3 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tablespoon vegan butter

INSTRUCTIONS

MAKE THE CRUST:
1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.
2. Place the pretzels in a large bowl and crush into small pieces with a potato masher. Pour into a bowl and add the brown sugar and vegan butter. Stir to combine.
3. Pour into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 10-12 minutes until toasted. Let cool for 15-20 minutes before filling with the ganache.

MAKE THE GANACHE:
Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in the microwave at 50% power for 30-45 seconds, stopping to stir every 15 seconds. Stir until totally smooth. Pour and spread over the bottom of the prepared crust. Let it set slightly before adding the pudding, about 30 minutes.

MAKE THE PUDDING:
1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk together the cocoa powder, cornstarch, sugar, and pinch of salt. Over medium heat, while whisking, add the coconut milk and almond milk. Whisk until totally smooth. Continue to whisk until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Once the mixture bubbles continue to whisk and cook for another 2 minutes until thick. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips, vanilla, and vegan butter. Set the pan aside and let it cool to room temperature.

2. Pour the pudding into the crust. Smooth, then refrigerate until set, about 2 hours or up to 12 hours.

Top with dairy-free whip topping if desired and or additional pretzels.

Giveaway~Sweet Tomatoes Is An Allergy Friendly Restaurant

Eating out with a dairy allergy can be done.

          I received coupons for free meals for my family to facilitate this post.

  Ever since I discovered that dairy was causing my asthma to be out of control, it has been quite a challenge when it comes to eating out. I am lucky that my dairy allergy is not life-threatening so I do not have to be ultra strict when it comes to my diet. If I eat dairy, I usually feel queasy for a couple of hours and if it is a large amount then I experience mucus and the asthmatic cough. So I may a small amount of dairy on occasion. So for now, I have been eating no dairy when at home and have a small bit of dairy when eating out. For me, that small bit of dairy means butter in a cookie or food that was sauteed in butter. I just stay away from the obvious like cheese on a pizza and ice cream. So when my family eats out, we choose places that are allergy friendly or serve vegan food. I am glad that many restaurants have menus online so I can be prepared when I visit their place. That way I do not have to be that pain that annoys the cooks with special orders. Also, it seems that special orders take longer. I remember the time when I ordered a specialty pizza without cheese and it took twice as long to make. The cooks are so used to making it one way and they probably had to remake my pizza. So by choosing a place that is allergy friendly, the cooks are used to special orders.

Choosing foods without milk

  I was happy to discover that one of my favorite restaurants is allergy friendly. My family and I received an invitation to check out Sweet Tomatoes and I was thrilled until I remembered that I could not eat dairy foods. Dairy seems to be in almost everything. So I went to Sweet Tomatoes website and discovered that they have an Interactive Nutritional Menu that I could view online. I love that I was able to personalize it to see what foods I could enjoy that did not have dairy in them. This feature had a list of nine common food allergies like peanuts and soy. So I could omit foods with soy also. For now, it is only large amounts of soy that bother me like tofu and soybeans. I am fine with soy in oils and sauces. 

You can personalize the menu for many health reasons

 The online Interactive Nutritional Menu could be personalized to more than allergies but also to dietary preferences like vegan and vegetarian options. One could also customize the menu according to nutritional things like calories, fat, carbs, protein, and more. This online nutritional menu allowed me to see what foods I could select before I went to Sweet Tomatoes. Knowing that I could eat other foods besides raw vegetables on the salad bar, made me quite happy. I do love veggies but a meal of veggies and bread can get quite boring as I found out a couple of weeks ago when I went to the Balloon Fiesta and had to bring protein bars to supplement my meals in the media tent.

What this dairy-free gal ate at Sweet Tomatoes

  My family, especially the boys loved going to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner. The boys loved the pizza, ice cream, and brownies while my husband enjoyed the different pasta dishes. I loved all the variety of fruits and vegetables that were on the salad bar. I also loved that the salad bar had beans, eggs, and sunflower seeds so I was able to get protein in my meal. There was a couple of prepared salads that I could enjoy along with some dressings. I loved that could access the Interactive menu while I was in the restaurant so I did not consume any dairy. I was able to enjoy a baked potato and freshly baked bread from the hot bar. Since I can't enjoy butter when eating out, I have learned that dipping my bread in balsamic vinegarette tastes so delicious. At home, I am able to use dairy-free spreads on my bread.

I left Sweet Tomatoes with a full belly

  I felt there was plenty of foods that I could enjoy at Sweet Tomatoes but it was hard having to avoid their delicious cheese focaccia and ice cream. These are foods that I enjoy and while I am able to make pizza at home with dairy-free "cheese" it is hard to find pizza places that use this type of "cheese." I am glad that I had my favorite dairy-free "ice cream" at home so I was able to satisfy that craving once I got home.

 Do you struggle with food allergies?

GIVEAWAY

I have two coupons to giveaway for two free meals at Sweet Tomatoes that even include drinks. To Enter, just enter on the form below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Dairy Free Sun Dried Tomato & Artichoke Pizza

Artisan Oils add great flavor to dairy-free pizza!

       I received several Artisan Oils from Latourangelle to facilitate this post.

  The one thing that I miss the most after having to eliminate dairy from my diet is cheese. I have been craving pizza and while dairy-free "cheese" makes a great substitute for cheese on my pizza, it tends to lack the flavor of real cheese. The secret to the great flavor on my pizza is the right toppings and Artisan Oil. It is amazing how using quality oil in cooking can make a difference in flavor. Since my allergy blood test also revealed that I have soy allergies as well as dairy allergies, I have been paying attention to the cooking oils that I am purchasing. Did you know that vegetable oil could contain soy? Even if you are not avoiding soy like me, many vegetable oils also have corn or canola oil in them and those are often loaded with GMO's. So to me, it just makes sense to use quality oil for health reasons and amazing flavor.

The flavor is in the oil

  I discovered LaTourangelle oils and I am loving all the flavors that they carry. It is like having an art studio of oils in my kitchen. I use these oils for more than cooking. The other day I made popcorn in my air popper and drizzled the Avocado oil over the popcorn. The flavor was amazing, even my husband loved it and said: "it does not taste like avocados." This is the guy who hates when I use coconut oil on my popcorn as he says it tastes like coconut flakes, so he was happy that I was out of coconut oil.

French Infused Oils are amazing on pizza

  It was hard to decide which oil to use on my dairy-free pizza so I combined two oils into a bowl. I used a mixture of the French Infused Basil Oil and French Infused Garlic Oil. These two Artisan oils had delicious flavors of garlic and basil, both are great pizza flavors. I spread the oil on my dough instead of using a tomato sauce as I wanted to have the flavor of my sun-dried tomatoes to stand out, I also did not want the soggy crust from using tomato sauce. Did you know that you can make sun-dried tomatoes at home? This Recipe makes it so easy. Make sure to spread some French Infused Garlic Oil on the tomatoes before roasted for great flavor.  I also use sunflower seeds on this pizza as it is a great low-cost alternative for pine nuts.

Homemade pizza crust makes all the difference

 When I make pizza, I also make my own pizza dough. Making pizza dough is so easy and I make it in my bread machine. Check out the recipe for Sweet Potato and Corn Pizza that has my easy recipe for pizza dough. Once you make your own pizza dough you will never buy store bought pizza dough again.

          Dairy Free Sun-Dried Tomato & Artichoke Pizza 

     one batch pizza dough (get the recipe HERE )

La Tourangelle French Infused Garlic Oil

La Tourangella French Infused Basil Oil

1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes

1 tablespoon fresh Rosemary, finely chopped

1/2 cup (about a half can) sliced artichoke hearts

1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds

4 ounces dairy-free "cheese", I like this brand 

sea salt

1. Place your dough on an oiled stone on a pizza pan and form it with your hands into a circle. Then poke the dough with a fork all over the dough. This is so your dough will not be puffy when it bakes. 

2. Drizzle the two French Infused oils on the pizza dough and spread around with a pastry brush. Start with a small amount so the oil lightly coats the dough, you can always add more if needed. 

3. Place the sun-dried tomatoes evenly all over the pizza dough. Then sprinkle the Rosemary over the tomatoes. 

4. Add the artichoke hearts and sunflower seeds. Then lightly sprinkle salt all over the pizza. 

5. Sprinkle the dairy-free "cheese" over the toppings.

6. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until the crust is crisp and golden brown.

For those that can enjoy dairy, this pizza tastes amazing with mozzarella cheese.  So you can add about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top of the ingredients before baking.

My next recipe to use these amazing Artisan oils in is Vegetarian Egg Foo Young. I know that the Toasted Sesame Oil will give this dish amazing flavor. I have never cooked with Walnut oil so if you have any recipes using this oil, feel free to leave the link in the comments.

Healthy & Delicious Dairy & Gluten Free Foods

After discovering my dairy allergy, I am now label reader!

I received several healthy products to enjoy and facilitate this post.

  I used to discover gluten-free and dairy-free foods so I could inform my readers about which ones taste good, I never imagined that I would have to start reading labels for my own health. Last month I discovered that I had a dairy/milk allergy through diet elimination and a blood allergy test. While I was happy to finally get my asthma under control, I was not one bit happy that I have to avoid things like cheese and chocolate. My blood test also revealed that I might be sensitive to soy, wheat, and peanuts. While I am not eliminating the soy, wheat, and peanuts from my diet, I am choosing to eat less of them as it was the build-up of dairy that caused me to experience an asthmatic cough, that at times left me struggling to breathe, for at least 6 months. My asthma is not gone as I have other triggers like chemicals, plants, dust, and weeds but it is so much better. My body is no longer producing massive amounts of mucus and I can run again without a struggle. So I am learning about making different choices when it comes to food and I want to share with you some gluten-free and dairy-free products that I discovered this week.

I can enjoy Cheddar flavored crackers on a dairy-free diet

  I was pleasantly surprised that a cracker made from cauliflower could taste like a cheese cracker. I was also surprised that a gluten-free pretzel could taste good. These gluten-free and dairy-free snacks are all plant-based and even my boys liked them. My boys said that the pretzels tasted like real pretzels. While they would eat the cheddar flavored cauliflower crackers, they said they preferred cheese crackers made with real cheese. If I was craving cheese crackers, the cauliflower ones would be one that I would eat as they were salty and had a coating that was similar to a cheese powder. I am not usually a cheese cracker person so I would eat the pretzels to cut back on wheat in my diet.

Coffee is the best dairy-free snack choice for me

  I know that coffee by itself is already dairy-free but I discovered a new brand that is made for moms and I wanted to share it with you. I am glad that I can use almond milk in my coffee to make it dairy-free. The concept behind Mama Java Coffee is one that I like. Their coffee is made to be reheated and still taste good. I remember when my kids were little and I never seemed to have time to enjoy my coffee after I made it. I would take a sip and then a baby or kid needed my attention. So my coffee had to go into the microwave to be reheated several times a day. I loved the taste of the Embrace The Chaos blend and it still at times describes my day. Like last week when my son had 2 unplanned doctor/dentist appointments on the same day. This coffee tastes like fresh coffee no matter how many times I reheat it and it also was a perfect drink to go with my Dairy-Free Blueberry Lemonade Energy Bites. Use my code momknowsbest when you order your much-needed coffee and I get a small percentage of the sale. Check out all the varieties of this coffee made for moms at https://www.mamajavacoffee.com

Each roast has its own perfected body, aroma and taste specifically for the needs of moms (translation: it still tastes good even when cold + old). We use only the TOP QUALITY ARABICA BEANS and roast multiple times a week to ensure only the freshest coffee hits your cup (even if it does take you all day to drink).

Fuel your brain with a delicious gluten-free bar

  I love all the clean ingredients in these tasty IQ Bars. These bars can be enjoyed on lots of food plans like Vegan, Keto, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and Kosher. I love that they have functional ingredients to help my brain and plant-based protein. The Blueberry Lemon Sunflower bar was my favorite but the Cacao Almond Sea Salt took care of my chocolate cravings. They even had a Matcha Chai Hazelnut bar that had green tea powder in it for amazing antioxidants. They do contain mushrooms so I can only enjoy them once in a while as I also have mushroom sensitivities. I can eat mushrooms but not a lot of them at a time or I start experiencing allergy symptoms like a drippy nose and sneezing.

Detox with a delicious chocolate drink

 Most people think of a detox as something that causes you to be on the potty all day. That is far from what a detox supplement is. A detox drink instead is a healthy way to eliminate harmful toxins from our body and helps provide overall wellness and vitality. Every day, you're exposed to toxins in various amounts through the air, water, food - and even the products you consume day in and day out. So enjoy a delicious chocolate drink that is dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free to help your digestion track be healthy. I added this chocolate powder to my protein smooth for a yummy chocolate smoothie but you can also stir it into a glass of cold nut milk.

What Will Detox Organics Do For My Body?
Daily support for healthy elimination of toxins
Helps maintain a natural pH balance within your body
Replenishes electrolytes with RAW Coconut Water
Supports overall health and wellness
Supports detoxification
Helps achieve recommended daily serving of fruits and veggies
Boosts energy
Reduces inflammation
Promotes weight loss
Eliminates fatigue 
Reduces Bloat
Eases Digestion

Experience the superfood Moringa in many delicious products

 Moringa has been referred to as the “Miracle Tree” and the “Tree of Life".  So when I can enjoy a snack with lots of great nutrition that is always a win for me. The Energy Bars were quite delicious and loaded with coconut and fruit. While the fruit bars tasted like moist sweet fruit. These bars do contain soy so they will be an occasional snack for me as large amounts of soy give me indigestion. Moringa Wellness has many other products with Moringa in it so I can see these being great snacks for my boys so they can get some awesome nutrition into their bodies. This company also carries muffins that are not gluten-free but they are dairy-free and my boys made a batch all by themselves the other day. Got to love that they are old enough to help with the cooking. My boys said that the chocolate muffins were yummy. Since they contained such great nutrition, they are enjoying the muffins for breakfast.

MORINGA NUTRITION FACTS:
Moringa contains over 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, 18 amino acids including all 8 essential amino acids, making it one of nature’s most nutritious whole foods. Being packed with nutrients, moringa is obviously an extremely rich source of calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc, and of vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, D, E, and K.

Which dairy-free & gluten-free product are you excited to try?

Celebrate National Coffee Day With A Dairy Free Pumpkin Latte

Get in the fall spirit with this delicious Dairy Free Pumpkin Latte that you brew at home!

I received an Espressotoria coffee maker and a sample of Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract to facilitate this post.

  Are you a fall person? You know the one that gets excited when they see that their favorite coffee shop is making pumpkin lattes. If you are like me, you hop into the car the moment you hear that you can buy a pumpkin latte. Then, if you are like me, you are shocked to see the going price of your favorite latte that you have been waiting all year for. A delicious pumpkin latte is the only drink that entices me to visit a coffee shop and pay way to much money for coffee as it is that good. The rest of the year, I make my coffee at home. I have never been able to make a delicious pumpkin latte at home until now. I am going to share my secret to making a delicious pumpkin latte and it all has to do with my new fancy countertop espresso machine that I receive just in time to celebrate National Coffee Day.

A holiday that includes coffee has my vote!

  I think  I know that coffee is my favorite drink and there is something special about that warm cup of coffee on a cool fall day. Picture this- you are outside watching hot air balloons float in the sky while sipping on a cup of a warm pumpkin latte that you made at home, no need to leave the house for coffee. What? You don't have hot air balloons floating over your head? You have to visit Albuquerque the first weekend in October as that is when the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is happening and over 500 hot air balloons will be floating in the sky. This is an up-close must-see event. Back to that pumpkin latte drink that I am sipping as I am watching the balloons practice in the sky on National Coffee Day (September 29th, 2018), I should throw in the smell of green chile roasting but that was last month, glad that I have plenty in my freezer for breakfast burritos. Sorry to get off track but Albuquerque is awesome in the fall.

A sleek countertop espresso machine that makes café lattes

  Where was I? I was about to tell you about my new sleek and modern countertop espresso machine that allows anyone to make café quality lattes, cappuccinos and other specialty coffees with the push of a button and how it is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday. My Espressotoria is a perfect coffee gadget that I am having fun with. When this single serve coffee machine arrived at my house, my son pointed it out to me that I already had three coffee makers. What can I say I love coffee and I am always searching for the perfect cup of coffee. I think my 11-year-old is just jealous that he can't drink coffee yet. He steals sips of my coffee all the time when I am not looking and he even loves black coffee, crazy kid!

Espressotoria has an incredible, fresh ground taste that differs from other single serve coffee machines

  So I bet you are wondering why I have so many coffee makers. I really only have two if you count this new one as my husband uses the auto time coffee maker and my teen uses the machine that you stick little cups of coffee grounds into. I am more of an espresso coffee person and my old espresso maker is a pain to use and it does not have a one-button Milk Frother that makes perfect foam for my cappuccino or lattes. My new Espressotoria is so easy to use and it takes the guess out of making coffee as it uses Premium Coffee Capsules. It is a one press button machine that produces cafe quality espresso.

 Espressotoria is now offering 50% off – a $50 savings! – both their black and white Caprista Machines on Amazon starting today through October 6.

A great coffee maker makes great Dairy Free Pumpkin Lattes

  A great pumpkin latte starts with great tasting espresso but it also needs pure vanilla extract. My favorite vanilla extract is Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract as it makes all the difference in my coffee drinks and baking. This vanilla has a flavor profile that’s full, sweet, creamy and mellow with velvety after-tones. It is also made by a cold extraction process from premium, hand-selected beans cultivated in Madagascar. It really brings out an incredible taste when I bake so I knew it would be perfect for my Pumpkin Latte. I made this warm drink dairy free as dairy is not my friend due to lactose and allergy issues.

 Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract is produced from premium, hand-selected beans cultivated in Madagascar

Dairy Free Pumpkin Latte
Ingredients

1 fl. oz shot of espresso
1 tbsp canned organic pumpkin
3/4 cup unsweetened warm vanilla cashew milk or milk of your choice
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Dash pumpkin pie spice
Sweetener to taste


1. Brew 1 fl. oz shot of espresso into a coffee mug
2. Heat pumpkin puree in a microwave safe dish for 15 seconds and stir it well.
3. Add pumpkin puree to espresso shot and stir until well combined
4. Froth milk of your choice with Espressotoria’s one-button Milk Frother
5. Add in a ½ tsp vanilla extract to milk
6. Pour milk over the top of pumpkin espresso and add a dash of pumpkin pie spice
7. Drink and feel all the fall feelings

 Espressotoria is now offering 50% off – a $50 savings! – both their black and white Caprista Machines on Amazon starting today through October 6. 

Click on this link to get the great savings and get this wonderful coffee maker for $49.99!

https://www.amazon.com/Espressotoria-Caprista-Capsule-Machine-Black/dp/B079Z22JLF?m=A15YC5LB1Q13P9&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1538053384&sr=1-4&ref=sr_1_4

Easy Dairy-Free Roasted Tamari Pecans

Looking for a delicious, healthy snack? Forget the bulk section as these tamari nuts are so easy to make! Tamari pecans are loaded with protein and fiber.

  I remember the first time that I tried tamari roasted almonds, and I could not get enough of them. The almond board was at a fitness conference that I was attending, and they had a trail mix bar for us bloggers to fill a bag with. One of the items on the trail mix bar was tamari roasted almonds, and after I tried one, I may have overfilled my bag with way too many tamari almonds, as they were so delicious. I may have also gone back to that table a few more times to refill my bag. I am glad that the almond board brought plenty to share, as I had enough for a snack later that week when I returned home.

A healthy twist on Tamari Roasted Almonds!

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

  Ever since that trip last year, I have been craving these salty tamari nuts and have been wanting to buy them but they are $10 a pound at the bulk section of my store! So I have been eating the plain raw pecans that I bought on Christmas clearance. Let me tell you, they were not taking care of my tamari-roasted nut craving. If you have never tried tamari almonds, you need to try them as they are so good! Tamari is a flavorful sauce that is very similar to soy sauce but is a gluten-free equivalent to soy sauce. Tamari sauce contains no wheat. I use tamari as I have a wheat allergy. If you have to avoid wheat or have other food allergies, you need to check out this allergy-friendly plant-based protein powder.

 The other day, I almost gave in to paying $10 a pound for tamari-roasted almonds. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that I could make these tasty nuts with the pecans that were in my freezer. So I grabbed the bottle of gluten-free tamari soy sauce that was in my fridge and found a recipe for tamari almonds that I made some changes to. I was amazed at how easy it was to make tamari roasted pecans from raw pecans and the flavor was heavenly. The raw nuts soaked up the delicious taste of the tamari soy sauce. You can also use other nuts like walnuts or cashews when you make this delicious vegan snack.

These tamari pecans are:

~ Crunchy

~ Salty

~ Savory

~ Dairy-free

~ Gluten-free

~ High in protein

~ Plant-based

~ Vegan

These nuts are dairy-free!

  I have cut dairy out of my diet so most of the recipes that I am making will be dairy-free. It was so hard to resist the Healthy Chocolate Butterscotch Brownie Protein Muffins that I made for my boys the other day but I have been able to get my allergy-induced asthma under control by eliminating dairy from my diet. Once my seasonal allergies calm down, I may eat some dairy. So, for now, I have been making snacks that are healthy and delicious so I will not crave cheese or pizza. These tamari nuts are so delicious by the handful or I mix them with dried cranberries.

Ingredients Needed
~ Raw Nuts

~ Tamari Soy Sauce

~ Salt

So easy to make and bursting with flavor

  I have a lot of friends who are doing different diets like the Keto, Whole 30, plant-based, and Paleo so I am hoping these are allowed on some of these diets as nuts as so healthy and loaded with protein. This recipe is also gluten-free if you use a gluten-free tamari soy sauce. I like the one that Kikkoman makes. Nuts are also a great protein source for a vegan and vegetarian diet. My diet is mostly vegan and plant-based but I do occasionally eat fish and eggs. These tamari-roasted nuts are great for snacks and lunch boxes. When you are craving something unhealthy like chips or cookies, reach for a handful of these roasted nuts. Better yet, don't buy the chips or cookies at the store.

Substitute other raw nuts in the recipe 

~ Almonds

~ Cashews

~ Peanuts

~ Walnuts

 This recipe can be made with raw nuts besides pecans. Just make sure that the nuts are raw. I once tried using roasted nuts in my tamari nut recipe but it was a fail. The nuts did not absorb the flavorful liquid and became sticky. When I tried baking the nuts longer, the nuts started to burn.

Substitute soy sauce for the tamari sauce. Soy sauce has a similar flavor to tamari sauce so feel free to use soy sauce in this recipe if that is what you have in your pantry. 

  Did you know that you can freeze raw nuts? 

 Nuts have a short shelf life as the oils in the nuts can turn rancid. So, storing them in the freezer makes them last longer. I have stored nuts in my freezer for longer than a year, and they still taste good. So when nuts go on sal,e buy extra and store them in freezer bags to use later for snacking and recipes.

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My motto is If you don't buy it, you can't eat it

Easy Dairy-Free Roasted Tamari Pecans

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

2 cups raw pecan halves

1/2 cup gluten-free tamari soy sauce

salt to taste

Oven 350F

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone sheets. 

2. Spread the pecan halves on the baking pans and roast in the oven for ten minutes.

3. Pour the roasted pecans into a bowl and pout the tamari sauce over them. Stir well until the sauce is absorbed into the nuts.

4. Spread the nuts back on the baking sheets and toast for ten more minutes, stirring halfway.

5. Let the roasted nuts cool thoroughly before storing them in a jar with a tight lid.

Tips: You can use other raw nuts in this recipe like almonds, cashews, or walnuts. 

          Stock up on nuts when on sale and store them in the freezer to make them last longer. 

Homemade Raspberry Maple Dairy-Free Yogurt

This flavorful creamy dairy-free yogurt is so easy to make!

                I received products from Genuine Health and Polaner to facilitate this post.

  My seasonal allergies have been really bad this year and as a result, I have been coughing way too many times a day. My allergy-induced asthma has become uncontrollable. My allergy medicine used to be enough to keep my asthma under control but it does not seem to help any more. This asthma cough began earlier this year when it was cold so I thought it was a bad cold. When it did not go away when spring came, I then thought all my coughing was due to the weeds. I know I should have made a doctor appointment but that would require me stopping my allergy medicine for 2 weeks and it takes 3 months to get a doctor appointment. I did not want to stop my allergy medicine as my coughing gets way worse when I forget my medicine for a day. My youngest has asthma and when he starts coughing bad, I know he forgot his allergy medicine.

                     
Could dairy be causing my allergies?

  My dairy issues have been worse this year and I could no longer eat ice cream without feeling sick. I have always had lactose issues with dairy and have stayed away from drinking milk. I used to be able to eat a small dish of ice cream without feeling sick and cheese never gave me any problems. I began to look back to when this bad cough started and it was then I started to have a bedtime snack of cheese and crackers every night. So I decided to stop all dairy, including cheese for a month to see if that could help this asthmatic cough of mine. I have not had cheese for eight days and I am noticing that I am coughing less. So maybe it is dairy. I was hoping it was not as I love cheese and yogurt. I have been craving pizza and yogurt so bad too. So I then remember a Tropical Coconut Mango Protein Parfait With Chia Seeds that I made for my son with protein powder earlier this year. I then realized I could take my vegan dairy-free protein powder and make a dairy-free yogurt with it to satisfy my cravings. I added this delicious Fruit & Maple fruit spread and it has been a wonderful bedtime treat for me.  I also add some granola to the dairy-free yogurt for a parfait when I am craving ice cream and don't want to pay $5.00 for a pint of dairy-free ice cream. Now if I can find a substitute for cheese that does not cost an arm and I leg, I will be happy.

The chia seeds swell to make the dairy-free milk and protein powder real thick like yogurt.

  I recommend only using Genuine Health protein powder to make this creamy dairy-free yogurt. I tried using a different protein powder as my son wanted a chocolate yogurt and it did not get thick like yogurt. Genuine Health does make a chocolate vegan protein powder and that does get thick with chia seeds as I made a Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Protein Pudding with it that was so delicious. It is amazing what you can do with chia seeds!

Raspberry Maple Dairy-Free Yogurt
     Makes 1 serving
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened cashew or almond milk
1 scoop Genuine Health Vegan Protein Powder, vanilla flavor
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons Raspberry Maple Fruit Spread


Place the coconut milk and protein powder in a shaker bottle and shake well to mix. Add the chia seed to the shaker container and shake well. Place the container in the fridge for a couple of hours so it can thicken. Add the raspberry maple spread and stir well. This dairy-free yogurt can be made into a parfait with some granola and fresh fruit.