Great Food Discoveries of 2023
2023 has been a banner year in my kitchen with 8 really great plant-based food discoveries made throughout the year including ice cream, chocolate, soup, cheese, granola, nuts, and salami. All 8 of these companies deserve a food Oscar for their healthy and delicious creations. Read more 
Reine Vegan Cheese
Plant-based cheese (or vegan cheese) has been growing in popularity in recent years with growth expected to increase at an annual rate of 16% over the next 7 years, according to a market research report by RationalStat (a company that does market research, analysis, forecast and trends).
The growth is being fueled by turophiles (cheese lovers) who want the savory creamy texture of dairy-based cheese without the lactose, and for those seeking a healthier alternative to animal-based products. Read more
Dr-Cow Tree Nut Cheese
Right across the Williamsburg Bridge on a quiet street (South 6th) in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, is a tiny store called Dr-Cow that makes tree nut cheeses that taste just like cheese, only better (and unlike any of the commercial non-dairy cheese substitutes sold in grocery stores). These organic, dairy-free, raw, and plant-based cheeses are low in fat, sodium, and calories, have no cholesterol, and are high in iron and plant protein.
At Dr-Cow, tree nut cheeses are made the same way exceptional dairy cheeses are made: with three ingredients – milk, a culture, and salt – but instead of cow milk, Dr-Cow uses nuts (primarily cashews and macadamia nuts) which means, Dr-Cow cheeses contain no gluten, no casein, no soy and are lactose-free. And, yet, they taste incredible. Read more
The Ultimate Dairy-Free Grilled Cheese
A grilled cheese sandwich is classic comfort food that makes for the perfect lunch along with a bowl of soup (preferably tomato). Two pieces of whole grain bread grilled on a skillet (with a touch of olive oil) with cheese oozing out the sides is so simple and yet so satisfying. Crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, the grilled cheese sandwich was one of my favorite go-to sandwiches when I wanted to taste total deliciousness.
Being plant-based doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this all American favorite thanks to Field Roast CHAO Slices – rich and creamy vegan cheese slices that melt just like Cheddar, American, Provolone, or Muenster when placed between two slices of bread and grilled on the stove or in a panini maker. Read more
Avellana Vegan Hazelnut Parmesan
Avellana is the spanish word for “hazelnut” or “filbert” so with that knowledge it’s not hard to guess what the number one ingredient in Avellana Vegan Hazelnut Parmesan is: hazelnuts – a nut that is high in calcium, vitamin B-6, magnesium, iron, and vitamin C. Read more
Macadamia Cheddar
Christopher’s Kitchen – a restaurant, take-out, juicer, and wine bar in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida makes a product called Macadamia Cheddar that can only be described as pure fromage plant-based bliss. Made of organic ingredients – macadamia nuts, carrot juice, lime juice, nutritional yeast, turmeric, jalapeño, paprika, and sea salt, Macadamia Cheddar tastes like savory aged cheddar cheese baked into a semi-crunchy cracker. Read more
Vegan Nachos Made Easy
Nachos are an American favorite but making vegan nachos may seem pointless for those on a plant-based diet because isn’t the point of nachos cheese? Well, not really. The deliciousness of nachos depends on several factors: good chips, refried beans, crispy chopped lettuce, sweet tomatoes, creamy ripe avocado, and for those following a plant-based diet, often a cheese substitute made from a nut milk. Read more
Kite Hill Ravioli
Kite Hill – a California-based brand owned by Lyrical Foods, Inc. – has done what no other company has been able to do: make a truly delicious homemade ravioli with all the attributes we relish: the rich flavor of “cheese” and fillings enveloped in homemade pasta – but without the dairy products. Using artisanal almond milk products (that have been cultured just like dairy milk products) along with simple fresh ingredients, Kite Hill applies traditional methods to make one of America’s favorite comfort foods plant-based. Read more
Parma Vegan Cheese
Parma is good karma!
Watching a fresh hunk of Italian parmesan cheese turn into a snowfest on top of my pasta used to make me giddy with delight. After all, what’s better than a big bowl of pasta covered in tomato or pesto sauce and freshly grated parmesan cheese? Few things are, so going dairy-free relegated parmesan cheese to a distant bittersweet memory. But life has a way of opening a new door after one has been shut. Read more
Twelve Superstars
Today is Election Day. Many of us will flock to the polls and cast our votes for the candidates we want to represent us. Although the really big election day is a year away, the essence of leadership is heavy on many people’s minds with all the presidential debates. As we make our choices today and in the future, let us not forget about the people who are making a difference by making this world a better, healthier, and more compassionate place. Read more
Paddock Post 