Cheese is something that many people love, but the food does not always love them. Anyone who is lactose intolerant can experience pain, bloating, and diarrhea when consuming dairy products like cheese. Others voluntarily choose a dairy free lifestyle for personal or health reasons. Even when dairy is no longer a part of the diet, recipes that include cheese can still be made, with a few substitutions.
Cottage cheese is something that many people love and when it is removed from the diet, it can be missed. There is something about a snack of cottage cheese topped with fruit that makes the stomach rumble. Using a dairy free substitute, people can continue to enjoy their cottage cheese snacks without worry of dairy repercussions. This product can be substituted in recipes calling for regular cottage cheese, using the same amount as required in the recipe.
Ricotta cheese is used in many Italian dishes, like lasagna and eggplant rollatini. Substituting the same amount of whipped non dairy cottage cheese will produce an entree that tastes just like the traditional dish. There are even recipes that incorporate dairy free cottage cheese, such as one for banana pancakes that people may never have tried. Tasting these can move the diet into an entirely new, and healthier, direction.
Warm summer days call for a barbeque and cheeseburgers are a grilled favorite. For those who cannot have regular cheese, there are dairy free slices of mozzarella and American style cheese that feature soy. Each slice is individually wrapped and contains no cholesterol or animal products. Unwrap a slice and add it to a burger, then top it with lettuce and tomato, and enjoy the taste of summer.
Dairy free cheese substitutes can be used in delicious recipes for appetizers, entrees, snacks, and desserts. A honey cream filled crescent is the perfect healthy treat. Mix four ounces of dairy free cream cheese with two tablespoons of honey, and then stir in 1/4 cup of sliced almonds. Unroll an eight-ounce package of refrigerated phyllo dough and separate it into eight triangles. Spread one tablespoon of the mixture onto each triangle.
Loosely roll each triangle, beginning at the shortest side and rolling to the opposite point. Place each roll on an ungreased baking sheet, curving rolls into a crescent shape. Sprinkle rolls with ground cinnamon and bake them for 12 to 14 minutes or until they are golden brown. Serve them warm, drizzling them with more honey, for a delicious snack any time of day.
