dairy free Archives - Simply Happenstance

Breakfast Power Bowl

March 31, 2015

Gluten-Free // Breakfast Power Bowl

Breakfast… it’s hands-down, my favorite meal of the day. I honestly wake up each morning, excited for my cup of coffee and ready to eat! I typically start my day with a healthy protein shake or smoothie. However, if I have a little more time, or if it’s the weekend, I get a bit more creative. Thank goodness for those days! They’re truly my favorite!

This satisfying dish is one you can whip up the night before. (Sure… that takes a little more planning, but some days just call for a special morning treat!) If you are already having quinoa for dinner… make a little extra! When the kids go off to bed, add some chia seeds and almond milk to it, give it a stir, and place it in the refrigerator until morning. Simple, right?

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Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer

September 30, 2014

:: Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer ::

If we were having a morning chat on the phone, six months ago, chances are… I would have had a cup of coffee in my hand. For years, I have really looked forward to waking up to a warm, sweet cup of coffee. Not only do I love the taste… but I also look forward to the smell. It takes me back to my childhood… always smelling a pot of coffee brewing each morning. There is something so cozy and comforting about coffee!

Although I always loved the smell of coffee, I didn’t develop a love for the flavor until I was 12 and living in Venezuela with my family on our sailboat. We would frequent whatever town we were anchored outside of, and often get a cup of café con leche {coffee with milk}. Such sweet memories… [Read more…]

Lemon Vanilla Macaroons on Live Laugh Rowe

May 9, 2014

:: Lemon Vanilla Macaroons on Live Laugh Rowe ::

Hey guys! We are beyond excited to be guest posting on the fabulous blog, Live Laugh Rowe today! We’d love for you to go check out our {gluten-free, paleo} recipe for Lemon Vanilla Macaroons! These cookies are so delicious… made from the freshest ingredients and free of refined sugars! While you are there, you must peruse all the fun DIY projects Kelly has on her blog! She is so creative and crafty! Enjoy! {xo} [Read more…]

Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk

April 17, 2014

:: Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk ::

Mmmm! Creamy cold, almond milk! Do you drink it at your house? If not… it’s definitely worth a taste! Even better, try making it from scratch! The task always seemed daunting, in my opinion… which is why I never made it in the past. However, we go through cartons and cartons of almond milk each week… so I thought it was worth a try to make a batch of it homemade. Everything is better fresh, right?!!

About five years ago… maybe even longer, we stopped buying traditional dairy milk in our house. We started using almond milk in its place {since everyone is lactose intolerant in our family}. When my youngest little guy, Finn, stopped nursing at 14 months old, I started giving him almond milk, as well. Did you know that one serving of almond milk has 50% more calcium than regular milk? Amazing! Well, my little guy is now three… and still LOVES his daily cups of almond milk!

The key to making this smooth, creamy milk is soaking the raw almonds in water! Simply place the almonds in a bowl, and cover with about an inch of water. {They will plump as they absorb water.} Let stand overnight, or up to 2 days.

Once your almonds have been adequately soaked, make sure you rinse them with fresh water, and drain, so they are ready to use. Put your almonds into a blender with 3.5 cups of water {less water, will equal a stronger flavor, overall}.

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Banana Almond Smoothie with Chia Seeds

March 4, 2014

:: Banana Almond Smoothie with Chia Seeds ::

{dairy-free + gluten-free}

Chia Seeds…. are you adding them into your smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, and baking recipes? If not… you may want to! These tiny little seeds are packed full of nutrition! I have to admit, I didn’t begin using them until recently, but now that I have… I have been sprinkling them into everything, and can’t imagine a smoothie without them! They don’t have a taste, but they do gel up, a bit like tapioca. They thicken smoothies and puddings nicely, if you allow them to soak for a while. 1 serving of Chia Seeds {1 tablespoon}, contains 6 grams of Fiber, 2.9 grams of Omega 3, and 3 grams of protein! Amazing, right?! Here are some more fantastic facts about Chia Seeds… making them incredibly enticing!

Chia Seeds are gluten-free
They contain 20% of your Omega 3’s, making them heart healthy and a great brain food
They are quite high in Fiber, aiding in digestion
Chia Seeds are made up of 20% Protein
They are very high in Antioxidants
Chia Seeds help to balance your blood sugar levels {making them especially great for Diabetics}
They can be used as an egg replacement in baking recipes [Read more…]

Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Whipped Cream

February 5, 2014

:: Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Whipped Cream ::

So… about a month ago, I embarked on a wheat-free lifestyle. So far, all is going well. I’ve tried to also cut back on sweets… but sometimes you just have to cave and give into your cravings! Am I right?! Over the weekend {while my husby was away at the fire station}, the kids and I indulged in this rich, decadent… Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Whipped Cream! It’s made using unsweetened coconut milk, good quality cocoa powder, pure vanilla, and heavenly chocolate chips! This is the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert… especially if you’re planning a date night at home!

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