My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Dairy Free

Banana Pudding Ice Cream

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I grew up in the south and certain flavors remind me of my childhood. Banana pudding is one of those flavors. I wanted to recreate that flavor in a frozen treat, Banana Pudding Ice Cream was born.

There are a lot of vegan ice cream recipes out there. They aren’t very hard to make and many of them use frozen bananas. You may have heard them called “nice cream.” If you haven’t tried it you are missing out!

Banana Pudding Ice Cream has all of the flavor of traditional banana pudding but it's dairy-free!

For my recipe I wanted to keep it simple but add something to give it that banana pudding flavor. I accomplished that by using Enjoy Life Vanilla Cookies.

Disclaimer: These cookies are not vegan, they contain honey. I didn’t even realize that until I went to write this recipe out. I should have known because it’s right there on the box. We’ve used these cookies for a long time because they are one of the few delicious cookies that are free of the top 8 allergens and safe for people with food allergies. You can use a different cookie like these Snackimals that aren’t safe for food allergies or Enjoy Life Sugar Crisps that are top 8 free.

Banana Pudding Ice Cream has all of the flavor of traditional banana pudding but it's dairy-free!

I’m not one to eat many frozen treats. I’m just not an ice cream type of person but it’s been so hot here in Arizona that I really wanted to start making more ice creams and popsicles for my family. I love that I can control the ingredients and avoid artificial sweeteners and food dyes by spending just a few minutes creating them.

The sweetness from the bananas and the cookies were more than enough for this treat. I didn’t add any other sweetener, just a little vanilla and plant-based milk.

I always have frozen bananas in my freezer because I like putting them in smoothies. If you plan to make this ice cream you can peel the bananas, cut them into pieces then freeze. I usually freeze bananas whole but then I have to peel them and they are much harder to work with that way.

While you don’t need any “special tools” you will need either a food process or a blender. I use this food processor that I bought years ago. You could even use a blender but you might have to use more liquid and stop more often to push the ice cream off the sides. I’m going to try using my Blendtec Twister Jar next!

Banana Pudding Ice Cream has all of the flavor of traditional banana pudding but it's dairy-free!

Banana Pudding Ice Cream

If you love banana pudding you absolutely must give this Banana Pudding Ice Cream a try.

Banana Pudding Ice Cream
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 4 Bananas, Frozen and cut into chunks
  • ¼ cup plant milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 6 vanilla cookies
Instructions
  1. Put frozen banana chunks into a food processor and pulse for 2 minutes.
  2. Pour in half the plant milk and the vanilla and pulse again.
  3. Use a silicon spatula to push the frozen banana ice cream around and separate it from the sides.
  4. Add more milk and pulse until smooth, using the spatula when needed.
  5. Break cookies into big chunks and put half in the food processor and pulse into the ice cream.
  6. Stir the half of cookies into the ice cream.
  7. Serve or pour into a freezer safe container and freeze until ready to serve.

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Healthy Vegan Baking

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I’ve shared recently how I gave up on baking for a while. I felt like I would spend hours in the kitchen trying to make something allergy-friendly and healthy only to fail. I’ve finally gotten over my fear of failure and you can too!

Lucie at WIN-WIN Foods has created a Healthy Vegan Baking ecourse that will teach anyone how to create healthy, delicious treats.

Healthy Vegan Baking eCourse

Allergy-Friendly

If you are like me and avoid dairy and eggs this ecourse will show you how to bake everything from cake, sweet breads, cookies, cream pies, heck…even tiramisu. Plus all of the lovely fillings and frostings.

The best part, these are all healthy, you don’t have to feel guilty about making them.

The eCourse also covers oil-free, gluten-free and soy-free options.

Healthy Vegan Baking eCouse

Healthy Vegan Baking eCourse Content

When you sign up for the 7 week ecourse you’ll get a new module each week. The modules include:

  1. Intro to Healthy Vegan Baking (and how not to get overwhelmed)
  2. Baking with Unrefined Flours (including gluten-free options)
  3. Healthy Fats and Low Fat Baking (including oil-free options)
  4. All about Egg Alternatives and A Little About Non-Dairy Milks
  5. Banishing Sugar and Finding the Best Alternatives (including natural calorie-free options)
  6. Decorating Desserts Naturally (icings, frostings, colorings and other decoration options)
  7. Putting All the Knowledge Together and Troubleshooting

Plus you get AMAZING recipes!!! You will also get live Q&A sessions each week and a private Facebook group. 

Healthy Vegan Baking eCourse

Still undecided?

This course is for you if you:

  • Struggle to bake delicious but healthy treats.
  • Have a lot of food allergens to avoid.
  • Used to be a great baker but can’t get the hang of plant-based baking.
  • Can spend 1-2 hours per week learning how to bake.

For me, this ecourse is a gold mine! Every subject is covered. Don’t wait too long, enrollment closes on May 8th. What a great Mother’s Day Gift!

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Creamy Brown Gravy (gluten-free)

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What can take a basic recipe to the next level? A delicious sauce, or in this case, my Creamy Brown Gravy recipe.

If the word gravy scares you, relax. This isn’t a traditional gravy, it’s more of a savory sauce.

This Brown Gravy recipe is gluten-free, plant-based (vegan), quick and easy.

Traditional gravy is made from flour, animal fat and milk. Bleck!

This sauce tastes a lot like regular savory brown gravy but it’s gluten-free, dairy-free and cholesterol-free. The pepper gives this a little spice that your kids may not love. Feel free to leave it out if needed.

Creamy Brown Gravy

This creamy gravy/sauce can be used in many ways. Use it as the “soup” or “glue” for a casserole, pour it over pasta, top a baked potato, pour it over veggies or any other way your heart desires. [Read more…] about Creamy Brown Gravy (gluten-free)

Smoothie Bowl

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If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary I invite you to try a Smoothie Bowl.

I know, I’m not really a smoothie drinker but sometimes smoothies are an easy dessert or meal on the go. A smoothie bowl is even more fun! You family will be delighted at this gluten-free treat that is made from fruit and a little bit of plant-based milk.

Smoothie Bowl Plant-Based Gluten-free

This bowl reminds me of when I was a kid. We’d regularly have ice cream as a dessert. I would usually add milk to mine and make it more of a milk shake consistency but still eat in from a bowl.

This Smoothie Bowl is very sweet, thanks to the strawberry and banana but the extra added fruit help me feel like I’m having something with a little more substance.

Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie Bowl
 
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Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Smoothie
Ingredients
Smoothie Bowl
  • 4 ounces plant-based milk
  • 1 banana
  • 6 frozen strawberries
Toppings
  • 1 banana
  • 6 fresh strawberries
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 tsp. hemp seeds (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp. raw pepitas (optional)
Instructions
  1. Pour plant-based milk into a high-powered blender.
  2. Add the banana and frozen strawberries.
  3. Blend in blender until smooth and pour into bowls.
  4. Top with fresh sliced banana and strawberries, blueberries and seeds.

You can change up your Smoothie Bowl to cater to your cravings. Who’s to say you can’t add some Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips on top of your Smoothie Bowl.

 

Smoothie Bowl

Sweets For Your Sweeties

I’ve partnered with some of my favorite gluten-free bloggers to offer you an incredible round-up and giveaway. All of these recipes are gluten-free but may contained ingredients that are not plant-based.

Sweets for Sweeties Gluten-free Recipes Collage 600

15 Sweets for Your Sweeties – Gluten-free recipes to share with your loved ones for Valentine’s Day or anytime. Listed in the order they appear in the photo, left to right, row by row:

This is a wonderful (and delicious) collection of recipes! Make sure you visit them and add them to your “I’ve got to make this” list.

KitchenAid Giveaway (Giveaway is Closed)

We have teamed up to offer a KitchenAid 5-Qt. (Artisan Design Series with Glass Bowl) Mixer with a Stainless Steel Bowl. Plus, you get to pick the color! How cool is that?

 

sweets for your sweeties kitchenaid mixer giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to U.S. residents only,18 and older. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before new winner picked. Contest ends 2/10 at 11:59pm Mountain Time. 

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Broccoli Potato Soup

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Soup has a way of making you feel better. It doesn’t matter what kind of soup it is, but homemade is the best. This Plant-Based Broccoli Potato Soup is one of my all time favorites!

Broccoli and Potato Soup

I never loved soup until we transitioned to a plant-based diet. After that, I couldn’t get enough soup.

 

I think one of the reasons was that although tasty, a lot of soups contained meat and dairy and were not refreshing. They were greasy, heavy or gave me a stomach ache. This never happens with plant-based soups.

Broccoli Potato Soup

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If you take a look at the ingredients you’ll see why! There is no dairy yet the soup is total comfort food.

I recommend this soup to anyone who is new to cooking because it’s so easy. You basically just cut up veggies. Having a decent knife and cutting board is important but that is all. If you have an Instant Pot you can use it, but it’s really easy to make on the stove. (This recipe was updated and Instant Pot instructions were added.)

Speaking of Instant Pot, I love mine! Here are 10 reasons I decided to buy and Instant Pot!

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, a big soup pot will work perfectly. Plus, you’ll enjoy the glorious smell of it simmering on your stove.

Broccoli Potato Soup

Broccoli Potato Soup

broccoli potato soup

Broccoli Potato Soup

 Broccoli Potato Soup

Broccoli Potato Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup

This simple soup is best for people who don't want to be overwhelmed with strong flavors. The veggies bring the flavor!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds potatoes + enough water to cover potatoes
  • 1/2 a onion, diced
  • 1 stick celery, sliced
  • 1 carrot, sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 crown of broccoli, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup plant milk

Instructions

  1. Scrub and chop potatoes. Place them in a pan of water and bring to a boil. You can also use vegetable broth for a heartier flavor.
  2. Add diced onion, carrot and the bay leaf (you will remove the bay leaf before serving).
  3. Once carrots and potatoes are almost tender add broccoli and spices.
  4. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  5. The soup is ready to eat as is. For a more savory soup add 1/4 cup of plant milk and 1 Tbsp of nutritional yeast.

Notes

If you'd like strong flavors. I recommend adding my Dry Veggie Broth Mix or more spices like garlic, onion, and nutritional yeast.

Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Soup

Instant Pot Instructions

If you are making this Broccoli Potato Soup in the Instant Pot, you’ll add all the ingredients to your pot. Then you will close and seal the lid. Cook on manual for 10 minutes, with a natural pressure release. If you have an newer Instant Pot, it won’t say manual, there will be a button that says Pressure Cook.

When possible, I will allow my pot to sit undisturbed so the flavors have a chance to blend together. This will also give the pot time to naturally release pressure.

Broccoli Potato Soup

Another great thing about this soup is that it is very inexpensive to make. We almost always have the ingredients on hand so it’s a no brainer.

Yield: 4+

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup is an easy and delicious soup your family will love. This soup is big on veggies!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds potatoes + enough water or veggie broth to cover potatoes
  • 1/2 a onion, diced
  • 1 stick celery, sliced
  • 1 carrot, sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 crown of broccoli, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast (more if desired)
  • 1/4 cup plant milk

Instructions

  1. Chop veggies and add them to your Instant Pot.
  2. Cover with water or veggie broth, then add spices.
  3. Close and seal the lid. Cook on Manual (Pressure Cook) for 10 minutes. The pot may take 20-30 minutes to come to pressure before cooking begins.
  4. Once done cooking, allow pressure to release naturally. This may take 15 minutes or so. Carefully open the pot.
  5. Remove the bay leaf. Add salt or other spices if desired.

Notes

This soup has a mild flavor. It's perfect for kids who don't like "spicy" foods but enjoy veggies. For a richer flavor, add my Dry Veggie Broth Mix or more nutritional yeast.

Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Instant Pot
Broccoli Potato Soup

If you like this, check out my Crock Pot Potato Soup too!

Photos by Melodee Fiske. 

Last Minute Party Food

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It’s New Year’s Eve! It’s also my birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

My kids are running around excited about eating cake for dinner, so not going to happen. One insists I need a Spider Man cake, the other a Star Wars cake. My 7 year old said it should be half and half. I asked, “Do you think your mommy wants a Spider Man Star Wars cake.” He said, “yes, that is perfect, then you can think of both of your sons.” And that my friends is motherhood in a nut shell.

Last Minute Party Foods

New Year’s Eve

Since it is New Year’s Eve and I’m no where close to prepared I wanted to share some last minute food ideas.

My ideal party food is appetizers and desserts. I like fun dips and finger foods. Take a little time in the grocery store then whip up this spread in about half an hour. [Read more…] about Last Minute Party Food