| Along with 30-50 million Americans, I am lactose | | | | and powdered sugar until smooth. |
| intolerant. My digestive system cannot break | | | | In a small bowl, pour 4 tablespoons of water over |
| down the milk sugar, lactose, that is found in dairy | | | | gelatin and let sit until hard. Microwave the |
| products. | | | | hardened gelatin until it becomes liquid, then add to |
| As I developed lactose intolerance a few years | | | | the yogurt mixture. Stir until smooth. |
| ago, I quickly learned that I have to give up my | | | | Pour the mixture into a small spring-form. |
| favorite foods in order to be symptom free. Milk | | | | Refrigerate until set. When the yogurt is set, |
| gave me gas, after eating sour cream I would | | | | arrange sliced strawberries on top. |
| wake up in the middle of the night with abdominal | | | | Dissolve Jell-O in ½ cup boiling water. Add |
| pain, yogurt would leave me bloated for days, so | | | | ½ cup cold water. When tepid, pour Jell-O |
| I reached for soy products. After having tried | | | | over the strawberries and refrigerate until Jell-O is |
| several types of soy milk, and other soy | | | | set. |
| products that are not even close in taste to the | | | | Serve with Cool-Whip. |
| real thing, I was ready to just give in and stop | | | | THE ULTIMATE SPLIT PEA SOUP |
| enjoying rich and creamy dishes. | | | | 1 pound thickly sliced bacon |
| One day, one of my co-writers told me that she | | | | 2 tablespoons olive oil |
| had enjoyed being lactose-free for a while and | | | | 1 onion, finely sliced |
| has modified many of her favorite recipes so that | | | | 2 carrots, peeled and finely diced |
| they do not contain milk, but taste as if almost | | | | 2 celery stalks, finely diced |
| nothing changed! She even teamed up with a | | | | 2 cloves garlic, minced |
| nurse practitioner to write a cookbook with a | | | | 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed |
| collection of rich and creamy lactose-free recipes. | | | | 2 cups split peas |
| Once the book was in print, I bought a copy and | | | | 8 cups vegetable stock |
| sceptically opened it up. I was was pleasantly | | | | 1 bay leafsalt, pepper to taste |
| surprised to find suggestions on milk substitutes, | | | | 2 small cans od green chilies (optional) |
| tips on dining out, and above all a collection of | | | | In a medium skillet, cook the bacon until done. |
| recipes that sounded very inviting and RICH | | | | Transfer onto a plate covered with a paper |
| & CREAMY! | | | | towel, and set aside. |
| I tried most of the recipes in the cookbook | | | | In a large soup pot, add olive oil over medium |
| already. I want to share a couple of my favorite | | | | heat. Add the onions and cook until slightly |
| ones in this article: | | | | softened. Add the carrots and celery, and cook |
| YOGURT TORTE | | | | for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. |
| 3 (6 ounce) vanilla soy yogurts, custard-style | | | | Add potatoes, peas, stock, and bay leaf, season |
| 2 tablespoons vanilla extract | | | | with salt and pepper, and bring to simmer. Cook |
| ½ cup powdered sugar | | | | for about 45 minutes, until peas are soft. At the |
| 2 tablespoons gelatin | | | | end, stir in bacon and chilies and cook for another |
| 4 tablespoons water | | | | 5 minutes. |
| 1 small box strawberry-flavored Jell-O | | | | For a creamy twist, add a bit of Sassy Sour |
| 1 cup water, divided | | | | Cream. For how to make two versions of this |
| 1 cup sliced strawberries | | | | sour cream, consult the cookbook. |
| In a mixing bowl, combine yogurt, vanilla flavoring, | | | | |