To start off, I want to be clear my goal is not to pooh-pooh on dairy. If I could eat ice cream, yogurt, cheese, and everything else chock-full of dairy, I would. You betcha!
The thought of a world without butter and ice cream is hard to swallow, am I right?
Dairy provides a depth of flavor, texture, and color to food like nothing else—something I learned all too well in pastry school. Unfortunately, my body does not react well to anything containing dairy products. In addition to digestive problems from being lactose intolerant, I experience respiratory and skin reactions. When I consume anything containing lactose, whey, casein, or any “milk derivative,” my usual reactions include:
- Runny/Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Coughing
- Fatigue and/or lethargy (especially in the morning)
- Under-eye redness and dark circles
- Itchy ears and nose
- Stomach pain and bloating
Even the freshest milk from a dairy cow in Salzburg, Austria, produced the same reactions as the milk I’ve had in the States.
I’ve discovered many people, including a few family members and close friends, struggle with a similar reality. This inspired me to develop and adapt recipes my family, friends, and I can all enjoy, and I started The Enchanted Apron to document the journey.
My mission is to help people live full and beautiful lives by sharing recipes, tips, and tricks I’ve learned from cooking, baking, and eating dairy-free.
Bon appétit!