I am one of those people who grew up with margarine for daily use and butter was for special occasions and holidays only. When I moved out on my own, I decided that I would never eat margarine again! Well, that was true until I was diagnosed with a dairy allergy.
My new love became olive oil and grapeseed oil, which you can read a long article on this site to learn more. Sometimes, especially when baking, I was looking for something with a mild taste and the same consistency as butter. I tried lots of “healthy” alternatives. One of the things that was most important to me was zero trans-fats and no hydrogenated oils and no preservatives or artificial additives.
After lots of tasting and baking, I fell in love with Earth Balance. It has a smooth, creamy texture and tastes sweet and salty-very satisfying-you’ll never miss the butter! It is a vegetable spread that is vegan, non-dairy, no trans-fat and no hydrogenated oil. So, it is heart-healthy and will not clog your arteries. It has 100 calories per Tablespoon which is the same as butter, but it has half the saturated fat as butter. Butter has cholesterol and Earth Balance does not.
It comes in sticks and tubs. It is made with oils from olive, canola, soybean and palm fruit. It now comes in soy free too. They also make shortening sticks. I like to bake with the sticks and use the tubs for spreading onto food-great on veggies-especially yams/potatoes or bread, biscuits, scones, cornbread etc… The tub does not bake the same at the sticks. I use Earth Balance in my cookbook, No Wheat No Dairy No Problem-personally signed copies may be purchased through Pay Pal on this site.
Earth Balance may be purchased at health food stores in the refrigerated section. As of now, Trader Joe’s carries the tubs, not the sticks. Give it a try, I think you will love it too. Even my friends who can eat butter, choose to eat Earth Balance once they try it! Try the Recipe of the Week-Irish Soda Bread with Honey spread(uses Earth Balance)-YUM.
NO WHEAT, NO DAIRY, NO PROBLEM! 