So Delicious Culinary Coconut Milk

So Delicious has introduced two new Culinary Coconut Milks, Original and Light, for use in recipes. Both milks have only three ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Cream and Organic Guar Gum. So Delicious has been kind enough to send me a couple to sample. Now, it's widely known that I love So Delicious products, but I had no idea how I was going to test and review this particular product. You know, it's for cooking and baking; two things I'm not exactly interested in. But I think I figured out an easy and enjoyable way of using the Culinary Coconut Milk. What you ask? Hot chocolate!

Well, you can't have hot chocolate without marshmallows! And it just so happens that I have a bag of the new Dandies Minis from Chicago Vegan Foods. They're tiny and perfect.

I pulled off the hot chocolate and it was tasty! The Coconut Milk added the right amount of richness and creaminess to the cocoa. I used the Original version, but if you are worried about the fat content you could use the Lite instead. I could see the Culinary Coconut Milk being perfect for use in baking and cooking. If you want to try my version of Laziest Vegans Hot Cocoa, here you go!

Boil 2 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt. Whisk smooth and then add a half cup of the Culinary Coconut Milk. Boil and keep whisking till mixed. It makes two servings, so you may need to double if there's more than two of you. And don't forget to add mini marshmallows to your mugs. Enjoy!

Dandies Air-Puffed Vanilla Marshmallows

Marshmallows have always been one of the Vegan Holy Grails. Stupid gelatin is in a lot of the good things we grew up with, including marshmallows. Thankfully there are a couple Vegan companies out there that have figured out a way to make amazing marshmallows without using gelatin. Sweet & Sara, which most of you know well, is the answer to gourmet marshmallows. And then there's Dandies made by Chicago Vegan Foods. I've always felt Dandies was the answer to old school Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallows, which I loved as a kid. The Star Trek V Kraft Marshmallow Dispenser is laser etched into my brain and I wish I had one for this blog post. It was fun to see how many puffy marshmallows you could fit in your mouth at one time.  

Texture-wise, Dandies are really close to non-vegan marshmallows, puffy and soft. They even have that powdery coated outside skin, which I love, and the taste is pure vanilla mashmallowy goodness! The best part is how versatile they are. From rice krispie treats, to hot cocoa and smores to just eating them one by one while you write a blog post, you're gonna' love them. And I've never done it, but I've heard they are fabulous charred over a campfire. If you haven't had the pleasure of eating a dandies, do me a favor and try one soon!