Best Dairy-Free Recipes of 2011

The best way to start any day, in my opinion, is with a good breakfast. And although many of my everyday breakfasts aren't as "involved" as the recipes below, many of these favorites are actually pretty simple to prepare.

Whether you prefer a simple, classic home-cooking favorite like scrambled eggs or a dressed-up favorite like these Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes, you'll find something for most mornings in this tasty top ten list of 2011:

When it comes to preparing soups and side dishes without dairy, one of the best things to keep in mind is that many dishes from other cultures don't usually contain dairy to begin with. Brothy soups, vegetables roasted in olive oil, and salads that can be prepared with mayonnaise or other egg or tofu-based dressings are always easy solutions. This Cioppino is one such dish; although it's often prepared with butter in the base, substituting heart-healthy olive oil in its place does nothing but make it healthier and more flavorful!

Of course, there were a lot of tasty soups and sides from 2011, so here are ten favorites that you and your family can enjoy:

This year was a fun one with regards to entrees! From this simple, mouth-watering Garlic "Butter" Pasta with Eggs to vegan fried rice, there were so many memorable dishes this year that it was difficult to narrow this list down to just ten!

But here they are, my favorite dairy-free entrees of 2011:

Kids had a great year in food in 2011, too! From Pretzel Dogs to dairy-free milkshakes, you'll find something in this delicious list that your whole family will love:

2011 was many things to me, but one thing that it was most definitely was SWEET! My favorite dairy-free dessert from the year? This creamy, bright, Vegan Meyer Lemon Cheesecake. It's so good, you'd never know it's a cheeseless cheesecake!

And here is the full list of the top ten dairy-free dessert recipes of 2011: