I’m…shocked. No really. I’m “gob-smacked.” I knew dairy-free cheese was a thing, I did. I just did not expect that it tasted and had the same texture as cheese. It’s stringy, ooey-gooey when heated, and has the lovely cheddar taste that all us cheese-fanatics love. This is a game changer for my sister who hasn’t had pizza in years. More on the cheese, later.
For now let’s focus on the delight that was my lunch yesterday. I’ve yet to meet a person who loves Mondays…so I try to save the truly delicious ideas for Monday lunch: when you’re dragging, and wish it was a Friday. These turkey & “cheese” tulips hit the spot! Kid-friendly for sure, I would have gladly shoveled this down for lunch at school. There’s nothing to it, and it looks like a flower! (I’m still in awe of the dairy-free cheese.)
It’s 400 calories for two large tulips. not bad at all! Also, they were deceptively filling. I was struggling to finish the second one.
So let’s talk about the “cheese,” shall we? It’s made of tapioca flour and various oils. And, 90 calories per fourth of a cup, and 6 grams of fat. I’m liking those numbers. More than the nutrition facts, let’s rejoice in knowing that you can enjoy cheese again without serious consequences!
While some people would think of this as a snack, I’d rather have something like this for lunch! Not messy, easy to put into a Tupperware, and like I mentioned before, it’ll keep you so full that you don’t eat the emergency carrots you stashed in your lunch bag. On to the rest of the week! Don’t worry, Friday will be here before you know it!


- 1 tube of Pillsbury crescent dough
- 20 thin turkey slices
- ¼ cup shredded dairy free cheddar cheese (I used Daiya)
- 2 tablespoons of spicy salsa (optional)
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray
- Remove dough from tube and knead it together. Separate into 6 equal parts and flatten into little disks
- If using salsa, add a fourth of a tablespoon into the middle of each disk
- Use 3-4 slices of turkey and place on top of each disk, and add a little cheese to the top of each
- Use your fingers to press turkey down and form a cup shape with the dough disk almost like a tulip. Place each into section of the muffin tin
- Bake for 17 minutes in preheated oven