astaver's Profile

Induction is as fast and responsive as gas and easier to clean. (Because the actual top doesn't heat up much nothing burns onto it, ever). I somehow prefer the "feeling" of gas still, and you may need to change some pots, as mentioned here, but it's the next best thing.

One thing though - see if you can find one without a touch panel control. It is not a friend of greasy fingers.

Butter actually doesn't have much lactose in it to begin with, it is mainly milk fat (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance#Dairy_products)
Some lactose intolerant people can't handle ANY lactose, but as far as I know, butter should be so low in lactose that it is OK for most people.

If you do want to avoid dairy products - and not just lactose - there are non-dairy margarines such as Earth Balance (they also make vegan shortening). For a less processed product, try coconut oil as suggested above. Muffins etc can be made with other vegetable oils such as canola or grapeseed or whatnot.

Soymilk is my go-to non-dairy milk substitute, but rice or almond, if you can have that, should work just as well.

as someone who's lived in Toronto for a number of years I really don't think St Lawrence Market is the "the bustling heartbeat of Toronto's downtown"? More like a tourist trap? I can't think of any Torontonians I know who go there much, perhaps except when they show visitors around. Overpriced produce, too.