Coconut cream makes a good dairy substitute...but again...read the label. Some are LOADED with sugar. I use Faraon. I get it at a Mexican grocery store.
I am horribly lactose intolerant, unless its quality RAW milk. But otherwise I substitute coconut as Wife mentioned It tastes exactly the same, and yummy too!
We have been doing nondairy for about 13 years or more now. We just use water in the place of milk for some things and olive oil in the place of butter.
We've been doing it so long now that it would feel really weird to buy milk and cheese on a regular basis. Or even cook with it...never really thought about it but we just don't cook things that require dairy anymore.
When I was a kid, my Mum used to make pancakes with fresh apple juice. They were amazing, and cooking them with a non stick pan or oil takes away any butter.
Sorry but that's about the limit of my knowledge!!!