Van's Waffles

I love breakfast food.  I love carbs.  I love sweet things.  And while I wish I was talented and organized enough to make things like waffles on my own...I tend to leave that to the experts.  I always, without fail, end up  making a gigantic mess in the kitchen when I make pancakes, and waffles are even messier in my opinion.

When I go out for breakfast, the first thing on my mind is "vegan waffles."  Unfortunately for me, I have yet to find an establishment here in Indy that serves them.  On second thought, that's probably fortunate, as I would likely eat there far too often, and that would not be good for my health OR my figure.  ;-)

Van's wheat-and-gluten free waffles topped with healthy Warm Berry Compote.  YUM!

What IS fortunate for me is that I can find these awesome vegan waffles at Kroger.  And wait, what's this!?  They have a GLUTEN FREE option, too!?!?!?!?  OMG, I'm in Heaven.  I have been wanting to try Van's for quite sometime, and I've finally done it.  And let me tell you, I am so glad that I have!

Being conscious of my gluten intake, I grabbed a box of the wheat- and gluten-free "Totally Natural" waffles.  These waffles, by Van's Natural Foods, are just as delicious as their animal-laden (and highly processed) counterparts, so go ahead and "leggo that Eggo", and their nutritional profile is very respectable.  Just put them in your toaster or toaster oven, and they will be crispy in no time, ready for all your waffle-topping desires.  (Want some healthy topping choices?  I have a post for that!)

Candied Coconut Bananas?  Warm Berry Compote?  Vanilla Almond Butter?  Oooh yeah...

In addition to a huge selection of waffles, Van's has a variety of other breakfast products as well, including pancakes, french toast sticks, and muffin tops.  Some are gluten free, some are not.  Just make sure to read labels, as not all of their products are vegan-friendly. 

Summary:  If you like waffles and your city is as clueless as mine, get yourself a box of Van's!  Definitely recommended for your occasional breakfast treat.

Obama Goes Rogue on GMOs - Tell him to say NO to Monsanto

Obama Goes Rogue on GMOs - Tell him to say NO to Monsanto

In the past 3 weeks, the Obama administration has unbelievably chosen to approve three biotech crops, Roundup Ready genetically modified (GMO) alfalfa, Roundup Ready genetically modified (GMO) sugar beets and a new industrial biotech corn for ethanol production. Obama's recent approval of them will allow them to be planted as early as this spring, despite widespread acknowledgement that these crops are certain to contaminate both conventional and organic farmers non-GMO crops. Only last Friday, the USDA's approval of the new industrial biotech corn for ethanol production occurred despite massive outcry from major food companies who know that it will contaminate and possibly ruin the food they sell to you everyday.
These decisions are a devastating blow to our democracy and the basic rights of farmers to choose how they want to grow food on their land and the rights of consumers who increasingly choose organic and sustainably grown food for its positive health and environmental impacts. Please join us in telling President Obama that it's time to stand up to Monsanto and reject these GMO crops today!


Here's a link to the petition!

Liz Lovely Cookies

Ooooh, cookies!  I have to admit, I love sweets...just one of many achilles' heels (most include food, some include men).  I have tried many vegan goodies, packaged and fresh baked.  Most of the time, the fresh baked, gourmet treats are satisfactory, if not better.  However, as far as packaged goods go, I have been disappointed more often than not.  I usually find them dry and/or bland, sometimes even outright gross.  Liz Lovely to the rescue.

If you are not familiar with Jasmere, it is a website similar to Groupon.  Members receive e-mails about their daily deals and have a chance to buy products at a discounted price (50% or higher).  Unlike Groupon, the deals are not restricted to local products and services.  Another great thing about Jasmere is that the price of a Jasmere deal goes down as the number of buyers increases.  Many of the products are environmentally friendly or unique in some way, so lots of them have been vegan-friendly.  : )

I'd heard of Liz Lovely before the Jasmere deal came through, but I'd never really thought about ordering them.  However, the Jasmere deal was too good to pass up.  I got a box of 24 vegan cookies for $13, plus shipping.  Now, I can't feel any kind of good about eating 24 cookies on my own...and I have very little self-control when it comes to sweets (achilles' heel, remember?).  So, I knew I'd have to give some of these babies away to friends.  What's better than sharing the vegan love?????

I have a co-worker and close friend who is vegan, so she was the first to receive a Liz Lovely gift (plus, I owed her for picking up a package of Sweet & Sara's toasted coconut marshmallows for me a while back).  I gave her a pack (2 cookies each) of each of the three flavors I had received:  Cowgirl (chocolate chip), Snicker Dudes (cinnamon/sugar), and Ginger Snapdragons (molasses/ginger).  She posted on my FB wall, raving about them before I was even home from work.  Here's what Falzie had to say:

The cookies are amazing!!!  Thank you! I had the snickerdoodle and it was delicious. :-} They are a bit too sweet, but still great.  Thanks again!

Snickerdoodle is the shiiiiiitttttt! I just had a gingersnap one a bit ago and it was sooooo good!

Falzie shared some of her package of lovely with another co-worker of ours (not vegan), and here's what Straub posted on my FB about them:

That chocolate chip cookie was like like eating straight cookie dough! So good but so bad at the same time.

 Then, of course, another co-worker got wind of  my cookie generosity, and wanted to try some.  NO PROBLEM!  I have 24 of these puppies, and I'm more than happy to share the lovely (especially with vegan skeptics).  I told him I'd give him some as long as he promised to let me know what he thought of them.  I gave him a package of the snickerdoodles, and he raved!

So..those cookies are AWESOME! Honestly, the best snickerdoodle I have ever had!  Where did you get them--cuz I must have more!

Ok, I was at a middle school basketball game when I read these comments on my FB wall, and I was practically salivating thinking about these damn cookies the whole way home.  After eating a scrumptious dinner of Peanut Cilantro Luna Burger with Bok Choy and Green Onions (yum, btw), I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into some cookie goodness.  **BTW:  These cookies are HUGE!  Like a good girl, I broke two of the cookies in half.  No 2-4 cookies for me.  SELF-CONTROL  :-)

Seriously, I really only ate half each.  I just thought the picture would be better with whole cookies.  :-)

Can I say...OH...MY...GAAAAAWWWWW!  I tried the Snicker Dude first.  The last vegan snickerdoodle I tried was disappointing, to say the least (in fact, both the cookies I tried from Alternative Baking Company were less than stellar).  But this...this was soft, and chewy, and moist, and cinnamon-y.  It was better than I remember any conventional snickerdoodle.  A must-try...seriously.

As for the Cowgirl (chocolate chip) flavor....well, it was just about orgasmic...VEGASMIC!  Just as my co-worker had said, the website describes this variety as "like cookie dough", and they are spot on with that description.  I don't know how they do it, but it's brilliant!  Just like the Snicker Dude, it was soft and chewy; one of the top requirements for a good cookie, in my opinion.  There were just enough chocolate chunks to satisfy any chocolate craving.  Half-way through the cookie, though, I realized exactly what I wanted.  I wanted it warm and melty.  I put that puppy in the microwave for 15 seconds.  I will tell you, it is one of the best things I have put in my mouth in quite a while.  Okay...I may be a bit of an exaggerator (I get it from my dad), but it was so, so, SO GOOD!

As much as I wanted more, I resisted.  But guess what I'll be having as a post-work snack tomorrow!?

Summary:  Buy these cookies.  Eat these cookies.  You will not be disappointed! Liz truly is lovely!!!!!

Luna Burgers: Peanut Cilantro Variety

If you saw my post on my first experience with Luna Burgers, you might think it's strange that I decided to go ahead and try them again.  I wasn't exactly impressed with the flavors in their Classic burger...in fact, I couldn't even finish it.  BUT, they did have so many other flavors that looked interesting and sounded so yummy, I couldn't resist.  I can honestly say, I'm glad I gave them a second chance.

Ingredients:  black beans, spelt, oats, onion, carrots, peanut butter, kale, apples, maple syrup, jalapeño peppers, garlic, apple cider vinegar, paprika peppers, salt, black pepper, cilantro

This time around, I ordered the Peanut Cilantro Burger.  When I opened the package, I knew this one wasn't going to be like the other one.  First of all, no strange purple color.  Second...it just smelled lovely as it cooked.  I love Asian food, Thai food in particular, so the peanut/cilantro combo was right up my alley.  After I let it heat up in the skillet with a tiny bit of olive oil, I plated it up with some sliced bok choy and green onions, sprayed a few pumps of Bragg's for some moisture and a bit of flavor, and dug in!

Peanut Cilantro Luna Burger with Bok Choy and Green Onions

Yummy!  It was a tad on the spicy side, which I loved.  The oats and peanuts gave it an interesting and hearty texture.  It was a bit on the dry side, just as the Classic had been, but it didn't deter me from finishing my meal this time.  I think I'll do some research to find a light sauce to make and drizzle on my burger for next time, though.  Bonus?  It filled me up - no problem!

Summary:  Go ahead and try Luna Burgers!  Just read the ingredients and make sure the flavors are compatible with you.  Hmm....Farmhouse Chili or BBQ next??????

War of the Cheezes: Round 2 - Daiya vs. Rice Vegan (by Galaxy Nutritional Foods)

Round 2 of the War of the Cheezes blogs will be:


Current Champion:  Daiya

vs.

Contender:  Rice Vegan by Galaxy Nutritional Foods

Daiya is the current champion because it is the best vegan cheeze I have found, by far and away.  However, I am not opposed to trying the other varieties out there, and educate my readers on them.  Why waste your time and money (and tastebuds, for that matter), when I can waste mine...and share pictures!

So here it is.  I promise, I will get a full Daiya blog, complete with photographs, up for you someday.  But for now, I can only try one kind at a time (money is tiiiiiiight).

After being iced up into my house for the past few days, I decided to brave the slick roads and venture out to my favorite specialty grocery, Georgetown Market.  Even though their hot bar was closed for the day, they did tweet that they would be having soup:  Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato.  Yum...that sounded perfectly warming and delighful.  That's all I really went for (that, and to refill my water jugs).  Nearly $50 later, I walked back to my car with a bag-and-a-half full of groceries (okay, I needed some staples).  Don't you worry - I didn't neglect to slip on the ice and fall flat onto my ass...seriously.  How embarrassing!  I picked my spilling water jug and my pride up off the ice, dusted off my chilled butt, and headed home.

Now, what goes better with a warm tomato-y soup than grilled cheese!?  NOTHING!  So, I fired up the skillet, Earth Balanced (you know, like "buttered", except with vegan, soy-free Earth Balance) my favorite sprouted grain bread by Food for Life, and put a couple slices of American flavored cheeze on top.  Of course, I couldn't let it melt away without trying a little bite.

I tried this little bite...actually, I only took a bite of this piece.

On the skillet...

BLEH!  Oh boy..this stuff tasted terrible, and I mean, awful.  It was like someone ground up cardboard in the blender and mixed in some oil and orange food coloring, then spread it out to dry.  The texture was not creamy either, but kind of stiff.  I didn't even try a second bite of the piece I'd broken off.  I decided not to waste a second piece of bread on this "grilled cheeze" (it's not cheap, ya know).  But, I did let it finish cooking up.  I figured the least I could do is give it a second chance...not to mention see how it melted.

This is all the melty I could get!

Well, it didn't get any better.  It did not melt at all, but rather softened a bit and curled around the edges.  When I sat down with my lunch, I had very low expectations as to how this would taste.  I added a side of my favorite vegan carrot slaw (also courtesy of Georgetown Market), since I probably wouldn't be finishing the grilled cheese.

Does this look melted to you!?

LUNCH!  Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup and Vegan Carrot Slaw from GM!

I was right.  The taste didn't get any better with the crispy, buttery bread, and neither did the texture.  I will never buy this again!

Luckily for me, the soup and carrot slaw did not disappoint.  :-)  Lunch was saved!


Summary:  Don't waste your time even checking this one out!  Taste, meltiness, and price all make this a complete failure.  I'd definitely choose Teese over Rice Vegan....but I highly recommend shelling out the couple extra bucks for Daiya.

Food for Thought: What message are you sending with your money?

I'm putting this blog in my "Vegan Vendibles" section because it's all about the message we are sending as consumers.  How we choose to spend our money is one of the best indicators of our core values.  What message are you sending with your money?

A friend of mine shared this article on Facebook, and I found it interesting.  Many of us watched Food, Inc. and were horrified by what we saw, even vowed to change our eating habits.  But how many of us actually did change our eating habits?  Now, I was already vegan when I saw the documentary, and I already was paying a lot of attention to the kinds of foods I did buy and the places I shopped.  However, since farmers' market season has died down and fresh, local produce is limited during the winter months, I have grown lazy.  Not to mention that my skyrocketing electric bill has forced me to cut down on my grocery budget.  However, this article has reminded me of the importance of choosing my food wisely and sending a message with my consumer dollars.  I am sharing this article not to preach at you, but to give you some food for thought.  You may not choose to spend your money on organics, and that's fine.  But, at least you should be able to make that choice for yourself.  And if you DO choose to buy organics, shouldn't you be getting what you pay for?  I encourage you to sign the petition to get large supermarkets and food producers to label their products with the truth about your food; I think it's an important step.  However, that is not the point of this post.  The most important thing is to use your money to do the talking.

What can you do to help (besides signing a petition)?
*Buy as much local, organically grown produce (and meat, eggs, dairy, if that's your thing) as you can!
*Shop at farmers' markets and small, privately-owned grocery stores for the bulk of your groceries/produce.
*Make a resolution to cook more at home (I mean from whole foods...not a package)!
*Find out which restaurants in your area support local growers/producers, and eat there!

I know most of the people who read this are my friends, local to the Indy area.  If you want to know more about shopping and dining locally, please ask!  I am more than happy to share with you what I know (which is very little compared to some of the friends I've made in obtaining this knowledge).  I just wanted you guys to know!

Read the article here:  http://www.naturalnews.com/031168_organics_Monsanto.html

Luna Burgers - Classic Variety

A new addition to the Green B.E.A.N. product list:  Luna Burgers.  These burgers are handmade in Ohio, using all locally grown, Ohio produce.  The website even lists all of their growers and provides a link to each one (if applicable), which I think is awesome.  Luna Burgers come in 5 varieties:  The Classic, Garden Thyme, Farmhouse Chili, Gluten-Free BBQ, and Peanut Cilantro.  They also have a breakfast patty.  Each of the five flavors looked very unique, and I had a tough time deciding which to order.  But, I figured the classic version was as good a place to start as any.

Ingredients:  Spelt Berries, Black Beans, Oats, Onions, Carrots, Kale, Beets, Blueberries, Molasses, Garlic Apple Cider Vinegar, Salt, Rosemary, Pepper

The package comes with two burgers, and they are pretty good sized.  They are thick and firm.  The color is very unique; they have a purplish tint (due to the blueberries and/or the black beans, I imagine).

Looks like a burger, right?

I put this baby on a lightly oiled skillet and let the heat do its thing.  I made a lettuce bun and topped it with my classic burger faves:  tomato, sprouts, and onion, with a side of brown mustard.

I also made some yummy cajun spiced sweet potato chips!

Well, it certainly looked good, so I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, with the first, and then the second bite, I was disappointed.  There were a lot of flavors going on in this burger, and the ones that were the strongest were the ones I didn't care for much.  I don't know if it was the beets (which I've never been a big fan of), or something else, or the combination of all the different flavors...but I didn't like it.  I couldn't even finish the burger.

Summary:  I love the idea of these burgers:  healthy vegan patties, locally sourced ingredients, unique variety options.  The flavors just didn't sit well with me.  It might be someone else's cup of tea, but it definitely wasn't mine.  That being said, the other varieties do not contain beets (which may have been my turn-off), and I think I may try the Farmhouse Chili or the Peanut Cilantro.  And if that goes well and Green B.E.A.N. starts carrying it, I would be willing to try the breakfast patty as well!