ZenSoy Chocolate Soypudding

Ok, getting your wisdom teeth extracted SUCKS big time.  There is, of course, a certain amount of pain  that comes with the surgery...but you know, they give you drugs for that.  I am the kind of person who does not take meds for anything...no cough medicine, no pain relievers for headaches, nothing.  But you can't really get by with oral surgery without gobs of perscriptions being shoved at you.  I have steroids for swelling, antibiotics for infection, and some killer pain meds.  They're making me alllll wacky, exhausted, and nauseated.

The other "pain" associated with this ordeal has been limited food choices.  I'm supposed to eat soft to fairly-soft foods.  You know, soup, mashed banana, mashed potatoes, etc.  I've probably taken a little too much liberty with some of these foods (maybe peanut butter is a little too sticky, and bread is a little too chewy).  However, I did decide that I could take this opportunity to indulge in a couple things I normally don't allow myself.  I bought a carton of So Delicious's Peanut Butter Zig Zag dairy-free ice cream (yummmmmmm).  AND, I broke down and tried ZenSoy's chocolate pudding, which I've been looking for an excuse to try for some time now. 

Oh boy, did it smell good!  I loooooved pudding as an omni, and I've missed that silky, chocolatey mouthful of goodness. 

Well, it certainly looked and smelled like chocolate pudding.  However, when I stirred it it was a little more clumpy, difficult to stir, than I remember traditional pudding being.  It was very dark and shiny, and I wondered if it was going to be that creamy milk chocolate pudding that I'd missed. 

Well, it was actually pretty good.  The texture was decent, but a little on the watery side for me.  I was just hoping for a fluffy mouthful, and that's not exactly what I got.  The flavor was a little darker than I was expecting, so that was a tiny bit of a let-down.  Just served as a reminder - keep your expectations low, and don't expect non-vegan!

Summary:  All-in-all, this pudding was actually not bad.  It's not something I'm going to be addicted to, and I probably won't need to buy it again, but if you really like pudding...give it a shot!  Just don't expect Jell-O pudding packs, a la Bill Cosby!

Amy's Organic Rice Macaroni with Dairy-Free Cheeze

I LOVE macaroni and cheese.  It was always one of my favorite dishes growing up...the ultimate comfort food, in my opinion.  I love the warm, creamy, salty, cheesy combination.  Since becoming vegan, I have been on the lookout for the best mac'n'cheeze - dine-out, pre-packaged, or recipe.  I did find an excellent mac'n'cheese at The Chicago Diner.  It was the best vegan cheesy dish I'd had since becoming vegan (in fact, everything I tried there was a little bit of vegan heaven).  And since my discovery of Daiya, I have been able to create a satisfactory bowl of mac'n'cheeze whenever I really have a craving.

Sunday, I had an impromptu extraction of my wisdom teeth (thanks to an infection developing in one of them).  I stayed with my parents Sunday night and let them take care of me for about 24 hours, then was ready to get home and take care of myself.  Since my body is not at all used to being on meds, and I was so incredibly drowsy, I did NOT want to cook anything at all.  I drove straight to my favorite store, Georgetown Market, in search of some vegan comfort food that I would not have to prepare myself...something hot, creamy, and soft that wouldn't be difficult on my mouth.  But, soup was not what I wanted.  As I walked past the frozen foods, I spotted a box of creamy goodness.

I'd been holding off on trying Amy's mac'n'cheeze.  I try not to buy packaged foods due to their high sodium content, as well as a slew of other undesirable ingredients.  BUT, I didn't care this time.  I wanted mac'n'cheeze, and I didn't want to make it.  I grabbed it and couldn't wait to get it home and eat it.

I heated it in the oven (I use my microwave so sparingly that I don't even keep it plugged in) according to package directions.  I added some sea salt and fresh ground black pepper and dug right in.  It was probably not the best choice for my aching mouth, and it was a bit of work to keep away from those back sockets, but it was worth it.  It was as good as I could've expected from packaged, frozen mac'n'cheeze.  I was immediately glad Amy's had chosen Diaya for their dish, because it didn't have any of that plastic taste that I've noticed from some of those other vegan cheeses.  It was creamy and soft.  And the gluten-free pasta didn't make a bit of difference in the taste or texture.  (Disclaimer:  I have used gluten-free/rice pasta to cook with at home, so I am used to it.  I don't know if this would make a difference to those who may not be familiar with rice pasta.)

The only drawback - This dish is plenty large and satisfying, but does not come at a cost.  The main reason I had decided not to try this before was because of the high caloric and fat content.  I would not want to eat this on a regular basis, but rather as an occasional indulgence.  And it's definitely a stand-alone dish...it needs no accompaniment.

Summary:  Need some good comfort food?  Not a great cook?  Don't feel like cooking?  Go for it!  You won't be disappointed.  But be careful - indulge in this one too often could lead to a little extra around your middle ;).

Five Star Foodies Artichoke Burgers

If I were picking my favorite things - you know, a la Oprah - I would have to put Green B.E.A.N. Delivery on my list.  In addition to making deliveries of fresh, local, and organic produce right to my door, Green B.E.A.N. offers a variety of other local grocery products.  New on the offerings lits:  Five Star Foodies Artichoke Burgers. 

I was attracted to these burgers because they are 1) vegan (always #1 for me), 2) all-natural and 3) gluten- and soy-free!  They looked pretty delicious, and I love trying new vegan burgers. : )

I took this to my girls' night to have with my Confetti Quinoa (read all about this super-fun recipe here).  I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!

I figured I'd give the naked burger a try first...just to test out the flavors and texture.  I put it on a toasted Ezekiel 4:9 bun and grabbed my first bite.

Not terrible, but it was definitely lacking some green and some juicy-ness.  It was a bit dry, so I piled on plenty of tomato and some boston lettuce.  Simple, but yummy!

I had some stoneground mustard from Local Folks Foods, but I decided I liked it without.  The only thing I would've added...some red onion!

So, I tried another one today, sans bun.  I used two pieces of boston lettuce in place of the bun, and topped it with tomatoes and broccoli sprouts.  The burger was less dry today.  I'm not sure whether the extra moisture was due to the bun-free prep, or because I cooked it a little less this time.  However, I loved it even more than the first time!  I had onion, but I forgot to add it.  It's okay...I didn't miss it as much this time.  Definitely plenty of flavor, so I didn't need to add any extra flavors (vegenaise, mustard, etc.).  The sprouts and tomatoes were perfect!

Summary:  I really enjoyed this burger.  I definitely recommend trying these, especially if gluten-free and soy-free are your fancy.  I WILL be buying more of these Artichoke burgers from Five Star Foodies.  They've got some other delicious-looking products I'd like to try as well.  Vegetarian Harvest Roast or Sloppy Joes anyone!?

War of the Cheezes: Daiya vs. Teese

Ok, so I went about a year and a half being vegan without using any commercial cheese substitutes.  I was always curious about them, but had never tried them.  When I read about Daiya, I was intrigued and just had to try it.  I fell in love immediately.  It was the perfect thing to fill that cheese void I had been trying to fill since giving up dairy.  I have used it to make grilled cheeze, mac'n'cheeze, avocado melt sandwiches, quesadillas, and vegan nachos.  I tried (and thoroughly enjoyed) Tofurkey's pepperoni pizza with Daiya, as well as on a veggie pizza at a local pizza joint in Broadripple that has vegan toppings.  It melts, it stretches, it gets creamy, it's cheesy...everything I expect from cheese, without dairy.  Bonus - it's also soy-free! 

Ever since my discovery of Daiya bliss I have been itching to try some of the other cheese alternatives (although I had read that none of them were anything compared to Daiya).  SO, I recently decided to try them out, finally!

First up...Teese.  I don't know what it was about the shape of the Teese package, but it just made me want to try it!  It wasn't slices or shreds, but a squishy log, more like a package of sausage.  Anyway, it hooked me.

As soon as I cut into it, I was felt the need to try a bite...just to see what it tasted like.  At first it seemed creamy, but as it moved around in my mouth it seemed to fall apart, feeling a bit like wet powder or flour.  The taste was interesting, but I wasn't sure it was all that good.  A little plastic-ish?  I don' t know.  Anyway, I decided to go ahead and make a good ol' grilled cheese sandwich with it.  I buttered a couple pieces of sprouted grain bread, cut a couple thin slices and waited patiently for the skillet to do its magic.

It took a few minutes, and it didn't look it...but the Teese did heat up and melt.  I didn't realize that it had melted until I squeezed the sandwich and some yellow goodness oozed out.

I was hoping this grilled cheese would be as delicious as I anticipated, especially after getting excited by the ooze (I love a good, gooey grilled cheeze).  Here we go...

Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed as I look in the picture.  The taste was bland, with a strange aftertaste that lingered on the back of my tongue.  I tried salting it, but that wasn't enough.  I ended up spreading a bit of vegan sour cream (which I bought for vegan nachos) and a squeeze of mustard on the sandwich to give it a bit better flavor.  I was highly disappointed...but, maybe that's not fair.  I have been spoiled by Daiya!

I am going to look at some of the recipes on the Teese website and see if this alternative is better for use in dishes rather than a stand-alone staple for sandwiches and quesadillas.  I won't get my hopes up too much, though.

Summary:  I don't think I'll try Teese again.  Like so many vegan choices, it's a bit pricey for the quality.  I think I'll stick with my tried and true Diaya...never a disappointment!

Go Max Go's Jokerz and Twilight Candy Bars

So here is my first real product review blog.  Today I am trying the Jokerz bar by Go Max Go.  A couple days ago I also tried their Twilight bar, so I will also share my opinion on that while I'm at it.  When I first found these bars on VeganEssentials.com, I was dying to try them.  I haven't had a candy bar in over 2 years, probably more than that since I really stopped eating candy bars well before I became vegan.  These looked so tempting, and when I found out they were carrying them at my favorite local specialty grocery store I had to check it out!

A couple nights ago, I tried out the Twilight bar, which is supposed to resemble a Milky Way.  I love chocolate, I love caramel, and I love nougat, so I couldn't wait to try this.  I have to confess, I couldn't even wait to get home before I tore open the package and bit in right there in my car.  The smooth chocolate and chewy center automatically sent me into a state of bliss, and the last bite was just as wonderful as the first.  It was creamy and chewy, just what I wanted.  It did remind me a bit of a Milky Way, but I'm not sure a non-vegan would be so convinced.  I thoroughly enjoyed this treat, and I didn't care a bit whether it tasted exactly like its ick-ridden counterpart.  In my opinion...delicious!

So, here I am...ready to try Go Max Go #2:  Jokerz bar.  This one is said to be a vegan-friendly version of a Snickers bar, with nougat, caramel, and peanuts covered in chocolate.  When I opened the package, I couldn't help but take a whiff...it certainly smelled heavenly.  The salty, peanuty aroma and the sweet chocolate were alluring.  On the first bite, I was once again taken in by the chewy texture of the nougat and caramel.  While the taste was good, it was the chewiness that kept me coming back, bite after bite.  I did enjoy the taste, but there was something about it that is holding me back from giving it anything better than 3 1/2 stars.  I can't quite say what it is.  Again, it does somewhat resemble a Snickers, but I don't think anyone who regularly enjoys a Snickers would be convinced to switch.

Summary:  I definitely preferred the Twilight to the Jokerz.  Both are good candy bars, and certainly worth a try.  That being said, if I really want to satisfy a sweet tooth or chocolate craving, I would be just as satisfied with a Luna bar (Caramel Nut Brownie, anyone?).  Plus, with about 100 fewer calories and far less fat and sugar per bar, I'd feel a whole lot better about my choice.  Another bonus...Lunas can be found as much as $1 per bar cheaper than these delectable chocolate treats!

A Few Favorites

Before I venture into full-on blog mode, detailed descriptions of individual products, I thought I'd offer a list of my go-to favorites.  Some of these got me through my first few grueling months of veganism, satiating my gnawing temptations for all things animal.  Others are neo-classics, making vegan life a little more pleasant by adding the occasional indulgence.  I will go ahead and say that these products are only occasional treats for me, as the majority of the time I make my own food from fresh, whole ingredients.  But, they are great for those times I need something quick and delicious, or when I'm making a dish for a special occasion or party.  Here we go...

**Please note that you should ALWAYS read product labels, as ingredients change from time to time.  Also, some flavors made by these companies contain non-vegan ingredients, such as whey or honey.  I only choose those varieties and flavors that I have found to be vegan-friendly.

Snack/Energy Bars:

Lärabar - A few of my fave flavors include:  Cherry Pie, Lemon Bar, Banana Bread, and Peanut Butter & Jelly.  I'm dying to try some of the newer and chocolatey flavors.

Clif Bar - Great for a chewy, on-the-go or pre/post workout snack, especially when I have a chocolate/brownie craving attack.  I love to throw a Clif Bar into my bike basket when I'm riding around town running errands or going to the park with Reggie.  Plus, they make a mini bar, which I think is fabulous!  Favorite varieties:  Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, Crunchy Peanut Butter.  Wish list flavors:  Banana Nut Bread, Black Cherry Almond, Blueberry Crisp, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut.
 Note:   Clif Kids Z Bars are also a great choice; smaller, fewer calories, but excellent taste!

Luna Bar - These great snack bars, also made by the Clif company, are great for satisfying candy bar cravings, with their smooth, sugary bottom coatings.  Excellent choices:  Nutz Over Chocolate, Caramel Nut Brownie, Chocolate Peppermint Stick, Chocolate Raspberry, Toasted Nuts and Cranberry.  My mom's suggestion:  Iced Oatmeal Raisin.  **Luna Bar also makes minis!
 **ALERT!  Vegans should stay away from Luna Protein, as they contain whey protein.  Remember:  always read labels!

Chips and Salty Snacks:

Garden of Eatin' Tortilla Chips - These crunchy and flavorful tortilla chips are a wonderful, organic alternative to your average tortilla chips.  Great for dipping in some fresh, homemade salsa, guacamole, or for making excellent vegan nachos.  My go-to-flavor...Red Hot Blues!

Terra Vegetable Chips - Refreshing and delicious...way better than any greasy potato chip.  Terra has a variety of exotic veggie chips, sliced thin to create a crispy crunch.  

Cheese:

Daiya - Hands-down, the best vegan cheese option I've tried.  I have used Daiya to make a variety of my most beloved and missed non-vegan dishes, including quesadillas, nachos, grilled cheese, and mac'n'cheese.  It melts, it's creamy, it's stringy, and it tastes amazing.

Bread and Bread Products:

Rudi's Organic - When I'm not worried about being high raw and I want a good, soft, and hearty bread, I usually go to Rudi's Organic.  They have great whole-grain and vegan products - including bagels!

Food for Life - Most of the time, I eat a moderate to high raw diet, and that does not include cooked breads.  Food for life makes many sprouted grain products that I love (not completely raw, but my bread treat when I'm on a raw kick).  I love the Ezekiel 4:9 line of products, including the flourless bread, burger buns, and tortillas.  Food for Life's cereals are also excellent!

Burger:


Five Star Foodies Artichoke Burger - While these are not at all like traditional burgers, and don't resemble meat in any way, they are my favorite "burger" or veggie patty to date.  Excellent flavor and texture, and taste great without a bun (so they're great for getting in lots of veggies).  See my full review here.


Sunshine Burger - Also gluten- and soy-free, these burgers have a bit more of a meaty texture than the artichoke burger.  While they don't exactly resemble beef burgers in taste, they are delicious and my choice for a grill-and-bun burger.

Sweet Treats:

Country Life Sandwich Cremes - These are my favorite Oreo-alikes.  Country Life products are made with 95%+ organic ingredients, and they are the best flavored sandwich cookies around.

Barbara's Bakery Raspberry Fig Bars - I love these delicious, cakey, gooey fig bars.  YUM!  Barbara's also makes many other organic and vegan products.

Turtle Mountain's Purely Decadent Frozen Desserts - Turtle Mountain makes the tastiest and creamiest dairy-free "ice creams" I have tried.  Their frozen coconut varieties are incredible and soy-free.  My favorite coconut flavor is the chocolate, but I'm dying to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl.  Their soy milk frozen desserts are also delicious, and I couldn't stop myself from eating nearly the entire carton of Peanut Butter Zig Zag.  There are so many flavors, I can't wait to do more research on these!

What do you want to see?
Need a suggestion?  Leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to see and I'll let you know what I've tried!