Beans – Page 3 – The Celiathlete

October 18, 2014October 19, 2014

Product Review: Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix + Recipe Bonus

Product: Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix – $4.99+

For the last few issues, I’ve noticed that my Delight Gluten Free magazine has had ads for this vegan meat replacement called Neat. I was beyond intrigued and immediately went on the hunt in my local natural food stores. Sadly, but not surprisingly, no one in my area carried this product. At least not yet. I said I’d get online and see if I could order it, but, naturally, I forgot to do that. Story of my life.

I can’t help it. I have too much to think sometimes and these mental notes and reminders get lost in the shuffle.

But then…it was as if they felt the need to answer my unspoken prayer…my favorite monthly delivery arrived. Cuisine Cube’s October cube arrived in the mail and I immediately tore into it, wondering what sort of surprises awaited inside. And if you haven’t looked into ordering a Cuisine Cube yet…get over to their Web site and try it out. Seriously, this is one of the best investments I have ever made. Receiving gluten-free items from smaller and lesser known companies each month has become a treat I look forward to every month. So…if you have made a mental note to check them out, and it’s gotten lost in the shuffle…click on the link above and check it out. For real.

Now back to your regularly scheduled blog…

So, October’s Cuisine Cube arrived and one of the items inside was…you guessed it…because I’m blogging about it…Neat – A Replacement For Meat! The version included in the box was the Mexican Mix. Neat, for the record, also has an Original Mix (for burgers/chili), an Italian Mix (for “meatballs” and lasagna), and also a Breakfast Mix (for quiches and breakfast sandwiches). Let me tell you…I did this happy little dance of joy and might have squeaked a bit when I pulled that pouch out of the cube. Seriously…after reading about it and looking for it…I finally had it in my clutches!

As a gluten-free vegetarian, vegan/vegetarian meat substitutes are hard to come by. Most vegan/vegetarian meat substiutes have some sort of vital wheat gluten in them. And a lot of companies refuse to go the gluten-free route because it would “jeopardize the integrity of the product.” BOOOO!! So, up until recently, I’d just season up some tofu and work with that. But…it’s not the same.

So, what exactly is Neat? Neat is a meat replacement that is derived from nuts and other non-GMO natural ingredients. It is a product that was created by a mother of two children who decided that they were going to become vegetarians. At first she would puree beans into sauces to help her girls get the protein they wanted, but after awhile, everyone got tired of it. And that was when she got into the kitchen, experimented, and created what is now marketed at Neat.

Neat - A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix (in a skillet with chopped onion and chopped green pepper) — Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix (in a skillet with chopped onion and chopped green pepper)

Neat comes in this shelf-stable pouch in a powdered form. All you do to prepare it is pour the pouch into a bowl, add two eggs (or a vegan egg replacer), plus two tablespoons of water. Stir all the ingredients together and throw it into a skillet over medium heat, just as you would ground beef, for about seven minutes. To make it into crumbles, as it cooks, stir and chop it up, and what you end up with is this perfect texture of meat crumbles that is not just completely vegan/vegetarian…but also gluten-free!

Now…gluten-free and vegetarian tacos are sort of something I’m famous for. I have gotten really creative with how to prepare tacos (Tour De Taco happens often at my apartment) to make them not just gluten-free, but also meat free. And a meat replacement hasn’t been used in a long time. So, while I had a pouch of the Mexican Mix from Neat, I decided to bring back an old favorite of mine as a kid, back when I ate meat and would basically beg my mom to make this for dinner.

What I did was cook up my mom’s famous Enchilada Hotdish. Normally this is made with ground beef, but this meant I could use the Neat Mexican Mix for a different purpose. Tacos…been there, done that. Enchilada Hotdish…haven’t had that in AGES!! So, that’s what I did. I picked up a gluten-free and vegetarian can of chili and I got a roll of Teese Vegan Nacho Cheese…and the rest was vegetables and seasonings I already had at home. Perfect.

So, tonight…I pulled out the Cuisine Cube treat of Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix and set out to prepare it. I chopped up the vegetables that were needed and then retrieved the can of chili and the vegan nacho cheese (which I substituted for the cheddar cheese soup) and had them ready with my seasoning. First things first…preparing Neat.

Super easy. I poured the powdered contents of the package into a medium mixing bowl. Then, per the instructions, I added two eggs and the water and mixed it up. It created this…sludge of sorts…but I trusted it and went with it. I had a non-stick skillet on the stove and put the Neat into it to start browning. The vegetables were also added so they could start to get soft before I added the rest of the ingredients. With everything in the pan, and heated through, I began to assemble the hotdish itself. This meant putting the “meat” mixture into the casserole dish, then layering it with tortilla chips, then repeating it. Into the oven it went to bake and about 30 minutes later…viola!! I was enjoying a version of my mom’s Enchilada Hotdish.

So…how was it?

It is not an exaggeration when I say I want to marry Neat. For real. WOW! I was SO impressed, not only with the flavor, but how great the texture it. Here is a company that is getting ti right. Going into the pan to cook, it didn’t look appetizing or promising, but it all came together. And it was the perfect meat substitute for the beef that would have been normally used in this recipe. I am thrilled with this product and think I’ll be placing an order to try ALL the Neat products. And, I also might straight-out make tacos next time. But, I figured I should really put this product to the test. Trust the hype…it’s amazing.

Also…tested it out straight from the pan on the tortilla chips and…oh…yum. Makes a great dip too! HA!

Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Enchilada Hotdish (made with Neat - A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix) — Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Enchilada Hotdish (made with Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix)

Let’s first delve into the nitty-gritty ingredients and nutrition of Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix. The Mexican Mix version of Neat is made from pecans, garbanzo beans, organic whole grain gluten free cornmeal, sea salt, and spices. So, where this is meat-free and dairy-free, and also gluten-free…it is NOT nut-free. So, if you have a nut allergy…this product is not for you.

As for nutrition, a serving of Neat Mexican Mix is 40 grams and each pouch contains 4 servings. This serving will give you 21o calories and 15 grams of fat (healthy fat as it is coming from beans and nuts). A serving will provide you with 333 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And, trust me, the 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein will leave you feeling full…whether you’re making a hotdish or having taco night.

But…there is more!

I’ve decided, since it worked out so well, that I would share the recipe I used this product in. This is a family recipe of my mom’s and it is SO delicious!! If you are not a vegetarian, you can use 1 pound of lean ground beef…and if you can handle dairy, please use your cheddar cheese soup (as long as it is gluten-free!)…but this is how I prepared the dish tonight…with great success!!

Recipe: Gluten Free Vegetarian Enchilada Hotdish

Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Enchilada Hotdish

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 package Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix
2 organic cage-free eggs
2 tablespoons water
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 package Teese Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
1 can vegetarian chili (I used Amy’s Organic Light in Sodium Medium Chili)
1/2 can water

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Pour the Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Mexican Mix into a medium bowl. Add two eggs (or egg replacer if vegan) and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix well.

In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown the Next Mexican Mix, onion, and green peppers. Cook until vegetables begin to soften and the Neat can be chopped into a meat texture. Add the chili powder, vegan cheese sauce, chili and water to the mix and mix well. Allow it to heat through for a few minutes to marry the flavors together.

In a 9×9 oven-proof dish, place in layers, alternating the meat mixture with 1 package of tortilla or nacho chips.

Bake for 30 minutes.

~*~*~

Thanks to Cuisine Cube and Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat, I was not only able to recreate a version of an old family favorite, but it tasted so much like how I remembered it tasting when I was growing up. I couldn’t have been happier tonight as I sat and devoured my dinner. I can’t wait to get my hands on the other Neat products. Talk about having a desired product land in your lap!!

Seriously…seek out this product!! I highly recommend it! The product is so versatile…beyond just a protein base for tacos. Try out the recipe above or use it in one of your own family favorites. You will not be disappointed. I promise!

September 27, 2014September 28, 2014

Recipe: Garden Chili

I have a lot of vegetables in my crisper drawer. Like…a lot. A whole lot. Because…I get a CSA bin loaded up each Friday and sometimes I get through them, and other times…I don’t. Well, last week with all the birthday insanity…I barely got through them. It wasn’t without trying. I just…had so much going on and a few dinners had to be really quick and simple and…not cooked from my fresh and delicious vegetables. Hey…I did make an amazing salad though with a whole lot of them.

But, I digress.

With a trip coming up next week, I am determined to use up much of what is now in my crisper drawer. I also had a new gluten-free and dairy-free recipe for cornbread that I really, really, really wanted to get working on…so…I thought…

CHILI!!

Now, I have a TON of recipes for vegetarian chili…but I wanted one that I could use simply what I had in my kitchen. And, it just so happened to exist in my Happy Herbivore Light & Lean cookbook. Only thing I needed was…beans! Simple enough, I was grocery shopping today anyway. So…clocking in at 153 calories and 1 gram of fat, I give you…

Recipe: The Happy Herbivore’s Garden Chili

Servings: 2-3 (but I made 6 servings out of it)
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups vegetable broth, divided
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes (undrained) (I used fire-roasted low sodium diced tomatoes)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1/4 cup tomato paste2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoon Vegan Worcestershire Sauce (I used gluten-free liquid smoke instead!)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 (15 ounce) can pinto or kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I used organic chili beans)

Directions:

Line a large pot with a thin layer of broth, and sauté onion and garlic over high heat until onion is translucent, about a minute.

Add the bell pepper, tomatoes with juice, mushrooms, celery, carrots, tomato paste, remaining broth, spices, and condiments. Stir, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to low and simmer until the vegetables are fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Add water or tomato sauce to make it more chili-like if necessary. Add beans and serve.

~*~*~

Okay…confession…I totally missed the part where it said to cover the pot. HAHA! No wonder it took a little bit of time to get those vegetables fork-tender. My total bad! But, it still worked. And what emerged was a fantastic spicy (but not too spicy…because the roomie didn’t even comment that her sinuses were running!) chili that celebrates vegetables. Most vegetarian chilies seem to put so much emphasis on beans that this was, indeed, a nice change. And serving this up with a couple slices of gluten-free and dairy-free cornbread made for one great, perfect fall meal.

It’s soup/chili season, folks! Let’s get cooking!

August 26, 2014

Restaurant Review: Papa Roux, Indianapolis, Indiana

Restaurant: Papa Roux, Indianapolis, Indiana

When it comes to food, there are certain cuisines that I absolutely love. Seriously. From Italian to Indian to Greek and more…there is something about the various tastes, seasonings, and textures of each different type of food that just awakens my palate every time.

One such cuisine that I love to eat, but haven’t had much of it in the past…oh…8 years…is Cajun!

YUM!

I love Cajun food, and not just because it famously is known to be spicy. I mean, we all know that I like it hot and spicy…but there is something so comforting and simplistic, even when the dish is anything but easy. As a vegetarian, a lot of Cajun food doesn’t fall into my diet. As a Celiac…it makes it even harder. We have a couple of small chain Cajun places around here, but they aren’t making the real deal. I forgot just what I was missing up until Saturday afternoon, when Cathy and I followed up our Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest with a lunch date with our good friend, Greg.

As you guys know, Greg can be quite particular about the places and foods that he eats. Well, for years now he has been raving about the food at a local Cajun place called Papa Roux. And he always pointed out that this particular place had plenty of vegetarian options…as well as gluten-free. While we are in Indianapolis quite often, we never seem to be there at a decent time to actually go to Papa Roux. So, we default to a personal favorite – Cheeseburger in Paradise.

But…NOT. THIS. TIME.

I was excited to try out Papa Roux. With all that Greg had talked it up to be, I was happy that he decided that would be our place to meet and eat that day. Cathy and I arrived just as Greg had pulled in. So we had good timing. Papa Roux may not look like much from the outside, but don’t let the dive atmosphere turn you off or away. Go inside. And you’re in for a treat.

Upon entering, you are greeted at the counter where you place your order. I had to look at the options for me, and finally decided that I was going to get the Spicy Tomato Creole ($8.00). I ordered an unsweetened iced tea with that (that’s free, by the way!) and then let Cathy get her order in. Cathy opted for the Chicken Po-Boy ($9.00) with a handcrafted lemonade to drink ($2.00). And Greg went for the Spicy Bean Chili ($8.00) with an unsweetened iced tea as well. You pay there, put a name on the order, and go find a table.

At the table, you get to choose your sides. This was exciting. You can choose as many as you want and as often as you want. When you dine-in at Papa Roux…the unlimited sides are free and unlimited. Honestly. I knew my creole was going to be spicy, so I went with something soothing and refreshing. Applesauce. Greg got the Coleslaw and something else, which I don’t recall. And Cathy opted for the Red Beans and Rice.

Our drinks arrived and we were invited to sign the autograph wall. Yes…the walls inside Papa Roux are covered in signatures. It’s a really cool, very nice touch. So, both Cathy and I added our signatures to the graffiti. And, after a little bit of a wait (they cook to order!), our food was soon arriving.

The first thing I noticed…Cathy’s Chicken Po-Boy was bigger than her head. She said she’d be lucky to make a dent in it. But after she pulled it apart, ate the chicken with the spicy mustard and coleslaw mixed in and not much of the bread, she managed a bit more than expected. The star was the stuff inside, not the giant, thick bread, for sure! Greg let me try the chili that he ordered, as he had raved about it for as long as he’s raved about the restaurant itself. He said it wasn’t as spicy as usual, and I had to agree…because my Spicy Tomato Creole was spicier than his chili.

So…how was the Spicy Tomato Creole? Spicy!! And that’s a good thing. It had this nice, rich flavor…like an amazing marinara, with a kick. The heat was perfect…for me. Some might have said it was too much, but I didn’t find it to overwhelm or completely kill my palate. Nope. This was amazing. Before I was a vegetarian, my mom would make a fantastic shrimp creole for Thanksgiving each year…so the creole definitely caught my attention. I loved the chunks of tomato and onion that were throughout, lending a bit of texture. And the spice definitely didn’t overwhelm but I wasn’t underwhelmed either. It said “spicy” in the title, so I wanted spicy. And it delivered, for sure. I was impressed. The stew, itself, came with small servings of rice that were dished on the side…just the right amount. The applesauce was delicious too…not sure if they make it, but the cool, soothing nature of it was a nice compliment to the spicy creole stew I was devouring.

We were all quite happy with the food, the prices, and the experience overall. I can see why Greg raves about Papa Roux all the time. I already want to go back and try more of their gluten-free and vegetarian stews. Really fell in love with the place. The atmosphere is great. The service is good. And the food…beyond fantastic. And any reservations I might have had about just how gluten-free the food was going to be was put to rest when the person who took our order at the counter asked if it was a dietary preference or an allergy. YES! A place that truly gets it.

Thank you, Greg…for finally getting us to Papa Roux to try the amazing food and take in the place in person…instead of through your mouthwatering stories of what you’ve had there. Thank you, Papa Roux, for giving me a safe, delicious, and spicy meal that day. It was just what I needed.

And soon…I’ll be back for more. I can’t wait.

Papa Roux's Spicy Tomato Creole — Papa Roux’s Spicy Tomato Creole

August 26, 2014

Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest – Indianapolis, Indiana – August 23, 2014

GF Jules and me at the Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana!

This past Saturday, I had the honor of being able to attend the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I love going to gluten-free expos and events and Indianapolis seems to always have one at some point during any calendar year. This year was no exception, and I was thrilled to read about the new location for this year’s event – the Indian State Fairgrounds. With all the vendors and exhibitors I saw listed, I knew this year’s event was going to be HUGE! I was not let down at all.One of the magazines I currently subscribe to, Gluten Free & More (formerly Living Without), was putting on the Living Without Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in various cities this year as a way to show those with food allergies and/or sensitivities that we can live life without deprivation and missing out on delicious food. It was a coming together of the magazine, as well as over a hundred of their favorite exhibitors to celebrate living well. And it was open to anyone who wanted to stop in.

Tickets went on sale and, as a subscriber, I received a free entry, and then received a discount code for another ticket…so I had Cathy taken care of as well. So, on Saturday morning, we ate a light breakfast before climbing into the car and hauling up to Indianapolis. We timed it perfectly because we burned through our breakfast just as we got up there, about 30 minutes after it officially opened.

And…there was already a line waiting to get in.

Oh…that made me happy, indeed.

It was a hot summer day already and standing outside in the blazing sun didn’t sound like too much fun…but it wasn’t going to be a long wait. Just about 5 minutes, at the most. And while standing in line, I got to listen to people who have done expos like this before (like me) describe the events and how things work to the first timers. I even got to geek out over favorite products and the like for a few moments. I love making gluten-free friends!

Before we knew it, we were inside the doors, in the air conditioning, and getting the tickets scanned. We were given blue wristbands to wear (for re-entry purposes and to show we paid!). Cathy and I put them on and headed into the expo proper. We were greeted at the door by people passing out reusable shopping bags from Glutino (a personal favorite!). Perfect for all the samples and products you are bound to pick up and buy.

Trust me, you don’t walk out of these events empty-handed.

Cathy and I decided that we were going to be systematic about our approach to each table/vendor/aisle. We’d start on one side and then work our way up, then come back down the other side. This was a good plan in theory, and we decided to start in the middle aisle to avoid the congestion of the end aisles. We soon found out…no matter what…it was just hopping and congested. People were surrounding tables, getting free samples, trying products, trying local baked goods, and the like. So, we ditched our original systematic plan for the…let’s just see what there is and wriggle into open areas when we can.

We’re pros. HA!

That being said, we began our Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest at the Glutino/Udi’s/Earth Balance booth, which was giving out samples of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Cookies as well as Glutino’s Gluten-Free Multigrain English Muffins, schmeared with Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread. It was all crazy, crazy delicious. I actually have the Glutino English Muffins in my freezer, I just haven’t tried them yet. Now…I know buying them wasn’t a mistake at all. They were delicious. And that Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread…out-of-this-world good!

And from there…it only got better. We made a point to stop by each vendor’s table and talk to them about their products, if we had tried them. If we hadn’t…we would ask all about them. I made a point of raving to the Pamela’s Product people about the Figgies & Jammies. Because they are awesome and worthy of praise. I talked to the Hodgson Mills representative and when I mentioned being a food blogger he said to reach out to the Hodgson Mills team anytime. I was told the same thing by various other vendors as well. And one local vendor who was selling the most amazing bar-b-que sauce and seasoning (which we purchased) said to tag her on Facebook when I use their products so they can read my blog. I was having a great time.

I think, though, the best moment had to come at the Freedom Foods table. Because, as many of you are aware, Freedom Foods only makes my favorite gluten-free cereal, Tropic-O’s. NOM NOM! I can’t find this cereal here anymore, since my Whole Foods stopped carrying it, so my parents ship it to me from Birmingham, Alabama. We have a system down. But, recently, they put out a gluten-free, dairy-free, and not-free version of Nutella…which I fell in love with. My local Kroger is the only place that had it…and I bought the last jar of it a few weeks ago. It has never been restocked. So…I stocked up on some Quinoa Pancake Mix, lots of “Smudge” (that’s the Nutella stuff!), and a few other products to try, all the time raving about how much I love their products and how they honestly care about what ingredients go into all of their stuff. It didn’t hurt that the guy at the table had a New Zealand/Australian accent. HELLO! I actually ended up going back to the table before leaving that day and buying 4 more jars of Smudge. I hadn’t opened the one I had at home for fear I would never find it again. Now…it’s on!

I was able to sample some of the best gluten-free Snickerdoodles I have ever eaten. And this pasta that was made from lentils that tasted exactly like regular pasta…but I couldn’t afford the hefty price tag on it. Unfortunately. It was nice to sample it, however. At the very back of the building, for those over 21, was the gluten-free cider/beer tasting area. There was so much food and samples…so I was glad we ate light. And Cathy and I have a system down…where we split a sample so we aren’t filling up on our own. It always works at these events.

However, I have to say the greatest moment ever was when I finally got to meet GF Jules in person. GF Jules (formerly Jules Gluten Free) was one of the first Celiac/Gluten-Free bloggers/recipe makers/amazing people I started to follow on social media after my diagnosis. While I have been to events where she has been present, I have never been able to actually meet her. That changed. We discovered that we were food allergy soul sisters, both of us being vegetarian Celiacs who also can’t handle dairy. Go figure. She was so nice and just so easy to talk with. I picked up one of her cookbooks, which she signed, and she was kind enough to take a picture with me. I might have geeked out a little bit. Or a lot. You know how it goes…

And soon, after a couple hours of tasting, testing, buying, talking, and exploring, our time at the expo drew to a close. We were going to meet our friend, Greg, for lunch that day, so we bid adieu to the fantastic event and made our way out to the car.

This event was probably the best one I have attended so far. Great people, great vendors, great information all around. And I came home with samples and products to try in the very near future. Can’t argue with that, right? Right!

I hope they return next year. I’m already making plans to attend. If one of these events happens near you…I definitely encourage you to go!

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning

Product: Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning – $3.95+

Maybe it’s the “end of summer” last call in this month’s Cuisine Cube, but I was hit up with a product I couldn’t eat (Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky) as a vegetarian, and then, as I was eagerly pulling products out of the box…noted the burger sauce and the burger seasoning.

You’d think I would do as I did with the turkey jerky and put it in the break room as fair game for any hungry or burger-loving co-workers. But not me. You see, one thing I love doing is creating products in my kitchen. And never have burgers been completely limited to meat. Especially where I am concerned. What I did was started to ponder what a vegetarian could create using these products meant for burgers and lo and behold…it came to me.

I decided I would create a veggie burger (using green lentils for the main source of protein) and figured I could use the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix as I would if I had been cooking with meat. It was brilliant. It was…a good reason to dig out those lentils.

Last night, I donned my skull and crossbones apron and set myself to work, creating my veggie burger. Lentils, mushrooms, and more all got cooked up, and after giving it a little mash, in went the seasoning. I immediately loved how light and citrus-y it smelled. It had this very bright aroma to it and I knew it was really going to elevate my veggie burger. Happiness. I chilled the base and after about 30 minutes, pounded out about 10 actual patties, freezing 8 of them and using two for dinner (one for me and one for the roomie!). Some olive oil on my skillet and down went the patties. No cheese necessary…I was topping these with Russian red kale and green tomato.

Within a couple of minutes, the burgers had a beautiful sear on them and I lifted them off the skillet and put them in the gluten-free buns (which I purchased from my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café). Dinner was served (with a side of smashed purple potatoes!). I topped these off with the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce (see next review!) and then…settled in to see how my own play on a veggie burger came out.

I can honestly say, thanks to the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning, I didn’t need to add anything more to these burgers as I formed the base. No extra salt. No other spices or herbs. This was just what these lentils, mushrooms, and other veggies needed. The seasoning itself wasn’t too strong, but you could definitely taste the variety of flavors that made up this mix. The veggie burgers that I made with the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning were pure perfection…especially when it came to balancing flavors. Brilliant.

The Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix is made from garlic, thyme, black pepper, salt, lemon zest, cayenne pepper, onion, parsley, natural lemon juice powder, sugar, and citric acid. This mix is all natural, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. And…it’s perfect for carnivores and herbivores alike. Trust me.

A serving of the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix is 1 teaspoon. This one serving will provide you with 5 calories and less than 1 gram of fat. You will be taking in 135 mg sodium. Finally, this serving gives you 0 grams of protein and fiber.

Once again, Cuisine Cube provided me with a product I never would have known about or tried…but thanks to it being in my cube, I found a purpose for it. I’m not going to let a vegetarian keep me from trying whatever I can in these boxes of happiness each month. The jerky was one thing…but burger seasoning…hell, I can figure out a use for that! One delicious veggie burger later, not using it with a meat base made no difference, this seasoning mix should be raved about. Absolutely loved it. And now, I have my first official recipe for my own cookbook.

Thank you Dinner Tonight and Cuisine Cube!

July 13, 2014

Product Review: SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce

Product: SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce – $4.99+

SoL Cuisine has been a surprise to me as far as the products they put out onto the market. For one thing, they are the only brand that offers gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian items that I can’t get otherwise. For that, I am forever in my debt to this company. Because of SoL Cuisine, I can have vegetarian breakfast sausages again. Because of SoL Cuisine, I have another option for veggie burgers. Because of SoL Cuisine, I can have vegetarian BBQ Ribs again. Because of SoL Cuisine…I can indulge in Falafel!

YES!

Falafel. That little Mediterranean cake made from chickpeas that is so awesomely yummy? Ever tried it? If not…you should. I love falafel. Always have. Because I am a huge fan of Mediterranean food as well. So, when I was grocery shopping and spotted SoL Cuisine’s Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce on closeout at my local natural food store…it was time to finally give it a try. I couldn’t argue with the price.

Unfortunately, I never really had anything in the house to use the SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with. Normally, it would be served on pita bread…but my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand that had the gluten-free pita bread. So, that was sad. But, thanks to my trip to Boulder, Colorado and a stop in at one of their local natural food stores, I picked up these gluten-free sandwich petals (think Flat-Out Wraps). I picked up one of each kind of petal and brought them home with me.

And after a weekend in Detroit…where I saw Queen in concert…which was awesome. And…coming home in time to watch the World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina…I needed dinner. My breakfast was small and my lunch consisted of applesauce and a protein bar. Yeah…it was only 3:45 but I was ready for dinner for sure. I had so many options for easy meals to choose from in my pantry and freezer…so I pulled out some options and called in Cathy to help make a decision. She settled on Falafel (because we had it the longest). So I asked if I should put it on Amy’s Gluten-Free Sandwich Thins or the Sandwich Petals…and she decided on the Spinach Garlic Pesto Sandwich Petals. Hey…it was the closest thing we had to a flatbread. No pita…no problem.

SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel (cooked stove top)

So, I got a pan out and placed a touch of coconut oil in it. Then, into the pan went six (3 for each of us) of the Sol Cuisine Organic Falafel. I let them work in the pan while I put the frozen tahini sauce package into hot water to (hopefully) let it thaw before the rest of the meal was ready. Note to those of you out there about to try this product or thinking about it…thaw the sauce! Aside from that everything went very well. I cooked the Organic Falafel in the pan for about 5 minutes on one side…then flipped them over and did the same for the other side. They turned a gorgeous golden brown on the one side, so it was starting to come together. I got out the Sandwich Petals and heated up (one at a time) each flatbread, put some of the (thankfully) thawed sauce on each one, topped it with greens, then moved the now golden brown falafel over to the waiting flatbread. I topped it off with a bit more sauce, folded it over…and dinner…was served.

So, I settled in to finally really start paying attention to the second half of the World Cup final match. I carefully lifted up my Mediterranean sandwich of sorts and took a bite. I think I expected a little more of a crunch to the falafel from the stove top cooking, but, it was still quite soft. In fact, two of them started to meld together when I took another bite. But, falafel is not crunchy, but a chickpea cake of soft goodness, so this was actually what it should be like. And, honestly, I liked it. I liked it a lot. And the Organic Tahini Sauce that is included in the box is quite tasty as well. I was impressed. I found these easy to eat, and really quite delicious. I never know what it means when my roommate describes a product as “quite tasty” because she never really says anything else, so I can’t really say what her thoughts are truly on it…but she ate her Falafel Flatbread Sammie and that was enough to say that it was at least palatable to her. As for me…I devoured mine. The sandwich was a bit awkward, not really having a pocket to tuck everything into, but I made it work and in the end…it was a delicious, and quite healthy dinner.

SoL Cuisine does it again!

Let’s talk ingredients, yes? The SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel is made from organic chickpeas, organic okra, organic onion powder, organic garlic powder, wheat free tamari sauce, organic tahini, organic expeller pressed sunflower oil, organic tapioca starch, organic sesame seeds, and xanthan gum. The Organic Tahini Sauce is made from organic tahini, filtered water, organic lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, and organic garlic. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and organic.

Nutrition-wise…these aren’t a bad option at all. The serving size of SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel is three of the patties. These three patties will serve you up 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 210 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These are cholesterol free. Finally, you will be taking in 7 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling and delicious.

So far, I have yet to really not enjoy something from SoL Cuisine. The Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce is a great and easy meal to prepare. Serve it up on flatbread or crackers…drizzle with the sauce, and enjoy every bite. This was a fantastic and unique meal to have while watching the World Cup…but it was a delicious stunner of a meal regardless.

Love!

SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce on a Gluten-Free Spinach Garlic Pesto Sandwich Petal

Chickpeas*, Okara*, Onion* & Garlic* Powder, Spice*, Wheat Free Tamari Sauce*(Water, Soybeans*, Salt), Tahini*, Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil*, Tapioca Starch*, Sesame Seeds*, Xanthan Gum. – See more at: http://solcuisine.com/american-retail/sol-cuisine-falafel-sauce#sthash.k8FUfHIs.dpuf

June 15, 2014

Product Review: Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger

Product: Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger – $3.99+

It’s World Cup time!! YAY!! I had the honor of attending a World Cup match back in 1994, when the USA was hosting the matches. It was so much fun. And while I’ve never played soccer…I love the sport. I could go to a match and have the best time of my life.

And with the World Cup kicking off a couple of days ago…and with my favorite player (Diego Forlan on the Uruguay National Team) playing a match late this afternoon, I figured we needed some sort of game-day grub for the occasion! Back in 2010, you couldn’t pull Cathy or I away from the matches on television or online. We watched the hell out of them.

Those days are back with a vengeance. And…although Uruguay lost today to Costa Rica (BOOOO!), at least I made a fun “pub grub” like meal. The main focus of said World Cup meal was…veggie burgers. And…more to the point…one of my favorite brands so far…Hilary’s Eat Well. This time, instead of her original veggie burger…I was told to choose one of the options at our new local grocery store (Lucky’s). They had three other ones I had yet to try…and in the end, I went for the Adzuki Bean Burger. Why? The words green chili and cumin caught my attention! And we had purchased an avocado…so that would pair well, I figured. Green chilies and avocado are best mates! I think.

With kickoff happening, I got up to make the veggie burgers and prepare the toppings. I had thawed out some of the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns that were in my freezer and put them in the oven to toast. I caramelized some onion…sliced tomatoes…tore up some lettuce…and sliced up the avocado. As I finished that up, the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers came out of the freezer and hit my skillet with just a touch of oil.

These don’t take long to cook at all. About three to five minutes on each side. And then, because I melt a slice of vegan cheese on mine, a moment longer with some water thrown in and the lid topping it to allow it to steam and the cheese to melt (as well as vegan cheese can melt). The buns were toasted, so I pulled them from the oven. I topped them off with gourmet ketchup (because every burger needs gourmet ketchup), the lettuce, the patty itself (which was crusted on the outside…and soft on the inside), and capped with the tomato, caramelized onion, and sliced avocado. I served this up with some gluten-free potato chips. Dinner was easy, early, and served with a side of World Cup!!

Hilary's Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers (frozen) — Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers (frozen)

I went for the burger first, of course. The Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger is the perfect size for a veggie burger patty. Sometimes they can skimp on size, but not on fat and calories and that’s a problem. But this was a really great sized patty. It was a perfect circle of bean and grain goodness. And yes…you can visibly see the ingredients. Nothing hidden. Love it. One bite…and it was love. Again. I raved about the Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger…but this…this one might even top that one. As I mentioned, when I cooked it up in my skillet, it got this perfect crispness to the outside and remained soft (not mushy…just soft) on the inside. A perfect burger bite. It browned up beautifully and maintained amazing flavor throughout. Even better…the taste. Oh…my…god! Seriously…this burger isn’t trying to replicate a beef burger. It’s trying to let the grains and beans be the stars of the patty. And I applaud Hilary’s Eat Well for that. Fantastic flavor. There is a slight hint of spice from the green chilies as well as the chipotle and chili powders, but it doesn’t overpower and it’s not hot. Trust me…my roommate never said a word about the “heat” level or it being “spicy.” You can just taste it. The millet and quinoa add a bit of a nutty flavor to each bite. And the beans…that creates that amazing texture!

So…let’s look at nutrition. And far as ingredients go, this is a fantastically constructed veggie burger. For real. Hilary’s Eat Well prides itself on using real-food ingredients that nourish the body and support a healthy ecosystem. So…the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers are made from a combination of water, millet, adzuki beans, quiona, expeller-pressed coconut oil, sweet potato, onion, mild green chilies, psyllium husk powder, arrowroot, real salt, apple cider vinegar, garlic, cumin, chili and chipotle powder, and lime juice.

I recognize everything listed above. I love it when food is made from real food. These burgers are also non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free, egg-free, yeast-free, and nut free!

As for the nutritional information, a serving size is 1 veggie burger patty. One of the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers will serve you up 190 calories and 7 grams of fat. This burger will also be giving you 290 mg sodium. These burgers are cholesterol and sugar free. LOVE! Finally, you will be taking in 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. I consider this to be a very healthy burger with trusted ingredients.

So, even though Uruguay lost to Costa Rica, my taste buds were engaged and happily savoring every bite of the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger. Delicious! I can’t wait to try the other burgers that the few stores that carry these have in stock. Super delicious!!

Hilary's Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger (cooked) — Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger (cooked)

June 11, 2014

Product Review: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches

Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches – $2.69

For those of you, who, like me, were diagnosed with Celiac later than life…raise your hand if you remember the simplicity, the ease, and the not-really-so-tasty-but-you-thought-it-was days of yore when you could pull something called a Hot Pocket out of the freezer, slide it into a little heat envelope thingy, and nuke the hell out of it…the filling oozing out of the edges and baking to that microwave safe, dish.

Mmmmm…

Yeah…those were the days.

There was, honestly, a time when those were my lunch. Every. Single. Day.

Sometimes dinner.

Those were the days I lived out of my freezer.

Like…I sort of am now because I hit a low point in my life and went on a buying spree of things I didn’t really need…but at the time, apparently had to have…in my freezer…which I had emptied out of processed foods and is now packed full of them once again. This is what happens when a runner sprains her ankle. She falls off that wagon.

That being said…simplicity and ease shouldn’t be eliminated completely. And while I don’t like dining on processed foods, they do play their part.

As I mentioned, Aldi put out a test line of gluten-free products, branded as liveGfree, and spanning everything from cookies to crackers to snack bars to frozen meals to ready-made frozen pancakes (2 flavors even!) to…things like baking mixes. Yes…Aldi has jumped on the bandwagon and has offered those of us who must eat gluten-free a more affordable option than what we get at all the grocery stores and natural food stores where we have to shop.

I won’t lie…I pretty much snagged one of everything when I went into Aldi. Thankfully, I took a stroll around the store and found more items in the freezer section. YAY!! Jackpot. Because in among them were the liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches. Yeah…happiness can be achieved with stuffed sandwiches…because they really don’t exist in the gluten-free world. Well, Glutenfreeda makes a version of them, but none of theirs are also vegetarian. BOOO! So the fact that Aldi’s liveGfree brand has a vegetarian option…hell yeah…that was coming home with me. This was meeting my freezer.

And, as I was going running with my friend Natalie yesterday…I needed a simple dinner to heat up so I could change, slather on some sunscreen, and head through the mess of Louisville traffic to her apartment. We wanted to do something out-of-the-box instead of our normal Monday run. And it meant some ice cream at the end of it (I had Fudgesicle sorbet!). So, I really had nothing already prepared…so I opened up my freezer and spotted the liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches.

Perfect.

I got out some plates, pulled the stuffed sandwiches out of the box, slid them into the sleeve, put them in the microwave for just over 2 minutes…and gave them their quick nuking.

Dinner was served…conveniently speedily.

But was it any good? Well, I served up Cathy first and she was delicately nipping at the sandwich while mine was heating. I asked her how it was. She did the high-pitched, “It’s…okeedokey.” That means…eh….not so good. So, I asked her to elaborate. She found the crust to be dry and the filling to be spicy. She’s a spice wimp. I can’t remember (because it has literally been ages) if Hot Pocket’s crusts were dry to the taste…so I can’t really compare as far as that is concerned. When mine finished up it’s cookery in the microwave, I dumped it onto my plate, cut it in half, took a picture, and then took a bite.

Yes…the crust was definitely dry. In fact…it was distractingly dry. I felt that the stuffing was lacking. I loved the spice and I loved the brown rice and black bean combination, but it was seriously lacking. I felt it wasn’t truly “stuffed,” if you know what I mean. And while rice and beans are great fillers…and filling…these are Soutwest Veggie sandwiches. And I found the veggies to be really lacking on the inside. It was mostly rice and beans. Bummer. Actually, so far…of all the items I’ve tried from the liveGfree brand, this is the one I am least likely to purchase again.

So, let’s talk ingredients. The crust and filling of the liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwich is made from gluten-free millet flour, water, gluten substitute (rice flour, corn starch, maltodextrin, pea fiber, guar gum), brown rice, salsa (diced tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, diced jalapeno peppers, diced Anaheim peppers, dehydrated onions, spices, dehydrated garlic and citric acid), water, black beans, roasted corn, green chilies, pepper jack cheese with jalapeno peppers, sugar, honey, soybean oil, xanthan gum, dry yeast, deli seasoning, baking powder, baking soda, salt pasteurized dried egg yolks, low moistere part skim mozzarella cheese, southwest style seasonings (spices, red chili pepper, paprika, salt, garlic powder, citric acid, modified food starch (NOOOO!), and cornmeal. As for the topical ingredients, these include BBQ seasoning, fructose, paprika and paprika extract, tomato powder, natural smoke flavor, and spice. These are gluten-free, nut-free, and wheat-free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving size is one of the two included stuffed sandwiches. This stuffed sandwich will provide you with 270 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 2 grams of saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 440 mg sodium, and 8 grams of sugar. Not impressed. And, you will also be taking in 5 grams of filling fiber and 7 grams of protein. These, surprisingly, were filling…but they just weren’t all that good. LOVED the spice…but it just lacked…flavor.

While I know some of my gluten-free friends have raved about these, I wasn’t as high on them, nor as impressed. I don’t think I’ll spend my money on these again in the near future. I was underwhlemed and a bit disappointed, since these had really gotten me pretty excited when I saw them in the freezer at my local Aldi. A bit of a letdown…but…I am glad I at least tried it.

Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwich (not so stuffed...as you can see) — Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwich (not so stuffed…as you can see)

March 27, 2014

Restaurant Review: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

Restaurant: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

So, here I was in Atlanta, Georgia…having completed a marathon earlier that morning. I spent the afternoon doing the tourist thing…scoping out the CNN Studios and just walking around and enjoying the city. Trust me…after a marathon, it’s best to keep moving. That being said…another important thing to do after running is to begin proper recovery. And part of that is nutrition.

A big part of that is nutrition, actually.

Prior to the race, my roomie and I had thought that we’d simply return to Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria for dinner. Then we ate there…and were not impressed. At all. So, this meant new plans had to be made. And, after watching some Food Network and seeing guacamole…I was craving. Mexican. Mmmm…guacamole. Yum yum! So, I got onto my Find Me Gluten Free app and discovered that not far from the hotel was a nice Mexican joint called Alma Cocina. I pulled up the Web site, glanced at the gluten-free menu and thought…this might be a great place to try. I passed the laptop to my roommate so she could take a gander, and she agreed that Mexican sounded good. So, we made 6 p.m. reservations…and called it a night.

I marathoned. I did the tourist thing. I walked…a lot. I discovered that I was hungry…and still had an hour to go before dinner reservations. Cathy decided that we should start ambling that way because she wouldn’t feel bad walking in at 5:30 p.m. I liked her logic, so that’s what we did…killing off a bit of spare time by wandering around the block and checking out the Dragon*Con hotels. Because…why not? Around 5:30 p.m., we strolled into Alma Cocina for dinner.

We were greeted immediately upon entering. I told them that we had reservations at 6, but we were here early. They said it wasn’t a problem, and took us right to the table. We were seated and they went to check off our reservation, returning a moment later with some menus, including the gluten-free menu for me. AH! They read the reservation. YAY! I was feeling good about this already.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Menu — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Menu

As we looked over the menu, our server came over to get our drink orders. I was recovering…so water for me. Cathy did the same…because she’s a copy-cat. Just kidding. But…she did also get water. When he returned, I inquired as to how big the sides were. He said they were relatively big…so I pondered for a moment, but we went ahead and ordered the Gluten-Free Guacamole ($6.00) as a starter.

After leaving to put in the order, our server returned and asked me if the gluten-free was a food allergy or just a dietary choice. I told him I was a Celiac and he nodded and said, “Okay…so cross-contamination is not okay.” He hurried off. I might have arched an eyebrow at Cathy. They really do pay attention.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote...not chips) — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote…not chips)

Our appetizer of gluten-free guacamole came out a few minutes later. It was this little bowl of gorgeous, creamy…yet chunky, mashed avocado with all the right seasonings and additions. But…no chips. The server said that to prevent cross-contamination, the tortilla chips were replaced with chayote. I was intrigued! He then asked if we were ready to order…and at this point we were.

Cathy went ahead and ordered the Fried Avocado Tacos ($14.00), which consisted of crispy queso cotija, poblano pesto (which she says I need to make!), roasted tomato…and yes…fried avocado.

I went for the sides…because the only other option on the gluten-free menu for me would have been the Vegetarian Platter and that just sounded like too much. So, I opted for ordering the Mexican Chopped Salad ($4.00), which was a mix of jicama, chayote, red onion, ancho chile powder, and cilantro. I also ordered the Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice ($4.00) which came with pico de gallo. Orders in…we were left to our appetizer.

The guacamole was amazing!! Seriously. It had red onion, serrano pepper, red onion, lime, cilantro…everything that I make mine with at home. And it tasted fantastic. Cathy told the waiter when he came back to see how it was that was amazing…almost as good as mine. Hee! But…what really made this a standout, believe it or not, was the chayote. No lie! The sweetness of the chayote (which, in case you haven’t googled it yet…is an edible plant that is pear shaped with a thin, green, wrinkly skin and white flesh. It is sort of like a squash…but sweet. And it can be eaten raw, cooked, mashed, baked, boiled, fried, etc.) was just what the guacamole was needing. Now, at home I eat my guacamole with tortilla chips. If I can find chayote in one of the numerous stores I shop in…that won’t happen ever again. This is above and beyond tortilla chips. This plant was made for guacamole! Between the two of us, Cathy and I made short work of the guacamole. In fact, we were just polishing it off when our entrees arrived.

Now, the chef got a little creative with my Mexican Chopped Salad. Seemed they were out of it, so he went ahead and pretty much sliced up all the components and made a version of the salad for me. It looked delicious and fresh as it was settled down in front of me. And I was beyond intrigued by my green rice and super-delicious looking black beans. Oh yeah…I was one happy marathoner.

We were left to enjoy our dinner and Cathy dove into her tacos…declaring them one of the best things she has ever eaten. And praised that poblano pesto to the roof.

I started with the Mexican Chopped Salad. It was an amazing array of textures and flavors. I loved the jicama and how it tasted when mixed with the chayote. The red onion brought a bit of bite to what, otherwise, would have been way too sweet. As it was…I got about 3/4 of the way through before calling it quits. It was delicious…but with the chayote with the guacamole…I needed some spice and some heat.

I turned my attention to the Black Beans and Pobalno Chili Rice. Oh my gluten-free gods…this was delicious. It is so simple. So basic. And yet…the flavors were awesome. I loved to scoop up some of the beans and rice together. I loved the little bit of heat that the beans had with them. I loved the sweet, with a hint of heat, rice…and how it was green. Pablano chili rice…for the total win. I was enamored with this side. I sort of wished I had ordered two of them. But, I was getting full fast. Rice and beans will definitely get that tummy full. Carbs, fiber, and protein, baby! But it was what I needed. And I polished that plate clean.

And I was full. The waiter came to take away the dishes and asked if we were interested in dessert. We passed because both of us were now quite full.

Wow…what an amazing restaurant. The atmosphere. The service. The overall experience…I would go back in a heartbeat to Alma Cocina. I felt like they were very mindful of my food allergies and took great care when it came to preparing and serving my food. LOVED every moment of our time there.

Alma Cocina's Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right) — Alma Cocina’s Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right)

February 24, 2014

Product Review: Trader Joe’s Latin Style Black Bean Soup

Product: Trader Joe’s Latin Style Black Bean Soup – $2.79+

The weather outside is back to being frightful. I wish it would just warm up. Honestly. I am so done with winter.

One thing, however, that is good about colder temperatures outdoors is…soup! Granted, I can happily eat soup in the spring, summer and fall, but it just feels so right and homey when consumed in winter. Especially on really bitterly cold days.

My roommate and I actually had picked up this box of soup at Trader Joe’s awhile back. But other soups came first…mostly homemade. And this kept its place in the pantry. That is until last night. What was so different about last night? Well…I had nothing in my fridge or pantry due to being out of town and cancelling my CSA bin for another week. Sure, I grabbed a few items at the grocery store, but nothing condusive to a soup. And I really, really wanted soup.

Thank goodness my pantry is usually stocked with some sort of soup or vegetable broth. I chose to make vegan and gluten-free BLT sandwiches and serve it with bowl of the Trader Joe’s Latin Style Black Bean Soup. An easy, stress-free dinner. Just what I needed as my day had been rather tiring and long, mostly on the road. Cathy said she was okay with that dinner and so…that’s what I ended up making. I pulled the soup box out of the pantry and put 2 cups of it into a bowl, reserving the other 2 cups for today when I make the same dinner again because…well…I can and I have everything!

The soup was easy enough to warm up, so while it warmed on the stovetop, I toasted some bread to top with baby kale, tomato slices, and slices of vegan and gluten-free bacon that I made a week ago. It’s good to go from freezer to pan and it is awesome. I posted the recipe a couple weeks ago and just linked it there. Anyway, the soup was a crazy purple-brown color. So, yeah…not the most appetizing looking soup, but it smelled fantastic as it cooked. I stirred it on occasion while taking care not to burn the bread in the oven nor the bacon in a pan on the stove. I managed. And as everything finished up and the bread slices were spread with Veganaise and topped with the vegetables and bacon, I got out a ladle to dish up the soup.

I filled the bowls with a serving each and settled in for dinner. Soup and sandwich. Classic…and one of my favorite combinations. I almost did gluten-free and vegan grilled cheese…but the BLT was too tempting. And it worked so well with this soup!

First of all, this soup was not much to look at, but HELLO FLAVOR! The seasoning of this soup was beyond amazing. It had a little bit of heat and layers and depth to each spoonful. I tend to dip my sandwiches into my soup, especially when it’s a non-chunky soup like this, and it meshed really well with the vegan and gluten-free BLT. I thought as far as flavor went, this soup had it going on. The spice was just enough…not too strong. And the other flavors, garlic, cumin, and chipotle didn’t overpower. I sipped at this soup, really just taking it in to form my opinion. And when I asked my roommate what she thought of it, she echoed exactly what I was thinking. It was good…but it was lacking something. It was just…black bean broth. It was missing…something. That’s the thing about boxed soups, all you get is the flavor base. When you make it at home, it’s usually thicker, maybe chunky, has more depth. That’s what this lacked. It wasn’t bad, don’t get me wrong…but it was just lacking. That’s why when I cooked the rest of it up tonight, I made some homemade crackers to float on top. HA! I can be resourceful.

That being said, Trader Joe’s Latin Style Black Bean Soup is made up from filtered water, black beans, onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, flavor concentrate (tomato puree, sea salt, sugar, canola oil, spices, chipotle pepper, natural flavor), tomato paste, garlic, sea salt, olive oil, cumin, guar gum, and black pepper. For being the last ingredient listed, the black pepper and chipotle flavors really do stand out the most. But, I like heat, so I’m okay with that. None of these ingredients raised any flags to me. I recognized them all.

Nutritionally speaking, Trader Joe’s Latin Style Black Bean Soup is almost a rockstar. A serving is 1 cup of the soup. This 1 cup bowlful will provide you with 70 calories and 1 gram of fat. A serving also dishes up 520 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. While it seems a bit high in sodium, it is a packaged soup and I knew that when I purchased it. And, in the grand scheme of things and compared to other soups on the market, 520 mg of sodium isn’t the worst I have seen. A serving of this soup also provides 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. So, you will feel full…trust me…after eating this soup. Yes…even without the chunks.

So, the basic feeling on this soup is that, it is good and tasty, but definitely lacking. I liked the spices and the heat, but the texture was just…not quite what I expect when I hear the term black bean soup. I was disappointed there, but would definitely consider getting this soup again, perhaps to use more as a base for a chili, or next time add some rice or vegetables or…even black beans, instead of a soup on its own.

Trader Joe's Latin Style Black Bean Soup (with my homemade crackers) — Trader Joe’s Latin Style Black Bean Soup (with my homemade crackers)