Vegetarian – Page 47 – The Celiathlete

March 4, 2014

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns – $5.99+

Vegan seafood.

Sounds impossible, right? I would have doubted its existence myself, until a trip to Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio last year. My eyes were opened to so much potential and awesomeness. It’s…seafood…made from plant-based ingredients.

Seriously!

And while my journey into the vegan seafood began with Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets…which were…eh…okay…I have found other products by this company to be amazing. Like…you wouldn’t even know it wasn’t seafood. I’m not kidding. Taste is sometimes even better. Texture is spot on. Yep…I’m in love with this company. So much, in fact, that the Breaded Vegan Shrimp are always in my freezer.

Between the numerous natural food stores that I shop at each weekend, there is a variety of Sophie’s Kitchen options available. My most trusted spot, however, is Whole Foods, as they seem to have more of the products than anywhere else. And on a recent journey, these amazing products were…ON SALE! So, my roommate and I grabbed one of each.

And…with Fat Tuesday’s arrival…I was in the mood for some Cajun food. This meant I took the Vegan Prawns and rubbed them with a Cajun seasoning (a la Emeril Lagasse) and cooked them in the oven at 375°F for 6 minutes. This really is that simple, I swear.

Why Cajun shrimp? Well, when I was at Disney World this past January and was meeting Tiana (from The Princess and the Frog), I asked how her restaurant was going and explained that it was a dream of mine to open my own. She said to make my signature dish an amazing Cajun Shrimp Alfredo. So…here I took her advice…except I kept mine vegan and gluten-free. Because…I want to be able to eat it, yes? Yes!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Prawns (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns (frozen)

Well, being that this was the first time I was eating the Vegan Prawns from Sophie’s Kitchen, I didn’t stir them into the pasta, but rather laid them on tip. And it worked. The dish looked beautiful and the pasta came out perfect. I made up a sauce using So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk, almond milk, nutritional yeast, vegan butter, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, and a bit more Cajun seasoning.

And I’ll get to the taste in a moment…

Because Fat Tuesday is tonight and I had another idea going in my head.

This time…a Cajun Shrimp Po’boy. With my vegan slaw on a gluten-free sandwich roll. This HAD to happen. I mean…for real. I once again rubbed the Vegan Prawns down with my Cajun seasoning, but this time I decided to cook them up in a pan. I toasted the rolls in the oven, added some local lettuce, slathered them with some slaw and topped them off with the Vegan prawns. My own, personal twist on a Po’boy. Getting in the Mardi Gras spirit here! I cooked the prawns in coconut oil and…OH MY GOODNESS…that was magic. The Cajun seasoning blackened up perfectly. And these were…winning!

So, now I can talk about what I thought about the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns…

Oven baked or cooked in the skillet, I was beyond impressed with the flavor, texture, and overall taste of the Vegan Prawns. They were fantastic cooked in the coconut oil in the pan though. Reminded me of when I used to help my mom make her garlic lover’s shrimp (with real shrimp, mind you!). And, I think next time I purchase these (and, yes, there will be a next time), that’s what I’m going to do with them. YUMMY!! I thought these meshed well with the other flavors I paired with it, in both dishes. And while baking them in the oven was good…the pan cooking was beyond amazing. I think I found my new favorite way to prepare them. In fact, next time I get the Vegan Scallops…that’s how I’m cooking those as well. Honestly, these are fantastic.

As far as ingredients go, the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns are made from water, konjac powder, beta glucan, potato starch, paprika, organic agave nectar, sea salt, carageenan (seaweed based gelatin), alginate (from seaweed), and calcium hydroxide. The Vegan Prawns are soy-free, gluten-free, 100% vegan and plant-based, non-GMO, contain no artificial colors, preservatives or MSG. These have no added sugars or artificial…anything. Honestly!

Nutritionally speaking, each box contains 3.1 servings…or 10 of the Vegan Prawns. A serving is 3 prawns, but being as I’m splitting this with two people over two days, we each had 2.5 Vegan Prawns. That being said, a normal serving of the 3 prawns would give you 50 calories. This product is fat free and cholesterol free. A serving will also provide you with only 150 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Loving that. And finally, three of the Vegan Prawns provide you with 3 grams of fiber and less than 1 gram of protein.

Discovering Sophie’s Kitchen products has been amazing for me. I often keep one product stocked in my freezer at all times. You never know when you might need it. If you haven’t tried these yet…go to your local natural foods store and check their freezer section. Serious yummy vegan seafood eats here!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Prawns (cooked 2 ways) - Left: Vegan Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (baked); Right: Vegan Shrimp Po'Boys (pan fried) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns (cooked 2 ways) – Left: Vegan Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (baked); Right: Vegan Shrimp Po’Boys (pan fried)

March 1, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars – $4.99+

Coconut milk and I are seriously becoming best mates.

Really.

I am using it more and more…and not just to splash into my coffee or over my cereal. I mean…I am now making ice cream with it, making soups with it, you name it…I’m probably doing it. And my main source of coconut milk (my only source, actually!) is So Delicious. Why? Because they live up to their name. I have never had a product that I didn’t like from their line-up. That’s saying something, for sure.

Happily, they make more than just half gallon cartons of coconut milk. Yep. They do yogurts and even…desserts. YES! Desserts. Otherwise known as my favorite meal of the day.

I was recently provided with a box of the new So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars. I just recently reviewed the Fudge Bars and Super Strawberry Bars. This was the last in the line of products and the one I was anticipating the most. I mean…java…hello! I won’t lie…coffee and I are also best mates. So, combine coconut milk with coffee and make it a dessert…you are totally speaking my language.

I wonder if So Delicious knew that?

Anyway…after a long day that started with spin class at the gym and ended at physical therapy for my ankle sprain, I was looking forward to treating myself to something sweet and refreshing after a quick dinner. So, after I finished up my meal, I did up the dishes and reached into the freezer for the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars. I removed two…one for me and one for my roommate.

One taste and I have declared this one my favorite of the bunch. It’s like…eating a delicious frappuccino. Seriously. The best part is, the coffee flavor doesn’t overwhelm this dessert. Too often, coffee-flavored desserts or treats are overwhelmed by that java flavor. But not these. The balance is perfect. And the coconut milk just makes it. Honestly. It just makes this dessert. It’s so smooth and dreamy-creamy. I was happy to savor it slowly, until it started to melt more. Then I had to pick up the pace. The fact of the matter is…SUPER DUPER JAVA-INDUCED YUMMINESS!

You can quote me on that one. OMG…so delicious indeed. These will forever have a spot in my freezer…because they aren’t just good…they are a treat you won’t feel guilty about eating either.

While on that topic…let’s go ahead and peek at the ingredients, yes? The So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars are made from organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, organic inulin, organic guar gum, organic fair trade coffee, natural flavor, organic locust bean gum, and sea salt. Not too bad on the ingredients. Nothing that I don’t recognize. That’s always a good sign.

Nutritionally, these are awesome! A serving is one of the dessert bars. This mini treat will serve you up only 80 calories and 4 grams of fat. One dessert bar also contains 25 mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. That’s really good for a dessert! You will also be taking in 5 grams of fiber and only 1 gram of protein.

If you are a coffee-junkie like me…you will love this dessert bar. It is truly amazing. You won’t even guess that it’s made with coconut milk. And, trust me, you won’t miss the dairy either. These are beyond fantastic. These…are what dreams are made of. And I, for one, am a happy dairy-free ice cream loving girl.

Thank you so much, So Delicious!! I love you for life.

March 1, 2014

Product Review: Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend

Product: Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend – $4.99

Quinoa. I love quinoa. I cook with it often. And I have used it as a hot cereal in the morning as well as a side…and even baked it in casseroles. I’ve also supplemented it for rice-based meals, as quinoa has a much better nutrition profile than rice.

Even better…it tastes great.

One day, while hitting up the (seriously) nine grocery stores I shop at every week, my roommate decided to splurge a little and had me pick out one of the new products we hadn’t seen elsewhere before. I noticed some black pouches on a shelf with clearly labeled “gluten-free” markings on them. They were quinoa dishes, that were also touted to be all natural and restaurant quality. Since I am a quinoa whore…I desperately wanted to try one of the variety of flavors. So, I pointed to them and my roommate told me to pick a flavor. As I am less picky than her I told her to pick the one that sounded best to her.

Her choice?

Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend.

Sounds good, yes?

I thought so. So…we brought it home with us. And promptly let it sit in the pantry for a few months. D’oh! But…even though a bin was received today, I already had it in my mind that this quinoa meal was going to be our dinner tonight. And so…it was.

Now, I had physical therapy on my ankle right after work, so this put us home much later than normal. I didn’t take that into account this morning when I noticed the 20-25 minute cooking time on the stove and in the microwave. Ah well. I figured I could pair it with a nutritious kale salad with some fresh veggies and that would help get us through the cooking time.

So, as instructed by the package, I immediately filled a pan with 1-1/2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then added the contents of the pouch. I gave it a stir and set it on medium-high heat, letting it come up to a boil. Once there, I covered it, took the heat down to low and let it simmer for about 25 minutes. The entire time it was cooking, and the couple of times I lifted the lid to give it a stir, the dish itself smelled fantastic.

Like…macaroni and cheese.

I’m okay with that.

Anyway, after it cooked and the liquid was mostly gone, I removed it from the heat and let it sit, still covered, for five minutes. After that, I gave it a quick fork fluffing and dished it up. Dinner…was finally served.

And my, oh, my…this was one crazy indulgent dinner. First of all…hello quinoa. I love you. Pair that with a blend of organic millet and brown rice and you’re talking a filling little bowl of goodness. The cheeses..Romano, Cheddar, and a 12 month anged Parmesan. Amazing. It smelled as good as it tasted. And that texture was rich and creamy, with a little bit of that rice-chewy texture that is just what you need so everything isn’t just one strange texture. It was awesome. The dehydrated mushrooms softened up beautiful. And my cheese-loving roommate devoured it as quickly as I did. Really amazing. I thought it was one of the better packaged items that involved quinoa that we have picked up to date. YUM-A-LICIOUS!

Ingredient-wise…it doesn’t get much simpler than this. The Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend contains parboiled brown rice, quinoa, millet, Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese, dehydrated mushrooms, sea salt, and dried herbs. Simple ingredients make the best meals. Even when they come in a package.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend is 1/3 cup of the dry mix. There are 2.5 servings per package, which makes about 2 cups when completely cooked. A serving will provide you with 180 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 550 mg sodium, and only 1 gram of sugar. Nice! A serving also will dish you up 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, so you will feel full when you eat this. Trust me. This mix is gluten-free and cholesterol free.

I fell in love with this package of awesome quinoa goodness. The flavors were amazing. It cooked up beautifully. It was indulgent and rich and…just really amazing. I can’t say enough good things about it. They aren’t kidding when they say it is restaurant quality. I can’t wait to try the other 8 flavors out there.

Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend (cooked)

February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

My refrigerator has something incredible in it. Really.

I have these cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

Let me tell you…these were the most fantastic yogurts to ever enter into my life. And I was feeling the need to bake last night. Using a guide recipe from Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, I baked up what is turning out to be one of my favorite breads I have ever made. Made with Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Morsels, Better Batter Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, and So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk, this is a recipe that will wow your friends and family. You might even surprise yourself with how moist and delicious this bread is when it is baked and cooled and finally…sliced. All of this was from scratch and, as luck would have it, I had everything necessary already in my apartment. Check out the recipe below.

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

Servings: 12-16
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Bake 50 minutes

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (I used Better Batter)
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used Earth Balance)
1 cup plain yogurt, at room temperature (I used So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk)
2 eggs, at room temperature, beaten
3 ounces miniature chocolate chips, tossed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch (I used Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease well a standard 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan and set it aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), place the flour blend, cornstarch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well with a separate, handheld whisk. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the butter, yogurt and eggs. Mix on medium speed to combine with the paddle attachment (or your handheld mixer) after each addition. The batter will be thick. Add the chocolate chips tossed with cornstarch, and mix with a spatula or spoon until the chips are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Scrape into the prepared baking pan and, with wet hands, smooth the top. To create a dome shape, run a wet spatula along the edges of the pan and pull the batter toward the center. For a uniform split down the center as the bread rises in the oven (instead of a more haphazard split), slash down the center of the loaf with a sharp knife, about 1/4-inch deep.

Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F, and continue to bake for another 20 minutes, or until the top of the loaf springs back when pressed lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with, at most, a few moist crumbs attached. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the loaf pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice once cool and serve.

~*~*~

You will love this bread. Light, moist, and packed with flavor. And using the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk meant adding flavor without the added sugar. It was fantastic. And the bread…definitely one of my new favorites. This is amazing. I can’t wait to make more breads using the Cultured Coconut Milk. Fantastic.

Chocolate chip bread-y love!

February 28, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Love is finding a product that you can literally do just about anything with…and getting creative with it. I love to come up with new ways to make things when I’m in my kitchen. I love to see just what I can accomplish with what I have on hand.

Currently, in my refrigerator, I have two 16 ounce cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

What is cultured coconut milk? Glad you asked.

It’s the dairy-free, coconut milk based version of a creamy, dreamy yogurt. Yes…all you dairy-free people who have lamented the loss of yogurt in your diet…welcome to the world of So Delicious and their fantastic coconut milk based yogurts. Also known as…cultured coconut milk.

I love that So Delicious has released two new varieties of their cultured coconut milk products. I already reviewed the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk…but now it is simply the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. First of all, as someone trying to keep their sugar intake in check, the unsweetened offering makes me so happy. Even better…it has great texture and good flavor. It actually has a bit of a tang to it, reminding me of a sour cream. And, certainly, this could easily be used in place of sour cream. But…not in my case.

I got into my kitchen last night and decided to use some of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk…to make bread. Yep. Bread. Delicious…dairy free and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Bread.

Here’s what I found out…my bread cooked up amazing. The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk made this a very light, very moist bread when all was said and done. The best part was how it tasted. Because this also adds flavor without adding more sugar. And that…that is an amazing thing. I love how versatile this product is. It can be used in dressings, breakfast parfaits, smoothies, as a garnish for meals…you name it. And it does it all with style and without upping the sugars you’re consuming. LOVE!

A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk is 1/2 cup or 4 ounces. This serving will provide you with 50 calories and 4 grams of fat. You will be provided with 95 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk doesn’t provide any protein, but you do get 4 grams of fiber. This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and made with organic ingredients.

I have truly fallen in love with this product. I am so glad I have two containers of it chilling in my fridge. There are tons of other things I want to try this with. But…below, take a look at how amazing my bread baked up using the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. I am beyond impressed. You will be too!

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

February 28, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars – $4.99+

I have one person to blame for my obsession with anything So Delicious! Honestly. Because I was turned onto these fantastic products simply by having some of the vanilla coconut milk at my friend Heather’s apartment one morning when I was visiting. She asked if I had tried it and then went on and on about how wonderful it was. I took a sample.

I was hooked.

So…I’m not pointing the finger at you, Heather…I am thanking you. Because of you, I have this love affair with products from So Delicious Dairy Free.

Recently they launched a couple of new products…one of which is some mini coconut milk dessert bars. Yes…coconut milk based dessert bars. They do it brilliantly. I reviewed the Minis Organic Fudge Bars the other night…but a new flavor steps into the spotlight tonight. And right there with chocolate, this happens to be one of my favorite flavors in life.

Strawberry.

I love strawberries. I love strawberry flavored things. I apparently love strawberries and coconut milk in a frozen form. Because from my first taste of this bar, I was hooked. So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars are…well…super. I’m not kidding. If you want to taste something that tastes like real strawberries…look no further than this dessert. And it isn’t fake strawberry flavor either. That amazing strawberry taste…that’s real strawberries. Organic strawberries at that. It’s amazing what real ingredients to do the flavor of food. I was instantly a fan of this frozen treat. Instantly. It was all I could do to saver each taste until it was all gone. I wanted it to last forever. But these little bars are mini…and they melt. So…it can’t go on forever. But, there are four to a pack, so you can indulge three more times after that first initial one.

And you’ll want to. Rich, smooth, creamy…it’s hard to believe that these don’t have any dairy in them. Who says you can’t make a fantastic frozen dessert without real milk and cream. These bars are proof. Not only are they creamy and dreamy, but they taste amazing. And I love that they are the perfect size too. So often, desserts can outweigh the dinner entree. Not here. You get a great portion and great flavor. This company is named So Delicious for a reason!

Let’s talk ingredients. According to the package, the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars are made from organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, organic strawberries, organic inulin, natural flavor, organic guar gum, ascorbicacid, organic locust bean gum, and organic beet juice concentrate. Not bad. I know what all the ingredients are.

Nutritionally speaking…you’ll love these! One serving is one of the mini bars. This will provide you with 80 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 5 mg sodium (love that!) and 9 grams of sugar. Considering much of that sugar is coming from real fruit…that’s not bad. Not bad at all. A serving will also give you 5 grams of fiber. These bars, however, contain no protein. These are cholesterol free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, non-GMO and certified organic. YAY!

If you love strawberries…you’ll dive right into these bars. Taste-for-taste they just get better as you go along. I absolutely loved everything about the SO Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars. Everything. Down to the plant-based and compostable stick. Saving the environment the So Delicious way.

So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars (unwrapped)

February 28, 2014

Product Review: A Taste of Thai Pad Thai for Two

Product: A Taste of Thai Pad Thai for Two – $3.59+

I’m very fortunate that I live near one of the best Thai restaurants in the nation. Yes. I will go as far as to say that. However, that being said…I also can’t afford to eat out much these days. My money is better spent on travel and food experiences outside of my own neighborhood.

And race fees.

But…that’s a horse of a different color.

As I’m getting through a very long two weeks of no CSA bin filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, I’m scraping my pantry, fridge and freezer for things to eat until Friday. It’s coming. But it’s been a very rough two weeks of eating processed foods. Some good…some better…none horribly bad. I do pay a lot of attention to nutrition information when I shop and when I do buy something in a box or package…I mind the ingredient list and nutrition information above everything else.

Anyway…with nothing real to make food out of, save for a container of organic baby kale and a red onion…I pulled the final Thai food box out of my pantry. This time it was the Pad Thai for Two from A Taste of Thai. It sounded brilliant and the picture on the box looked drool-worthy. One thing I didn’t take into account was that the box literally only contained rice noodles and the Pad Thai sauce. No joke. So…I had to think. And I thought…kale and onions…caramelize…sauté…add noodles…BAM! Dinner. Why not? My roomie seemed game for that too, so I set to work.

Pad Thai Sauce and Rice Noodles in A Taste of Thai Pad Thai for Two

I boiled some water and put the rice noodles into a large bowl, covering it with the hot water and letting it sit for 20 minutes. As the noodles were soaking, I went ahead and sliced up the last of my red onion and got it into a pan over medium heat to begin the caramelizing process. I, not thinking, started this in a smaller sauté pan…remember this later. The onions were caramelizing beautifully, so I went ahead and added a couple handfuls of organic baby kale. I sautéed it until it wilted down and turned bright green. When the noodles were ready, I drained them and then added them to the small sauté pan, realizing then my error. Somehow, I managed to contain it all in the pan and still swoosh it and stir it. I didn’t risk tossing it as the pan was rather full of Thai goodness. After about 4 minutes, I added some chopped (and toasted) cashews that I decided to add at the last moment, and then the packet of sauce. All of this was mixed in that itty-bitty pan, but it got the job done. And soon, I was dishing it up into two bowls and after about 30 minutes…dinner was served.

Was it worth it? Yes!! It was. I enjoyed this little boxed meal more than I thought I would. I thought the onion, cashew and kale were perfect additions (and very non-traditional, I know!) to the mess of noodles and sauce because they brought different flavors and textures to the meal. The rice noodles actually ended up being cooked perfectly. They didn’t stick together, as I was afraid they would because normally that’s what happens with rice noodles. I was pleasantly surprised. The sauce was tangy and sweet more than spicy, which was a nice change of pace (but you know I love my spicy foods!). And it was easy to eat this noodle dish with chopsticks without making a huge mess. No mess at all, in fact. I found that I truly enjoyed eating this meal. I would definitely consider buying it again for one of those quick-to-make meals where I have time for a little prep work and cook time…but it isn’t a flash in the microwave either. LOVED it!

So, let’s talk ingredients, yes? As I mentioned, the box contained a packet of rice noodles and a packet of sauce. The rice noodles are simply made from rice flour, water, and modified (I hate that word!) tapioca starch. The Pad Thai sauce was made from palm sugar, tamarind juice, water, shallot, sweet radish, garlic, soybean oil, potassium chloride, maltodextrin, miso, salt, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, paprika oleoresin, citric acid, alpha-tocopherol, and chili oleoresin. I know…not very clean…and some very hard to pronounce words. Ugh. So much promise…

Let’s now talk nutrition. A serving is 1/2 of the package. This serving will provide you with 391 calories and 3 grams of fat. This will also provide you with 433 mg sodium and 16 grams of sugar. That sugar is off-the-chart. YIKES!! As for the sodium…it’s under 600 mg, so I can live with that. Without the additions…this dish has no fiber, but does provide 5 grams of protein. Of course, then I added onions, kale, and cashews and that really bumped up some of those nutrients, but hardly added any calories at all. Love it.

So…yes…this is a highly processed item…and the nutrition factors aren’t fantastic, but they aren’t totally bad either. The sugar content is high, but that is mostly contained to the sauce. And the overall taste and textures were a huge hit. My roommate and I loved eating them, but will probably try to do more from scratch. But, in a pinch, on those just scraping by weeks…this will do!

A Taste of Thai Pad Thai for Two (prepared with caramelized onion, kale, and cashews)

February 27, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Do you know what love is?

Love is…a new and fabulous product from a company who prides itself on good quality products. And, lucky me…I had the opportunity to test drive a few of these new products from So Delicious!! I have not been disappointed.

One of the new products out there from So Delicious Dairy Free is their 16 ounce containers of Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. They have two varieties of the unsweetened ones…plain and vanilla. And let me tell you…these do not disappoint.

I am a huge smoothie fan. And, for Christmas, I was given a personal blender. So smoothie making is SO much easier now. They are great for pre-run and post-run fueling and nutrition…as long as you use the right ingredients. Well, I’m not running much right now due to a severely sprained ankle. But…smoothies are still one of the best things in life. So…this week, I broke out a tub of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk.

It was brilliant. I put 1 cup of the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk into my blender, then added 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, and then a tropical fruit mixture of frozen fruit (mangoes, pineapple, strawberries, and peaches)…gave it a whirl…and viola. Smoothie.

Let me tell you…this makes a smooth, rich and creamy smoothie without adding sugar to the mix. There is plenty of sugar via the fruit that is used. I love having that option as I am trying to cut back a bit on the sugar I consume. This is one of my new favorite products from So Delicious. And it is so versatile. I used one of the plain ones in a very…very different manner and I’ll post about that in a bit. The fact of the matter remains, the vanilla doesn’t overpower or overwhelm. The cultured coconut milk is creamy and dreamy. It makes this velvety smooth, low sugar smoothie and it is fantastic. Every last bit of it. Fantastic. Slurp that smoothie down…it’s good for you. The bit of coconut flavor really played well with my tropical fruit blend. So much love.

This product is nutritionally sound too! A serving size is 4 ounces, or about 1/2 cup. This serving will dish you up 60 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 95 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar. LOVE IT! This product has no protein in it, but you do get 4 grams of filling fiber. If you need a protein boost…use a good and trusty protein powder. This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, and vegan.

I can’t say enough good things about this product. I am over the moon for it. And I can’t wait to share what I did with the plain unsweetened either. Although the vanilla would have worked just as well too. I don’t think my fridge will ever be without this now. I am, above all else, hooked. Loving it! I promise…you will too!

Tropical Smoothie made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk

February 25, 2014

Product Review: Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens

Product Review: Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens – $3.29+

There is more to my life than just pizza, ice cream, and cookies. Really, there is. And the proof is in this blog. I have an eclectic love of food, even with my dietary restrictions. I love to try different types of cuisine and often do, as long as the food can safely be made vegetarian and gluten-free. One of the easiest cuisines to navigate with this specific diet is none other than Indian food.

Now, I have my go-to Indian restaurant here in town. And I love the food. I grew up eating this type of food at my neighbor’s home…so Indian cuisine has always been one of my favorite things. I love the smell of curry. I love the taste of the spice blends. I could eat Indian food every night for the rest of my life and never grow tired of it.

It’s all about depth of flavor.

That being said, I have been without my CSA bin for two weeks now, due to being out of town. Fresh vegetables and fruits are not in my apartment currently. So…I’m pulling things out of the pantry to avoid grocery shopping and to get me through to Friday when I do get my CSA bin once again. YAY! Tonight…the final Tasty Bite meal came out of my pantry. It was time…

Tonight’s Tasty Bite was the Agra Peas and Greens. Agra Peas and Greens is basically peas in a creamy sauce of leafy greens and cashews. I’ll be honest with you…neither my roommate nor I knew what to expect from this meal. I mean, I like peas well enough, but it just wasn’t jiving with me. I think my roomie was trying to put off the inevitable…but it reached critical here in the apartment when it came to food. I don’t know why we were both expecting not to really like this meal.

Anyway, as with all Tasty Bite meals, nothing is simpler. I cooked up some jasmine rice this morning so that I could just simply reheated it when I got home to serve with the meal. Then, the little pouch of Indian food goodness is vented with a 2-inch tear and then popped into the microwave for 90 seconds. And just like that…a warm Indian meal is ready to serve. It is so easy. So, I split the rice and the contents of the package between two bowls and dinner was served…in less than five minutes.

I admit, Indian cuisine isn’t the prettiest cuisine out there, but it sure is one of the tastiest. And despite our initial reluctance to dive into this one…both Cathy and I were pleasantly surprised with how much we liked this. The peas gave the entire dish a nice hint of sweetness. It was just what was needed. This particular dish is very mild, no heat at all in each bite. I didn’t mind there not being heat this time though, because of the flavors that played across my palate. Fantastic. The sauce was awesome. I could taste the cashews. I was thrilled with this meal and savored each and every bite until my bowl was completely empty.

The Agra Peas and Greens meal from Tasty Bite is made up of water, green peas, tomatoes, onions, fenugreek greens, cashew paste, spinach, cream, watermelon seeds, sunflower oil, salt, garlic, ginger, sugar, tumeric, spices, and chilies. Put it all together and a surprisingly delightful entree emerges.

Nutritionally speaking, the Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens is a smart choice. Honestly. A serving is half of the pouch that it comes in. This serving will deliver 140 calories and 10 grams of fat. It seems high in the fat, but a lot of that does come from the cashews. A serving also provides 3 mg cholesterol, 410 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. From a serving, you will also get 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, making it rather filling.

I love that this dish completely caught me off guard. I was so ready to not like it and found myself loving it more and more with each bite. It’s a non-spicy, easy, tasty bite…and it’s in your grocery store. Trust me…you’ll want to pick this one up and try it for yourself.

Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens over jasmine rice

February 25, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars – $4.99+

Many of you already know that I am a huge fan of So Delicious. Their coconut milk and almond milk (as well as products made from said non-dairy milk) are amazing. I have yet to try something that I don’t like. That’s the thing about a company named So Delicious…it has to live up to it.

Recently, So Delicious Dairy Free released a couple of new coconut milk products. And I was fortunate enough to receive some of these products in the mail. I was out of town this past weekend, so I didn’t get to dive right in…but now that I’m back…I’m was beyond eager to give these products a try.

I started…with one of the most basic ones.

My choice: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars. These little fudgsicle like treats are a coconut milk dairy-free frozen dessert. And they are chocolate. And you know…one of the ways to my heart is through chocolate. I’m a choc-o-holic. I owe that to my grandma because she ate the heck out of chocolate. It was her favorite thing in life. And I can’t blame her. So, not only are these frozen bars made with delicious chocolate, but also that sweet hit of coconut milk. Sounds like the perfect snack, yes?

You better believe it. The Mini Organic Fudge Bar was my dessert tonight. I was so eager to rip into the wrapper and devour. But…I paced myself. Because dessert is meant to be savored. And this frozen treat is worth every moment of savoring. It won’t last too long though, because it does melt. So…do keep that in mind, okay?

First of all, this is the perfect and ideal size treat. Not too much and not too little. As Goldilocks would say…it’s just right. And it is. Honestly. The actual bar itself is around 3.5 inches in length, so in the grand scheme of things…not as mini as the product name might lead you to think. That’s a nice bonus. The consistency is so ice cream like you won’t believe that you’re not eating a full-blown-to-the-max-with-dairy ice cream bar. No cows were used in the making of this chocolate treat. Seriously. Velvet smooth. And the flavor is incredible. I fell in love with the rich flavor of the chocolate combined with that smooth coconut milk flavor. It is a winning combination in my book. I think my roommate got tired of hearing me comment on how delicious dessert was. Best of all, I didn’t have to bake it or make it. It was in my freezer just waiting for me…begging me…to just try it.

There is no going back. I want this in my freezer for life. For afterlife too, if that’s possible. This sweet tooth was beyond satisfied.

As far as ingredients go, the Mini Organic Fudge Bars contain coconut milk, organic agave syrup, organic inulin, organic cocoa, organic dried cane syrup, water, carob bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor, salt, and carrageenan. These bars are vegan, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. All ingredients are also non-GMO! I totally approve.

As far as nutrition goes, you will absolute do a flip for these. A serving is 1 bar. The box comes with 4 inside. One of the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars will serve you up only 80 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will be consuming 10mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. Not bad for a treat! And you will be provided with 3 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Super yum!! Thank you, So Delicious, for introducing me to this new product!

I’m doing my best right now not to go raid my freezer for another one.

Because…I want another one.

Do search out this new product from So Delicious Dairy Free. Nothing is better after a long day than a sweet treat without the guilt. Enjoy!