Just Audrey

Review of Vegan Presence Subscription Service

2013-07-28T19:13:00.000-04:00

Vegan Presence - Vegan Presence is a company that curates a select amount of vegan products and sends them out each month.

The sample box I received included an organic eco tote bag that had the Vegan Presence logo on it, Flying Bird Botanicals Cacao Vanilla Rose hot cocoa powder, samples of Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel, Broo Your Do "salon-grade craft beer" conditioner and a shampoo (definitely one of the most random products I've ever tried, but it works well!), Lagona moisturizer sample and cream samples, and a lovely English Apothecary Lavender Chamomile Bath Tea sachet.

Everything is vegan and many products are gluten-free. Most of these products I had never heard of before, so it was fun to see and try something different. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but there seemed to be a theme for this box towards relaxation and self-care. Perhaps other boxes are different themes?

Along with the box I tried, I received a flyer that listed a description of all the products and were they can be purchased online (many also included discount codes).

Also, all the packaging Vegan Presence uses is eco-friendly, sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable.

This is another fun subscription service out there that would be perfect as a present to yourself or as a gift for someone else.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Review of Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

2013-07-28T18:35:00.000-04:00

Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

Publisher's Description:

"Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.

St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?"

My Thoughts:

***contains spoilers***

This was a sweet and airy confection of a book (couldn't resist the candy metaphors, probably because the book is showered with too many of them), with little substance. I get that this genre is supposed to be pretty fluffy, but the plot development and characterization in this sometimes rubbed me the wrong way.

Charlie's turn-around wasn't very believable. He was apparently quite lawless and rough-and-tumble in his days brushing shoulders with Chicago gangsters, and then he tries to act like a gentleman, and then he wants Lucy Kendall and he gets her. Where is the growth in his character? Did any of this change him or make him a better person?

The attempts at weaving faith into this were a bit ludicrous. The only character who really talks about her faith was a daffy, somewhat incoherent, perpetually-smiling acquaintance that both main characters were always attempting to dodge. I'm fine if the book doesn't talk about faith—in fact, I'd prefer it if it were shown more than told—but I dislike how it was tacked on in in a haphazard manner that was never resolved.

Lucy's arc, if it may be called that, was also a bit of a stretch. She just suddenly started trusting Charlie? Also, how poor can her family really be if they are able to keep their coachman, maid, cook, etc.?

It annoyed me how the romance in this was primarily based on mere physical attraction. We're never told what they even see in each other, beyond this. Lucy seems to have a vague sense that he is easy to talk to, but what does that even mean? I guess that's my main gripe with this genre, judging solely off the handful of books of this sort that I have read. The romances are often just so . . . so shallow.

I'm being pretty harsh on this book, I know. I realize that it wasn't meant to be anything too deep—just clean, escapist, historical fiction romance. I guess it is, but these things did bother me a little. This isn't a bad book, and if you are looking for something light (and are prepared to start craving candy), it might be just the thing.

Full review posted at Goodreads.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation and all opinions are my own.

E-Book Review: Dreena Burton's Plant-Powered 15

2013-07-28T17:50:00.001-04:00

Plant-Powered 15 E-Book by Dreena Burton - I had never used an e-book before, and have always been rather reluctant to because I don't have a e-reader or tablet computer that makes using them easy. However, I was able to just print this one off (I didn't print the photos, and I printed four pages per sheet to save ink). The design of this one was professional, and I loved that there was a beautiful photograph for each recipe. Dreena Burton is one of my favorite cookbook offers, and these recipes did not disappoint. I've made thirteen of them so far, and the Coconut Pillows, Sticky Almond Blondies, Sneaky Chickpea Burgers, Creamy House Dressing, Almond Zen Granola, and Umami Sun-Dried Tomato and Almond Burgers were all quite good and had lots of flavor. All the recipes are gluten-free, oil-free, and made with whole food ingredients.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book for free in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Cookbook Review: Vegan Family Meals

2013-07-28T17:35:00.001-04:00

Vegan Family Meals by Ann Gentry - I haven't made many recipes from this yet, but the layout of the book is gorgeous. There are lots of beautiful photos, along with lots of detailed descriptions and tips. For me, many of the dishes just sound too complicated. Plus, I don't live next door to a farmer's market or have a huge budget for expensive ingredients. Still, I would love to try some of the recipes. Nutty Raspberry Muffins, Fennel and Roasted Garlic Soup with Walnut-Basil Pesto, Early Spring Salad with Tofu Chevre and Herb-Flaxseed Vinaigrette, Baked Penne and Cauliflower with Cheesy Sauce, and Almond-Jam Thumbprint Cookies do sound pretty mouthwatering. Maybe some day I can go visit Ann's restaurant in California.

Disclaimer: I received this cookbook free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all thoughts expressed are my own. Please note that I have not read this book cover-to-cover.

Cookbook Review: Quick and Easy Low-Cal Comfort Food

2013-07-28T17:22:00.001-04:00

Quick and Easy Low-Cal Comfort Food by Alicia C. Simpson - I think I will get some use out of this cookbook. As the name implies, it has some hearty, comfort food classics that are nice to have every so often. I've only made the Chili Cheese Fries so far, but that one recipe called for Classic Cheese Sauce and Ole-Fashioned Chili Beans. I enjoyed the recipe, but it wasn't necessarily my definition of quick and easy.

Categories include:

"The Basics" (Roasted Tofu, Savory Seitan, Andouille Sausage, etc.), "Rise and Dine" (Southwest Scramble, Crustless Quiche Lorraine, Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes, Citrus French Toast with Berry Compote, Black Bean Sausage, etc.)
"Breads and Rolls" (Mini Zucchini Loaves, Baked Hush Puppies, Grandma's Yeast Rolls, etc.)
"Snacks and Small Bites" (BBQ Popcorn, Sweet Potato Chips, White Bean Spread, etc.)
"Sides" (Five-Minute Garlic Spinach, Sesame Broccolini, Hoppin' John, Fried Green Tomatoes)
"The Salad Bar" (Chef's Salad, Waldorf Salad, Spicy Kale Slaw, Millet Tabbouleh, etc.)
"Soup's On!" (Minestrone Soup, Chipotle Butternut Squash Bisque, Creamy Black Bean Soup, Meatball Soup, etc.)
"The Main Event" (White Lasagna, Plaintain and Black Bean Tamales, One-Pot Jambalaya, Chickpea Cacciatore, Kung Pao Tofu, etc.)
"Sinful Sweets" (Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Strawberry Sorbet Pops, Cherries Jubilee, Moon Dusted Donuts, etc.)
"Beverages" (Watermelon-Basil Mock Mojito, Lemongrass Soda, Pepita Smoothie, Strawberry Milk Shake, etc.)
"Sauces, Spreads, and Spice Blends" (Taco Seasoning Mix, Parmesan Cheese, Frenchy Dressing, etc.)

As you can see, it has a great variety of foods from different cuisines and regions. There are also some sample menus and a center insert of photos (I would prefer more photos, but some is better than none).

Cookbook Review: Quick-Fix Vegan

2013-07-28T17:17:00.000-04:00

Quick-Fix Vegan by Robin Robertson - I was initially attracted to this title because of the "quick." I do generally like to cook, but sometimes it is nice to have something easy to make and be done with. This book has a nice assortment of creative recipes from a variety of different influences. It's not just a boring rehash of the same old thing. I haven't yet tried any of these recipes, but I'm curious to find out how fast they really are.

At the beginning of the book she has some recipes for things like homemade vegetable broth and pizza dough, with the idea that those are things that can be made ahead. I feel like that's a little out of place, since this isn't a make-ahead cookbook; it's a quick one. Still, those things would be easy to purchase pre-made. Some of the recipes use hard to find or expensive ingredients, but as a whole, I like the variety of this book.

I look forward to trying the Quick Vegetable and Quinoa Soup, Ginger Sesame Seitan with Spicy Basil Snow Peas, Jambalaya Bake, and Chesapeake Chickpea Sandwiches. There are also some recipes for easy desserts (which include items such as Stovetop Fruit Crisp and Tiramisu Parfaits), which is a nice touch.

The book is pretty no-fuss--there aren't any photographs (except two on the back cover), lengthy descriptions, or elaborate tips--but I think that kind of fits with the style and content. It's straight-forward and easy to read, and for hurried weeknights that might be just what is needed.

Disclaimer: I received this cookbook free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all thoughts expressed are my own. Please note that I have not read this book cover-to-cover.

Cookbook Review: More Peas, Thank You

2013-07-28T17:06:00.002-04:00

More Peas, Thank You by Sarah Matheny - I've tried a few recipes in this, and they were pretty good. I like the plethora of photos and colorful layout. There are eye-catching icons for freezable, cheap, packable, lighter, and revamped recipes. There is a nice variety of kid-friendly fare (Strawberry Multigrain Cereal Bars, Pizza Popcorn, Tofu Noodle Soup) and more sophisticated dishes (Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Jicama Grapefruit Salad, Black Bean Dal, Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Cheesecake Frosting). There are a lot of dessert-like treats in the book, too, if you have a sweet tooth. I haven't read all of the stories yet, but a cursory glance through the book reveals it to be a little too cutesy and tell-all for my tastes. The blog-to-book format just doesn't always work. A lot of the recipes look really good, though, and the design is very approachable. It makes me want to get in the kitchen and whip some things up!

Cookbook Review: The China Study Cookbook

2013-07-28T16:57:00.003-04:00

The China Study Cookbook by Leanne Campbell, PhD - I try to be honest in these reviews, and I have to say--without having made any of the recipes in the book yet--I'm not too impressed with this one so far. The recipes may be great, but many of them are things that I have seen before. What really turned me off was the layout. There are photos, which I always appreciate, but they are not very good quality and don't really make the food look very appetizing or appealing. Maybe I will change my mind about this book once I make a few recipes (I do have the Thai Wraps and Dominican Chapea bookmarked to make), but for now I don't foresee myself reaching for it very often.

Review of Cravings: A Catholic Wrestles with Food, Self-Image, and God by Mary DeTurris Poust

2013-07-28T16:47:00.000-04:00

Publisher's Description:

"In this first book on the topic written from a Catholic perspective, a
ward-winning writer Mary DeTurris Poust offers personal, hard-won wisdom on the complex relationship between food and spirituality in Cravings: A Catholic Wrestles with Food, Self-Image, and God.

Poust draws on the rich appreciation of meals she first gained at the tables of her childhood in an Italian-American family, leading readers into reflection on the connections between eating, self-image, and spirituality. Like Geneen Roth in Women, Food and God, but from a uniquely Catholic point of view, Poust helps readers spot ways they use food to avoid or ignore their real desires—for acceptance, understanding, friendship, love, and, indeed, for God. Poust draws from scripture and the great Catholic prayer forms and devotions to assist readers in making intentional changes in their use of food. She also offers reflections on fasting, eating in solidarity with the poor, vegetarianism, and the local food movement."

My Thoughts:

So many parts of this book felt like they were written just for me. It definitely gave me a lot to think about, and I think it is one that I will refer back to from time to time. I enjoyed the author's approachable style and the fact that the book wasn't overly long.

Although re-establishing a healthy relationship with food is a major focus of the book, it covers so much more than that. Other topics touched upon include:

Incorporating prayer and mindfulness into our eating (this is the main theme)
Being in tune with the seasonal rhythms of fasting and feasting
The importance of family meals
The role of food traditions in fostering community
The monastic approach to eating
The beauty and joy of nourishing our bodies
And, most importantly, how surrendering all things—even our eating—to God is the true path to peace and fulfillment.

It also gives very practical tips and everyday steps that can help one to adapt a prayerful and mindful attitude towards eating—and living. I also loved the poetic meditations at the end of each chapter. In short, there was very little I didn't like about this book. I'm so thankful for discovering this gem, and I highly recommend it. I'm glad I have my own copy, because I did lots of underlining while reading!

P.S. There are some mentions of the author practicing yoga; she even goes on a yoga retreat. I'm not really sure what to think about yoga. I did it for a brief time a few years ago, but just recently I learned more about its connection with transcendental meditation (which I'm definitely not a fan of). So I'm just throwing it out there that it's mentioned here. Since otherwise the book is so good, I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt in this case.

This review was cross-posted at Goodreads.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Ave Maria Press in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Runa Guayusa Tea - Review

2013-05-16T12:44:00.000-04:00

Runa Guayusa Tea
Before trying this brand, I had never heard of guayusa before. According to Runa's website:

"Guayusa is a native Amazonian tree leaf that has been brewed like tea for thousands of years by indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Guayusa Tea offers a clear, focused energy by balancing as much caffeine as one cup of coffee with twice the antioxidants of green tea."

And, if the products I tried are an indication, it's also very tasty!

I sampled all four flavors of the tea bags:

I'm having a hard time picking a favorite. They were all really good. I like flavor, so the traditional one was probably my least favorite (although it was still great). I loved the freshness of the Mint one, and the Ginger-Citrus reminded me of gingerbread (really--the flavor was excellent, especially with a drop or two of stevia)!

(I also love the eye-catching packaging.)

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky - Review

2013-05-15T15:28:00.000-04:00

Primal Spirit Foods offers an array of totally meatless, 100% vegan jerky made of plant-based protein. These convenient, portable, on-the-go snacks are perfect for traveling, packing in lunches, or taking along as fuel for an outdoor adventure.

In addition, all their products are non-GMO, all natural, vegan/kosher, high energy-high protein, and have no cholesterol, no preservatives, and no artificial colors.

They offer several different types of jerky: some are made with seitan (which is the a wheat protein long used in Asian cultures, but just becoming popular in the western world), some are made with soy, and some are made from shitake mushroom.

Although this isn't something I would usually get, I really enjoyed trying these. I think the mushroom ones might have been my favorite. They also have some really inventive flavor combinations--such as Thai Peanut and Mesquite Lime--as well as the Hickory Smoked, Texas BBQ, Hot & Spicy, and Teriyaki.

Although these are great by themselves, I bet they would also be wonderful added to a recipe: sandwiches stir-fries . . . the possibilities are endless!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

PROBAR Core Bars - Review and Giveaway

2013-05-15T14:50:00.001-04:00

PROBAR recently launched a line of hearty, gluten-free and vegan protein bars that boost 20 grams of protein per bar. These Core bars, as they are called, come in four delicious flavors:

All of the bars are very tasty! I think the Cookie Dough and the Mint Chocolate were my favorites, but it's hard to pick. I shared these with my family, and my sister commented on how a bar kept her full all morning.

As an added nutritional bonus, the bars include chia and flax seeds for healthy fats! The ingredients in the bars are a bit more processed than I was expecting, but these are still a step above most of the competition. I really enjoyed trying these, and they are something I would consider getting in the future.

If you would like to win a box of PROBAR Core bars to try them yourself, just enter the giveaway below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway As a special promotion, PROBAR is also offering readers of this blog 40% off an order. Just go to their online shop here and enter the code “BLOGGER”.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Teeccino Coffee Alternative and TeeChia Superseeds Cereal - Reviews

2013-05-15T14:07:00.002-04:00

Teeccino is an all-natural, caffeine-free, gluten-free, non-acidic coffee alternative that comes in both "tee-bags" and grounds that you can use in your coffee maker.

I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I do enjoy it every now in then. Teeccino doesn't taste exactly like coffee, but it really does remind me of it. I think it's quite tasty and comforting with some almondmilk or coconutmilk added for a delicious latte. Since I usually like to have a warm beverage in the evening, Teeccino is perfect because it won't keep me up. I also love that it is made from nutritious ingredients, such as dates, barley, carob, almonds, figs, cocoa, and ramon seeds, and it boasts natural fiber from chicory root.

The "tee-bags" brew very similar to tea, and are great for a convenient single serving. In this form I received the Chocolate (Dark Roast), French Roast (Dark Roast), Vanilla Nut (Medium Roast), and Hazelnut (Medium Roast). I also sampled the grinds that can be used in a coffee maker: Mediterranean Vanilla Nut, Maya French Roast, Maya Chocolate, and Mediterranean Hazelnut were the varieties I received.

I have enjoyed all the flavors I sampled and am now a definite Teeccino fan!

This company also makes a hot cereal mix called TeeChia Superseeds Cereal. These handy and nutritious mixes are gluten free and sugar free and include a blend of chia, flax, quinoa, amaranth, ramon, and pumpkin seeds. The two flavors I tried were Cinnamon Cranberry and Blueberry Date. These packets are quick and easy to make and both varieties were very good. This would be an excellent choice for breakfast. Think of it as an enlightened update on instant oatmeal. Unlike most packaged instant oatmeal and grain cereals, though, TeeChia isn't sickly-sweet.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Bakery On Main Instant Oatmeal - Review

2013-04-10T12:34:00.000-04:00

Bakery On Main Instant Oatmeal - This updated take on instant oatmeal is vegan, gluten free, and ready in 60-90 seconds! Plus, the inclusion of quinoa, amaranth, and chia seeds gives this a hearty texture and a definite nutritional edge. It comes in flavors like Apple Pie, Blueberry Scone (one of the new flavors), Strawberry Shortcake, and Maple Multigrain Muffin. I loved how all the ingredients were recognizable, how easy it was to prepare, and that it included chunks of real fruit. All of the flavors were great!

Thank you, Bakery On Main, for the opportunity to sample these fun cereals!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Jem Specialty Nut Butters and Chocolates - Review

2013-04-09T12:21:00.001-04:00

Jem Specialty Nut Butters + Chocolates - These fair trade, raw, certified-organic, superfood products are made from high quality ingredients that create and sophisticated marriage of flavors for a healthy indulgence. Their treats are also soy free, gluten free, dairy free (vegan, of course), low glycemic, and non-GMO.

Of the chocolates, I sampled the 55% Cacao Chocolate Bar, which "has a hint of mesquite" that highlights "the smokey notes of the bean," and the intense 72% Cacao Chocolate Bar. Both bars are made of a base of raw cacao nibs, coconut palm sugar (a low-glycemic sweetener), raw cacao butter, vanilla, and pink Himalayan salt. Of the two bars I preferred the 55%. It was so creamy and mild, probably my favorite raw chocolate that I've ever tried. It just melted in my mouth. The 72% was too dark and bitter for my liking, but if you love really dark chocolate this is sure to be a hit.

My favorite products, however, were the nut butters, of which I tried two varieties. The Chocolate Hazelnut Spread is a "blend of four quintessential ingredients: sprouted organic hazelnuts, raw organic cacao nibs and coconut palm sugar." Oh. My. Goodness. This was love at first bite! It was so creamy and decadent, and perfectly sweetened. It tasted more like frosting than nut butter, but I mean that in the best way possible. This was by far one of my favorite products I have tried in a while.

Next up, the Cinnamon Maca Almond Butter is made of sprouted almonds, coconut palm sugar, maca, cinnamon, and vanilla. Rich and satisfying with a full-bodied flavor that kept my mouth begging for just one more taste, this was a definite winner. The consistency is silky smooth and reminiscent of thick, fine quality caramel. This flavor pairs particularly well with fruit, and I really enjoyed it paired with apple slices. It would go anywhere you usually use nut butter, though--oatmeal, smoothies, bars, baking, topping ice cream, spreading on toast or rice cakes…the possibilities are endless, and the taste would just be elevated to something fabulous. I really can't pick a favorite. There is almost a malted richness with unparalleled texture and flavor. It's divine. Definitely the best almond butter I've ever had. And I can't get over how silky it is!

Thank you, Jem Nut Butters and Chocolates, for the opportunity to sample these delicious products!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Barlean's Organic Omega Swirl Flax Oils and Chocolate Silk Greens - Review

2013-04-09T12:08:00.000-04:00

Barlean's Organic Oils - It seems like nearly every day something comes out about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. These oils make getting your daily dose both tasty and convenient.

I sampled two of the Omega Swirl Flax Oils: Blackberry and Strawberry Banana. I can vouch for the fact that these truly do taste great, and they are also really fun to incorporate into meals or snacks (the label suggests adding them to oatmeal, smoothies
, or salad dressings) to add some fun flavor. The flax gives the oils a slightly nutty flavor that is very pleasant and not at all "fishy," like some omega-3 supplements.

I also love the fact that they are organic, and that the oils are sugar-free (they are sweetened with xylitol). I would love to try the other flavors!

I also got to try Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens, a "rich, creamy, and delicious" drink mix that can be served hot or cold. It's gluten free, non-GMO, and contains antioxidants (from ingredients such as fruit and vegetable powders), probiotics, and enzymes. I've had green powders before that left me unimpressed, so I was a little wary of this one. I need not have feared--this fully delivered! I like it warmed up with almond milk for a hot cocoa-like treat, but it's equally good cold. I think it would be fabulous in smoothies, too. I couldn't detect even a little of the funky greens flavor. It was just pure sweet chocolatey bliss. Bonus: it's sugar free and sweetened with stevia! I think this is something that even kids would heartily embrace.

Thank you, Barlean's, for the chance to try your great products!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Vegan Review Round-Up

2012-12-29T14:43:00.001-05:00

I wish all my readers a merry and blessed Christmas season!

Now that I have more free time during break, I'm going to tackle some of the reviews that have been piling up this fall. So here it goes!

NadaMoois a non-dairy, vegan, organic, kosher, and gluten-free coconut milk ice cream comes in 6 delicious flavors: Creamy Coconut (so creamy, smooth, and perfectly sweetened), Vanilla. . .ahhh, Gotta Do Chocolate, Java Crunch (all chocolate and cocoa is fair-trade), Lotta Mint Chip (so refreshing!), and Mmm. . .Maple Pecan(fabulous maple flavor!). As a bonus, it also features less fat and sugar than many competitors. Magically, it still retains a creamy and rich feel. You can find some fun recipes for NadaMoo on their blog, The Inside Scoop. This is definitely one of my favorite vegan ice cream lines. Every flavor is delicious!

SunWarrior protein powders are a popular vegan brand for those looking for supplemental protein. Although it is easy to get more than enough protein without powders, some people prefer an extra boost for satiety, for a filling snack, to replenish after a workout, to jumpstart the morning, or for numerous other reasons. All flavors are vegan, plant-based, gluten free, non-GMO, dairy free, hypoallergenic, raw, and soy free. They are also sweetened with stevia (except for the the Natural flavor, which is unsweetened). I tried several different flavors and types, and they are great for adding to a smoothie--or how ever else you use protein powder. They pack quite a healthy punch. For example, one 21 gram serving of the Chocolate flavor contains 16 grams of protein and only 80 calories. Beyond the original brown rice protein blend they also carry a Warrior Blend, which is a "synergistic proprietary blend fortified with coconut (MCT) oil" that contains a complete amino acid profile. This contains a mixture of pea protein, cranberry protein, and hemp protein. In addition to protein, they also have Activated Barley and Ormus Supergreens (which contains probiotic cultured greens, barley, wheat & oat grass, spinach, parsley, yucca, alfalfa, peppermint & stevia).

New York Naturals Kale Chips - I am a huge fan of kale chips, and these were no exception. These incredibly yummy and healthy munchables are vegan, raw, and come in flavors such as Sea Salt & Vinegar (my favorite, which also happens to be nut-free), Spicy Miso (which as a little kick from the habanero), Vegan "Cheese" (really tasty!), Bombay Ranch (just the perfect hint of Indian spice). In addition to kale chips, they also sell kale granola--Greenola--which sounds completely weird, but is actually pretty delicious. I enjoyed the Cranberry Nut Crunch, but didn't care for Spirulina Crunch (only because I'm not a big fan of spirulina in general). I would love to see this company go organic.

Starry Lane Bakery sent me a a few selections of their gluten-free and vegan baked goods. The Lemon Shortbread Cookies were delicious and practically melted in my mouth; I would never be able to tell these were gluten-free! Plus, they had that tart lemon flavor which I love. The FudgeBrownies had a nice crisp crust and gooey center. I'm not a huge brownie fan, though, and I found these to be really greasy (which could've just been a shipping error or defective batch). I would definitely be interested in trying more of their products in the future!

The GFB: Gluten Free Bar - Another fabulous gluten-free offering, these tasty little bars are portable, nutritious, and very satisfying. All the flavors--Oatmeal Raisin, Cranberry Toasted Almond, Peanut Butter, and Peanut Butter Chocolate--were thoroughly enjoyed, but the Peanut Butter one was my favorite. It tasted like peanut butter cookie dough! I find energy bars can be rather hit and miss. Some of them taste like sawdust, and some of them have ingredients that resemble that of a candy bar. Thankfully, The GFB is neither. It manages to taste great while also being healthy. Each bar is under 300 calories and provides 11-13 grams of protein--which make them ideal for a filling, on-the-go snack.

Medicinal Flower Flavor Extracts - These organic, cold-pressed extracts are revolutionary! I can't wait to try more of them. It can be hard to find flavorings--for baking, cooking, and more--that are truly natural and don't have a lot of sugars, chemicals, and additives. The great thing about these extracts, is that they are truly pure and natural and contain a very concentrated flavor. Although they are pricy, the quality ingredients make them stand out from the competition. Plus, whereas with many other flavorings a teaspoon or so is needed, with this brand all you need for a big flavor punch is one or two drops. Besides all the typical uses, they are really fun to mix up smoothies, warm beverages, or even water. So far all that I have tried have been great (I received the Coffee, Vanilla, Raspberry, and Almond). The vanilla, in particular, is a favorite.

Living Harvest Tempt - I tried their unsweetened vanilla hempmilk. It's a nondairy beverage that is creamy and rich and perfect for smoothies, baking, and more. The flavor of hemp is slightly noticeable, but if you know what it is it isn't so bad. They also make an ice cream line, of which I sampled the mint chip. It wasn't my favorite brand of non-dairy ice cream, but I enjoyed a little on a brownie or in hot cocoa.

Bearded Brothers Energy Bars - These energy bars are dense, filling, delicious, and--bonus--use a lot of organic ingredients. In short, they aren't a wimpy bar. I tried the Fabulous Ginger Peach(featuring the strong flavor of fresh ginger), Bodacious Blueberry Vanilla (has a wonderful full-bodied vanilla flavor. Despite containing protein powder, it isn't chalky like some bars), Mighty Maca Chocolate (the maca and cinnamon combo give it an exotic flair), Colossal Coconut Mango (the tropical flavors complement each other well).

Betty Lou's Snacks- I tried a sampling of vegan offerings from this company, and all of them were great. The Almond Butter Ball, Cashew Pecan Butter Ball, and Spirulina Ginseng Nut Ball were all fun and creative snacks that tasted very good! I also loved the Apple Cinnamon Fruit Bar, Blueberry Fruit Bar, Cherry Fruit Bar, and Strawberry Fruit Bar. It was hard to pick a favorite, as all of them seemed better than the next. The ingredients also seemed very fresh, and I noticed among the fruit bars, that the filling actually tasted like real fruit! I also got to try the Organic Powdered Peanut Butter and Organic Chocolate Powdered Peanut Butter, and am going to be adding this to my shopping list. Both flavors were so good, and I never would have known that they are low fat!

SnackLets Kale Chips - I told you I liked kale chips! This brand had less coating them some, but they were still perfectly crispy and hard to resist. With fun flavors like Double O Cheesy, BBQ Giddy Up, Spicy Chili-lata these are sure to be a hit. One can never have too many kale chips! These aren't organic either, but I hope that they consider it in the near future!

Enjoy the final days of 2012, and have a joyous and peace-filled new year!

Thank you to all the companies that sent me products to review!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Happy Herbivore Abroad Giveaway - ENDED

2012-12-17T09:20:00.000-05:00

Blogger and author Lindsay Nixon has recently released her third plant-based cookbook. Loaded with travel photos and creative low-fat recipes, this volume focuses on international cuisine--while still utilizing common and easy-to-find ingredients.

Lindsay answered a few questions about this latest book, her favorite foods, and what's next:

What inspired the recipes featured in this book, and how do you come up with your recipes?

"With my first book, The Happy Herbivore Cookbook, I set out to recreate dishes ('comfort foods') that I used to eat -- but in a new healthy and plant-based way. With my second book, Everyday Happy Herbivore, I went back to basics. I looked at whatever ingredients I had on hand, then created a meal (or meals) out of it. With my new book, Happy Herbivore Abroad, I recreated meals I ate or saw on my travels... I made international cuisine healthy and plant-based -- and with everyday ingredients."

Do you have a favorite recipes in the latest book?

"Asking a chef to pick their favorite recipe is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child :)"

What's your ultimate comfort food meal?

"mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of corn."

Do you have any advice for those thinking of going plant-based?

"Just do it. Take it a meal at a time. Don't get caught up with over thinking. Worry about this meal, right now -- not what you're doing tomorrow, or next week or next Christmas. Never think in "Can's haves" -- it's not that you can't have it, it's that you're choosing not to. Also, focus on all the food you can have, not what you're choosing to give up. I eat a wider variety of food now on a plant-based diet than I ever did on an omnivorous one!"

What 5 ingredients do you always have on hand in your kitchen?

"onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, cinnamon, potatoes"

What's next for the Happy Herbivore? Do you plan on writing any more cookbooks?

"I'm writing my 4th book now. My contract requires me to write 6 total, so I'll be busy for a while!"

BenBella Books has generously offered to give one lucky reader a copy of Happy Herbivore Abroad.

To enter, simply leave a comment with an international dish that you would like to see made vegan (there is a good chance Lindsay has a included it in her book).

~~**This giveaway is open to readers from the United States and Canada. Giveaway ends on January 5, 2013**~~

This giveaway has now ended. Thank you to all who entered ~~and congratulations to Blessed Vegan Mama, who is the lucky winner!~~

The first winner never responded, so I have selected another one. Congratulations to Janet! Please email me at justaudrey(at)live(dot)com with your name and mailing address. I will forward your info to the publisher.

Vegan Reviews: Caramel Corn, Bee Free Honee, Kale-nola, and more!

2012-09-30T16:41:00.001-04:00

Coconut Bliss- This is one of my favorite vegan ice cream companies. I recently was able to try two of their newer flavors and I loved them.

Mocha Maca Crunch - The unique flavor of maca is definitely perceptible in this flavor, but it's not too overpowering. There is a pleasant crunch from the cacao nibs and, like all of the Coconut Bliss flavors, the coconut base is rich, creamy, and perfectly decadent.

Ginger Cookie Caramel - I had to do quite a bit of hunting to track down this elusive flavor, but it was worth it. The delicately-spiced coconut cream rippled with gooey caramel is a definite winner. It's great on its own, but I also love it paired with other desserts—imagine it on peach crisp, brownies, or sandwiched between two spice cookies. Yum!

Bee Free Honee - If you are searching for a vegan alternative to honey--or if you are concerned about the Colony Collapse Disorder affecting bee populations-- this is the product you've been waiting for. Made from apples, vegan beet sugar, and lemon juice, honee has a unique tangy-sweet taste that I think is actually better than honey. I love the attractive packaging, and how passionate the owners are about building a great business--family-run, environmentally friendly, conscious, and dedicated to providing superior products to consumers. This product can be used anywhere you would use honey-made-from-bees and it is also safe for small children (no concerns about botulism, as with traditional honey). I have tried it a few different ways and I am looking forward to drizzling it over some fresh-baked cornbread!

PowBab- These are really yummy superfood chews made from the African baobab tree (which makes me think of The Little Prince!), pomegranate, and acai berries. I loved these and thought they tasted kind of like Starburst candies, with a slight stevia aftertaste. Unlike Starbursts, they boost an impressive amount of antioxidants and are also supposed to improve immunity, according to their website. They "contain raw, unprocessed whole fruit and other natural ingredients." Also, they have no preservatives and are free of gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, and nuts. Plus, they are fair trade and vegan!

Bella Bar- This natural bar contains hemp and flax and comes in two flavors, Chocolate Nut Raw Bar and Cinnamon Nut Raw Bar. This is another option to explore if you are looking for an on-the-go snack or some portable energy. You can view the nutrition facts and ingredients here.

22 Days Nutrition Bar - A substantial gluten-free, fair-trade certified, and organic bar that comes in original flavors like Goji Mate Firecracker (made with yerba mate tea) and Enlightened Pumpkinseed (which includes 11 grams of protein!). The Fruit Nut Karma bar was my second favorite, with the Cherry Chocolate Bliss flavor coming out on top (how can you go wrong with that combination?). I didn't try the Daily Mocha Mantra and Nut Butter Buddha Crunch, but they both sound delicious!

CocomoJoe- If you have a craving for healthy, vegan, organic caramel corn, CocomoJoe has you covered! It's made with low-glycemic coconut nectar which lends a slight molasses-y flavor. It has great crunch and there were some delectable clumps (those are always the most fun to eat!). I also tried two of their granola flavors—Salty Chocolate Granola and Egg Nog Granola. Yes, both flavors are 100% vegan! It was hard to pick a favorite, but I think the Egg Nog wins out. Both granolas had a unique flavor and were delicious on their own or with almondmilk. I thought it was interesting that their granolas includes dried figs and molasses for a slightly different flavor and a little chew from the figs. I also loved the whole almonds included! If you subscribe to the Healthy Surprise Box (which I reviewed here), they were included in one of their recent boxes.

Tofutti - I have tried the Tofutti "Cuties," which are yummy little non-dairy ice cream sandwiches, and the Tofutti "Better Than Cream Cheese," which is a terrific non-dairy spread to use on bagels, in frostings, or wherever you would use dairy cream cheese. I always buy the non-hydrogenated version. They also make non-dairy ice cream pints and pizzas, neither of which I have tried.

Just Pure Foods - I loved everything I got to try from this company. I appreciated how healthy their products are, and that they showcase vegetables in new ways. In addition, everything is raw, gluten-free, organic, nut-free, and yeast-free. I tried the Chocolate Kale-nola (genius! kale for breakfast . . .or dessert! Sweetened with coconut nectar, this nutritious raw granola is crunchy and chocolaty), Cool Ranch Zucchini Chips (my favorite. So yummy! I would pick these over potato chips any day), Pesto Tomato Chips (great pesto flavor and lots of crunch), Pesto Zucchini Chips (another winner—both tasty and creative). I really look forward to seeing what other innovative offerings this company develops. I highly recommend checking them out next time you are searching for some healthy and convenient snacking options. Many of their products would also be great sprinkled on smoothies (as with the kale-nola), salads, soups, and more.

This Chick Bakes Vegan Gift Box - The first thing I noticed about this box was the eye-catching and and effective packaging. There was lots of turquoise and brown stripped and dotted tissue, and a coordinating box tied with a ribbon. The baked goods were beautifully and attractively presented, which is sometimes difficult to do if shipping delicate treats over long distances (the picture doesn't do it justice). I received 2 Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies, 2 Vegan Chocolate Chunk Raisin Oatmeal Cookies, 2 Vegan Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies, 2 Vegan Ginger Molasses Cookies, 1 Vegan Ginger Pumpkin Mini Loaf, and 1 Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookie. All of the treats were delicious! The cookies were very large, dense, and rich. In short, they were rather amazing. My favorite of the lot was the Chocolate Chunk Raisin Oatmeal Cookie. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed this one, because usually oatmeal cookies aren't my first pick (although I like them just fine), but this one was so exquisitely spiced with perfectly accenting sweet raisins and toothsome morsels of chocolate. Mmm. My second favorite was the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie. This was probably the richest cookie in the batch, and with the combination of peanut butter and chocolate in a large, chewy cookie it's pretty hard not to fall in love. I also really enjoyed the Ginger Pumpkin Loaf. I could taste the spicy hint of fresh grated ginger and it was a nice contrast to the pumpkin flavor. All in all, I just loved these products. This Chick Bakes Vegan Gift Box offers very decadent and scrumptious vegan offerings that I would not hesitate to recommend based on both taste and presentation. The cute packaging also makes for an impressive gift . . . but of course you could order a box as a treat for yourself, too!

Angie's Artisan Treats Boomchickapop Sea Salt Popcorn - I love the cute, eye-catching packaging of this vegan popcorn. It makes for a great and convenient snack. I appreciate that it isn't too greasy and has just the right amount of salt. It tastes like homemade popcorn! And bonus: there are only 35 calories per cup!

Just Tomatoes, etc. - I've reviewed Just Tomatoes, etc. products before, but this time they asked me to feature their new smaller, convenient snack packs. These individual-serving pouches are perfect for packing in school lunches, traveling, or any time you need a portable boost from 100% fresh fruit in a crunchy and snackable form. I tried the Just Strawberries, Just Fruit Munchies, and Just Fruit Salad. All were delicious and satisfying; it's hard to pick a favorite!

Thank you to all the companies that sent me products to review!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Another Serving of Vegan Reviews

2012-07-22T16:52:00.000-04:00

I've been pretty busy this spring and summer taking college classes, so I'm sorry about the delay on these.

I hope you enjoy this brief survey of some of the products I've enjoyed during the past several months.

First up are Simply Sprouted Way Better Snacks. These chips are made from unique combinations--including beans and ancient grains. They were really good! Even some of the unexpected flavors, like Simply Beyond Black Bean, impressed me. They are crunchy, salty, and have a wonderful full-bodied flavor with just a hint of toasted nuttiness. Next time you are in the chip aisle at your natural foods store, give them a try. They also come in Simply Sunny Multi-Grain, Simply Sweeet Potato, Simply So Sweet Chili, Simply Unbeatable Blues, and No Salt Baked Blues.

Chocolate Fantasy - This company makes mixes using the all natural, sugar free sweetener stevia. So far I have tried the drink mix and it is pretty tasty. You can use the drink mix to make instant hot cocoa (and I did many times). I also used it in other recipes. For example, try mixing 1 T. with vegan yogurt and 1 T. of cocoa powder. Stir well and garnish with a dollop of raspberry preserves. Ta da! Instant tangy vegan chocolate-raspberry mousse/pudding! I haven't tried the cake mixes yet, but I want to put my hand at veganizing them.

Cloud 9 Raw Chocolate - This is one of the items I received this spring around the time my computer crashed. I lost the review I had worked on, and also my list of products I needed to review. I tried to remember as best as I could, but if you sent me something and I have yet to review it, please don't hesitate to send me an email. Thanks! Back to the chocolate! This was pretty good; it's dark and fudgy and the combinations of flavors were fun to try. As the name implies, they are also raw!

Nature's Path Organic -These organic cereals were really delightful to sample. I got to try the Optimum Blueberry Cinnamon (very good!), Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise (almost better without milk. Love the sweetness and crunch and all the different grains), Sweet & Salty Peanut Choco Chewy Granola bars (I really liked these. You can definitely detect the peanuts, which is nice, and they are fun and chewy to eat. The other flavors also sound good [I didn't check if they are all vegan, but I know at least the one I tried was]), and the Vanilla Almond Flax Plus Granola (I like that it's not too sweet). I would definitely buy some of these products in the future. I like that many of them are also a good source of Omega-3s.

Angel Food is a New Zealand company that makes vegan meringue and marshmallow mixes. I haven't tried the marshmallow mix, but I did try the meringue. I had rather mixed results, but it's a really fun concept. One of these days I really need to make those marshmallows; for some reason the process keeps intimidating me.

Woah Veg- This company makes vegan gift baskets full of delicious food items. I sampled the Vegan Get Together Gift Basket and can honestly say that I enjoyed each and every item in it. It was so fun to get this in the mail, and it would make a great gift for any occasion--even for non-vegans (my family shared some of the items with me and they all loved them).

So Delicious - If you haven't heard of So Delicious, then you are missing out. They make a wide assortment of vegan frozen treats--from coconut milk beverages to almond milk Greek yogurts. I tried two of the almond milk ice creams and two of thecoconut milk ice creams, and they were great! I especially loved the coconut milk varieties. They seriously give dairy a run for their money. I keep trying to find their Almond Milk Plus, but so far none of the stores I shop at seem to carry it. In any case, keep a look out for any of their great products next time you are in the frozen or refrigerated aisle at the grocery store. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. And what better time is there than summer to enjoy an ice cream cone or banana split?

Snackle Mouth- These are an addicting snack made of granola and nut clusters. If you are the kind of person who loves the clumps in granola, you will go crazy for these. I tried the three original vegan flavors--Almond Berry, Peanut Cranberry, and Almond Pecan Maple. Despite the fact that the packaging scares me, they were all terrific; the Almond Maple Pecan was my favorite. I loved these and definitely recommend checking them out.

Healthy Surprise Box - This is really fun! If you buy a subscription every month you will receive a different box of assorted natural food items. I received a sample box that included Hail Merry Vanilla Maple Almonds (delicious), 5 oz. bag of Skinny CrispsCinnamon Crisps (also really good), an OskriCoconut Bar Cherry flavor, a Two Moms in the Raw Goji Berry Nut Bar, 2 single-serve pkg. of HomeFree Gluten-Free Vanilla Mini Cookies, 100% organic Bare Fruit Organic Dried Granny Smith Apple Chips (love these), Gone Nuts! Thai Lemon Curry nuts (perfect amount of spice, great flavor, hint of sweetness), and a package of hempseed. I think just about everything was gluten free (but I would still double check, if that's a concern) and I loved getting a chance to sample all of these products.

Alexia Foods - It's summer, and what better to go with your veggie burger than some delicious fries! Alexia makes this easy with their many variations of potatoes and sides. The three varieties I tried were the Spicy Sweet Potato Julienne Fries, Sweet Potato Puffs, Organic Oven Crinkles. I enjoyed them all, even though French fries are something I rarely indulge in. I love that they offer many organic items. These are great for when you're in a pinch, or just want something fun and different to go with your meal.

I love reviewing cookbooks, and Da Capo has an amazing collection of vegan titles. A few that I have had the honor of reviewing are: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World (one of the few things that could possibly make this book any better is if it came with the cupcakes! I used some of the filling/frosting recipes to make my brother a chocolate mint cake for his birthday. Everyone loved it! This book is so much fun.), Veganomicon (one of the quintessential vegan cookbooks. With over 250 recipes, there is sure to be something to make any vegan happy. One things that struck me is just how creative the techniques and flavor-pairings were. All different kinds of cuisines, vegetables, grains, and beans are included--just proving that a vegan diet is anything but boring), and Vegan Brunch (lots of great breakfast and brunch recipes and the author's hilarious signature writing style--for an example of this see "A Letter to a Young Crepe Maker" on pp. 106-107. I made the Pumpkin Bran muffins for my non-vegan family and they loved them!). I definitely recommend checking these titles out…even if you aren't a vegan!

Thank you to all the companies that sent me products to review! Enjoy your summer, everyone. :)

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Review of Dreena Burton's Let Them Eat Vegan!

2012-05-06T15:04:00.002-04:00

Vegan culinary master Dreena Burton's long-awaited fourth cookbook has finally arrived! This is her biggest work yet, and it's chock full of 200 mouthwatering "plant-powered" recipes. I was one of the lucky bloggers who got to review a copy of this work, and it now sits proudly on my shelf next to my other favorite cookbooks. I've already made a bunch of recipes from it, including Too-Good-to-Be-Tofu Burgers (142), Jerk Chickpeas (114), Kale-Slaw (37) with Curried Almond Dressing (49), "No-Fu Love Loaf" (112), Cocoa Cookie Dough Balls (23), KD Dip, and Kids' Cheesy Chickpea and White Bean Soup...and those were just my favorites!

This book features something for every vegan palate (and meals that will appeal to omnivores, too!). There are gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options. I love the versatility of the recipes in this book, and I think Dreena's conversational-style notes accompanying each recipe are really fun and helpful. If you are a visual person (like me!) there is also a center insert of many beautiful photographs of the recipes. At first I wished there were more pictures, but in a way, it's kind of fun to make a recipe and not be exactly sure what it will look like. It kind of adds a little adventure to the process!

Most of the recipes I've made have been savory foods, but this book also has a lot of options for desserts and baked goods. Although a lot of these are healthier than the majority of sweet treats (vegan or otherwise) they still rely on a good deal of unprocessed sugar, nuts, and coconut oil. I specifically wish there were fewer recipes with coconut milk and oil (even though some people say the saturated fat in these foods is 'safe', I've heard mixed opinions and feel better not consuming a lot of them). There are also a good many recipes with oil (although, again, Dreena uses way less than most chefs). However, for all the recipes I tried, I was able to remove the oil without a problem. (I do eat oils sometimes, but I prefer whole fats--such as nuts--as they are more nutritious and satiating.) I would also have loved it if the recipes including nutrition facts, including stats for calcium, iron, sodium, sugar, etc. I find this can provide a helpful guideline in preparing healthful and well-balanced meals.

There is a wonderful variety of recipes in this book, and almost all of the dishes feel new and unique (but there are also plenty of twists on old favorites). A great example of this is the KD Dip. At first I thought it sounded gross, but one day I felt like a sauce to go over my veggies, so decided to give it a try. Wow, am I glad I did! It's now one of my favorite sauces. I think it would be good on just about any grain, bean, or vegetable. The flavors work together so well, and prove once again that--even when I doubt her--Dreena knows what she's doing in the kitchen!

I really encourage you to pick up a copy of this book to add to your cookbook stash. If you use it as much as I already have (and plan to continue!) the investment will be well worth it. I'd also like to mention that today, May 6, is the LAST day for a really special promotion Dreena is running. So if you stalled in picking up a copy, here's the shove you need to order one...or five. There are some fun bonuses you will receive if you participate in this promo, so check it out! If you happened to miss the deadline for the special offers, don't worry--you can still pick up the book any time online or at a bookstore (you just won't get a chance at he fun extras...but you will still get a beautiful cookbook!)

Thank you to Perseus Book Group and Da Capo Press for the chance to review this title!

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Da Capo Press in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all thoughts expressed are my own. Please note that I have not read this book cover-to-cover.

Reviews: Vegan Cheese, Yogurt, Macaroons, Freeze-dried Fruit, and More

2012-04-01T14:27:00.002-04:00

Mamma Chia- Chia seeds are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They are power houses of nutrition! Mamma Chia has found a way to make getting these healthy seeds into your diet both convenient and delicious. These vegan and organic drinks add the seeds in a juice mixture; the chia seeds gel up a bit in the juice and create a fun and refreshing beverage. I did enjoy these, although I found some flavors a bit watery and high in sugar. The flavors I tried were: Cherry Lime (my favorite of the ones I sampled. It had a great cherry flavor and was a little lower in sugar than some of the others), Raspberry Passion, Pomegranate Mint (unique but very refreshing! Love the hint of mint!), and Coconut Mango.

Whole Soy & Co. soy yogurt is delicious, vegan, and made with organic, non-GMO soybeans! If you are skeptical about non-dairy yogurts, I recommend giving Whole Soy & Co. a try. I have tried several of their flavors and all of them are very tasty!

Kat's Hot Cakes - I tried a sampler pack of some delicious vegan baked goods from this bakery. I really like the fact that they use whole grain flours and a lot of organic ingredients. You can learn more about their products by visiting the Baked Goods Guide on their website. My family and I sampled the mini pumpkin muffins (with mini carob chips), a banana bread mini loaf, a mini orange cake muffin, and a mini carob cake. We enjoyed all of them. My youngest brother's favorite was the orange cake, my sister and I both really liked the pumpkin muffin and banana bread, my mom liked the carob cake, and another brother couldn't stop raving about the banana bread. So I'd say Kat's products were a definite culinary success. :) These have a wonderfully coarse crumb from the whole wheat flour, which I personally love. Some of the items (especially the orange muffins) were a little dry, but that could've been a result of the transit time. One taster actually said the banana bread was incredibly moist for being made with whole wheat flour! I'm not usually a fan of carob, but the mini carob cake totally won me over (plus, it was adorable)! I really recommend ordering some things from this company (you can have them shipped right to you!). I love the fact that they create baked goods with healthier ingredients that don't compromise on flavor.

Bakery On Main sent me some of their gluten-free Soft & Chewy Granola Bars. These were really unique and delicious. I love that they use super nutritious grains like quinoa and amaranth. They also include chia and flax for a healthy boost of omega-3s, and they are fairly low in sugar. As for the taste, they are really good and have a pleasing texture--chewy but not tough. I tried the Peanut Butter & Jelly Granola Bar (great combination of strawberry and peanut butter), Cinnamon Apple Granola Bar (wonderful fresh apple flavor. The cinnamon is not too strong), Chocolate Almond Granola Bar (nice flavor and loved the chocolate chips).

Just Tomatoes, Etc. - I am a huge fan of freeze-dried fruit and this stuff is just amazing. The fruit is so delicious that I think it's better than candy. The great thing is that nothing is added--no sugar, preservatives, or ambiguous flavor enhancers. I tried the Just Strawberries 'n' Bananas (yum, yum, YUM! The fruit flavor was just like fresh but more concentrated and even more tasty), Just Strawberry Powder (perfect for tinting frosting, ice cream, batters, smoothies, strawberry milk…maybe even vegan strawberry marshmallows! I'm looking forward to experimenting with this), Just Veggies (a great way to get in some extra veggies in; perfect for a healthy and crunchy snack), Just Fruit Munchies (a fun blend of a bunch of fruits--raspberries, blueberries, sour cherries, pineapple, mango, apple. Great sprinkled over cereal for a burst of flavor). They also have organic varieties available. I would love to try more of their products--they are just so darn good!

Ste. Martaen Vegan Cheese Alternative - Using agar and cashews, this cheese slices and melts and is delicious! I love how wholesome the ingredients are. Check out the ingredients for the Colby: purified water, agar, organic cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, tahini, sea salt, spices, pimientos, citric acid. See! And the nutritionals are stellar, too. It's gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free, and cruelty-free! You can even get it sent straight to your house. It doesn't taste exactly like dairy cheese, but it's pretty close. But then again, it's been awhile since I've had cheese…so maybe I've forgotten. Whatever you want to compare it to, the important thing is that it tastes great…even just on a cracker! It also melted wonderfully in a quesadilla. The possibilities are endless! Ste. Martaen Vegan Cheese currently comes in Colby, Smoked Gouda, Pepper Jack, Muenster, and Olive.

Amazing Grass - I really love this stuff. It tastes better than pretty much any other green powder I have tried. I thought the Amazing Meal Vanilla Chai Infusion was my favorite, but that was before I tried the Amazing Meal Chocolate Infusion, which is incredibly tasty! When mixed with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, it tastes like chocolate milk. I was actually surprised that these also really did curb my hunger. I also got to try samples of the other Amazing Meal flavors, the Green SuperFood Energy Bars, Kidz Superfood, Amazing Grass Energy Green SuperFoods packet - Lemon Lime flavor, and more. I have enjoyed all that I have tried so far. I was also sent a Shaker Cup,which works well for mixing up any of the shakes or drink mixes. While it doesn't replace a healthy diet, I think the Amazing Grass products can definitely be part of one. If you're looking for a convenient way to get a little boost of nutrition, I recommend checking them out!

SuperFood Snacks - I really enjoyed trying their Green Chocolate Dream Energy Nuggets and Chocolate Cherry Qi Energy Nuggets. My favorite was the Green Chocolate Dream but I liked them both. These truffle-sized treats are made with very healthy ingredients--you can read more about that here--and are vegan, raw, non-GMO and organic. Another cool thing about this company is that their energy nuggets come in biodegradable packaging that decomposes in about 180 days. I also liked that they were fairly low in fat and high in fiber. I definitely recommend checking these out! They would be perfect to keep around as snacks, take on the trail, or keep in your purse or knapsack when traveling.

Food Should Taste Good - There are so many delicious flavors of these chips, and they even have fun dip-pairing ideas on their website. I tried the Lime (terrific fresh--not fake--lime scent and flavor. I am a huge citrus lover, so naturally that lured me right in. These are light, crispy, and not too salty. The flavor of lime is the perfect balance: it's prominent but not overpowering.), Kettle Corn (I loved this sweet and salty combination, and so did my family), Sweet Potato (great caramel and earthy undertones, and a fun shape.), Salt & Vinegar Sweet Potato Chips (different, but not in a bad way. They are just as salty and vinegary as you would expect, but then with a sweet undertone. They are also super crispy...definitely a plus!), The Works! (I liked the caraway and poppy seed notes and the fact that the garlic/onion flavor was not too overpowering).

Conscious Box is a program you can sign up for, give as a gift, or just purchase month-by-month. What they do is hand-pick some natural products, pack it up in a pretty box, and mail it to your doorstep. It's a great way to find out about new products on the market and it's especially fun if you just enjoy trying new things. The products are not specifically vegan, but many of them are. In the March box that I received all but three things were vegan. I thought this was really fun to get in the mail and unpack. It's exciting because you don't know exactly just what you will get. Just to give you an idea for some of the things I received: a snack size bag of Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers in Sea Salt flavor (these were really good! I would definitely buy them at the store. They are also gluten free and low in fat.), a tin of Tea Fortes MinTeas in Ginger Pear (sugar free, all natural, organic mints made with Fair Trade tea), a snack size bag of RW Garcia MixtBag Yellow & Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, a packet of Healthy To Go Acai Natural Energy Boost, zinnia flower seeds, and more. It also came with some web coupons and a card explaining the theme of that month's box and the products contained therein.

Raw Melissa - These macaroons were incredible! Really, so good. The flavor was mouthwatering. I can't decide which flavor I like more--the Vanilla Macaroons or Chocolate Covered Macaroons. YUM! She also sent me a copy of her book, FAVES: Fruits and Veggies, Energy's Secret. This petite little volume features chef Melissa Chapell's favorite recipes using fresh ingredients. I want to try the Lime Mango Smoothie (88) and Cinnamon Ginger Orange Smoothie (83), both of which sound delicious! (Please note that some recipes in the book include honey; I would sub agave syrup, maple syrup, or brown rice nectar to make it vegan.)

Pure Glass Bottle - I really love this bottle, and it's a pretty genius concept. What it is is a glass bottle that is coated in a transparent BPA-free rubbery outside layer. That part never even touches your water, but it does provide it a lot more protection against shattering. If it did happen to shatter, all the messy glass would be contained in that coating. Glass water bottles are my preferred BPA-free alternative, and when I'm not using an empty kombucha bottle (those labels are pesky to get off!), this is what I reach for. It also features a screw-off top that at first I thought was weird, but now I really like it. It make it easy to fill the water bottle without spilling and it is handy for adding things like ice, mint, or lemon. I tried out the 17.5 oz. size (the Traveler), but it also comes in a larger and different design that holds 25 oz. (the Explorer). The Traveler size fits into most vehicle cup-holders, and because the lid part is plastic (BPA-free, of course) you don't have to worry about chipping your teeth on the glass if you reach for a drink when, say, running.

Mama Micki's - These are some of the best vegan cookies I've ever sampled. So many cookies--vegan or otherwise--are either gummy, hard and crunchy, or dense and cakey. I can appreciate both chewy and cakey cookies, but in my opinion the perfect consistency lies somewhere in between--a slightly crispy exterior with a pliable melt-in-your-moth interior. Mama Micki's gets it just right, with cookies that really taste homemade. Perfection! I tried the Vegan Molasses Cookies (great crackle, a nice size, and a wonderfully rich, spicy flavor. I shared these with my dad--who is not vegan--and he loved them. I highly recommend these.) and the Vegan Chocolate Orange Cookies with Walnuts (I loved this unique flavor combination and refreshing spin on basic chocolate. They are different, but good!) There are 6 cookies per package, contain no refined sugars, and look to be made with organic ingredients whenever possible. If you decide to order from Mama Micki's, keep in mind that not all her offerings are vegan; just make sure it is specifically labeled as such and you can't go wrong!

I hope you enjoyed reading about these great vegan products. Thank you to everyone who sent me products to review!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

More Vegan Reviews: Chocolate, Stevia, Sprouts, and More

2012-02-26T13:45:00.003-05:00

Theo Chocolate - I tried the Salted Almond Dark Chocolate bar and the Orange Dark Chocolate bar. Both were delicious, and really good sized. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I did love the chunks of almonds in the first bar. Lately I have loved baking with flavored chocolate bars. I used part of the orange one here to make some delicious orange-scented chocolate chunk cookies. But I can attest to the fact that both flavors are also delicious on their own. Another thing I really love about this company is that they are on the Food Empowerment Project's list of chocolate they recommend. You can learn more about what that means here.

Canary Confectionery - First of all, isn't the name and logo for this Chicago-based bakery cute? Everything they make is vegan (of course) and gluten-free. I had never tried any gluten-free cookies or brownies, so I enjoyed getting a chance to sample them. It is great that more and more gluten free stuff is available for people with sensitivities. And of course I love that all of their products are also cruelty-free. I tried the Raspberry Truffles (these practically melt in your mouth!), a Chocolate Chip Cookie, a Sugar Cookie, a Chocolate-Drizzled Raspberry Brownie, and a Chocolate-Dipped Brownie. If I had to pick a favorite it would probably be one of the brownies. I loved how they were dipped in chocolate. Speaking of chocolate, the cocoa flavor of these was really rich and delicious. They also have a beautiful presentation. I also liked how the size of these is also just right. Be sure to check this company out online, or if you are ever in Chicago.

Bumble Bar - Despite the name, these are vegan (and also gluten-free)! Check out this funny video to learn more about what makes these bars unique. I tried the Junior Bars in Amazing Almond, Original Peanut, Chocolate Crisp. They were all really good, but the chocolate or peanut were probably my favorite. These are very seedy bars and they taste a lot like sesame (the main ingredient is sesame seeds). It was a little different at first, but I thought they were pretty good. I also like the fact that they aren't heavily processed and don't include any fake ingredients.

Moonlight Micro-Farm - With spring just around the corner, this the perfect time to plan your garden. This Etsy store has a wonderful array of heirloom and organic seeds. I really encourage you to check out the site if you are a gardener. Everything is beautifully photographed with lots of helpful information provided. You can also visit them on Facebook. If you are impatient for the growing season to begin and are craving something fresh and homegrown, check out the sprouting seeds and kits they offer. That's what I tried out. Sprouting is one of those things that sounds intimidating but really isn't. It doesn't take much work at all, and in less than a week you will be eating fresh, crunchy sprouts! It's also a wonderful feeling in the dead of winter (or anytime!) to see the dormant seeds spring to life with just a little care. My favorite mixes of seeds that I tried were the French Salad Mix and Clover Field. These are both very versatile sprouts that work for a variety of recipes--in sandwiches, on salads, as a garnish on soups, in smoothies or juices, in wraps or stir-fries…I even like them eaten plain! I also sampled the China Rose Radish seeds, a nut milk bag (use to sprout seeds, make your own nut milk, strain vegan yogurt, make cashew cheese, etc.), the Organic Lentil Trio (I just harvested these the other day!), and the sprouting screen (just fit this over a wide-mouth canning jar and that is what you can use to grow your seeds! It's a simple tool that keeps the seeds from falling through when you drain them). So what are you waiting for? Get sprouting! (Or, if sprouting still isn't your thing, check out all the wonderful garden seeds they offer!)

NuNaturals Stevia - NuNaturals has been my go-to stevia brand for a couple years now. I love the variety of products they offer, which makes using less sugar even easier. I like to use the liquid stevia drops for things like smoothies and shakes, where I can add a few drops and then taste. The packets are very versatile and I use them for all kinds of things--from subbing the sweetener in a dressing or soup (sometimes recipes just call for a little bit, and in that case I like to use stevia) to making lemonade. I treat each packet as about equal to 1 T. of sugar, but I'm not sure if that is the exact conversion. I just find it works well for most recipes when substituting. The baking blend is probably one of my favorite products they offer, because it makes baking really easy--just sub one-to-one for sugar! I also like the stevia extract for baking. I find it works great in things like quick breads. I have experimented quite a bit with stevia, and one thing that I have found when baking with it is to mix it with a different sugar or sweet fruit. I do sometimes use all stevia to sweeten my baked good, but usually only if the recipe includes some fruit like dates, bananas, apples or pineapples. I find that this makes it taste better than either would alone. I also will sometimes just sub 1/4 or 1/2 or 3/4 of the sugar in a recipe for stevia. Doing it gradually like that is a great way to cut back on the sugar without affecting the recipe much. If you are new to stevia, I would encourage you to experiment and see what you like. A great place to start is with the many recipes that NuNaturals offers on their site.

Endangered Species Chocolate - All of their products that I have tried so far have been delicious, but All-Natural Dark Chocolate with Mint bar is easily my favorite. It's such a perfect pairing of deep chocolate and refreshing mint. As I mentioned previously, I have also enjoyed baking with chocolate bars lately. With this bar I made Dreena Burton's Chocolate Mint Melties from her book Eat, Drink & Be Vegan. These cookies actually suggest this bar in the recipe. Let me tell you, they are amazing! I've made them several times already (I make a half batch at a time) and I just love them. I am on a real mint-chocolate kick right now, so it's not surprising that I'm crazy about this bar. I also enjoyed the All-Natural Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds bar. I mean, it's chocolate, cranberries, and almonds…how could you go wrong? Finally, I received their Organic Dark Chocolate bar, which is from a different line and thus smaller than the rest. However, it promises to be perfect for dark chocolate cravings. I haven't tried it yet, but I am actually thinking of doing another baking experiment with it. Quality chocolate can really take so many recipes to the next level. I encourage you to give it a try. Get creative!

Erewhon Cereals - I love freeze-dried strawberries, so the Strawberry Crisp cereal was naturally a favorite. The flakes were just lightly sweetened and paired well with the berries. One thing that most people would probably love about this cereal is that the flakes stay crunchy and hard and don't get soggy from the milk. However, I'm one of those weird people who likes her cereal to get a little softened! But thankfully that didn't stop me from enjoying this cereal. I also received some Corn Flakes, which I have yet to try. I keep meaning to make a dessert of some sort with them--perhaps a vegan version of the marshmallow ones my mom used to make (similar to rice crispy treats)? I have loved all of Erewhon's products so far, so I'm sure these won't disappoint! I love that both cereals are organic and gluten-free, and that they are made with such simple ingredients. For example, the only things in the corn flakes are organic milled corn and sea salt!

Sugar in the Raw - I have used the Sugar in the Raw from this company for years, but just recently have I become aware that they now offer both Agave in the Raw (a wonderful liquid sweetener) and Stevia in the Raw. The great thing about these brands is that they are very readily available. Most big chain grocery stores around where I live now carry these products. The stevia is available both as a cup for cup substitute for sugar and in packets. I love the convenience of both products (the former is perfect for baking and the latter is wonderful for portable or individual sweetening). I look forward to experimenting more with this brand. Next time you are in the store look around for it near the sugar and baking aisle.

Rhythm Superfoods - Everything they make is raw, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. My favorite thing I tried was the kale chips--both the Zesty Nacho Kale Chips and Mango Habanero Kale Chips were incredibly delicious. I loved that they really did have sort of a sour/cheesy flavor and that the habanero ones weren't too spicy. I thought they were pretty near perfect. I now really want to try the other flavors (especially Kool Ranch--that sounds amazing)! These are made with high quality ingredients, and both the taste and the nutrition facts reveal that. Their sweet potato chips--I tried the Hickory BBQ Sweet Potato Chips and Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips--were also very yummy. These are basically just dehydrated, seasoned organic sweet potatoes, so they are really healthy. They are fat free and the whole bag of Sea Salt ones is only 100 calories. Pretty awesome when you compare that to regular old potato chips. As you can tell, I loved trying this company's products. I really recommend checking them out. Especially the kale chips, and especially if you think you don't like kale!

Thank you to all the companies that sent me products to review!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation. These samples were not unsolicited.

Snacks and Treats for Vegans on the Go

2012-02-21T14:29:00.004-05:00

Clif MoJo Sweet & Salty Trail Mix Bars: First up, the White Chocolate Macadamia - VEGAN WHITE CHOCOLATE! Do I need to say anything else? Well, I should probably mention the salty pretzel pieces, and chunks of macadamias and cashews.... In short, these are seriously good! The second flavor is the Chocolate Almond Coconut, which I also loved. It was not too sweet, is low-glycemic, and had great chew and texture from the crunchy almonds and chunks of chocolate. In addition, each bar has 8 grams of protein and is made from 70% organic ingredients. These get two thumbs up from me. :) [Note that not all the MoJo bars are vegan, but these two new flavors are!]

PureFit bars - These were a lot different than I thought they would be. They are soft and chewy instead of crunchy or crumbly--almost like a pasty taffy. I think the Almond Crunch was probably my favorite. I liked all of them okay except the Berry Almond Crunch (it had a fake berry taste that I didn't like). The main feature of these bars is that they boast an impressive amount of protein (18 grams per bar). They are a bit processed, so it's not something I plan on eating a lot, but if you are an athlete or looking to find a convenient and portable bar with a lot of vegan protein, these are definitely for you! They are also gluten-free, use non-GMO soy, have no artificial sweeteners, and no hydrogenated oils.

NuGo Dark bars -These are covered in chocolate so they are almost like a candy bar! I see them more as a treat than an nutrition bar, but they do provide a nice amount of protein. Oh, and they taste delicious! Unlike other protein bar manufacturers, NuGo never uses waxy vegetable fat compounds in place of real dark chocolate. I tried all the flavors except the Mocha Chocolate, and the Mint Chocolate Chip was my favorite. I'm not usually a huge mint-chocolate fan, but something about this bar just made it really tasty. It reminded me of a peppermint patty! It had just the right amount of mint--not too overpowering. The Peanut Butter Cup one must have been near the mint one in shipping, because it also tasted a little like mint (which I don't think it was supposed to!). The Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt and Chocolate Chocolate Chip were both really good, and like all the bars they had a nice chocolate flavor and were a little chewy and crunchy.

OCHO Coconut Bar - OCHO Organic Candy Bars so far only makes one vegan flavor, the coconut. I thought this one was really delicious, with a perfect sweetness and lovely coconut flavor that pairs beautifully with the dark chocolate shell. The flavor was really everything you could hope for. These aren't exactly a low-fat or low-calorie treat, but they are probably better for you than the majority of candy bars out there, if you are craving one. Since they got this bar just right, I hope that in the future they will consider making all of their flavors vegan!

Erin Baker's Breakfast Cookies - I tried the Chocolate Chunk (vegan) and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk (vegan). Both were absolutely delicious! The cookies are generously-sized, have a nice boost of protein, and are very satisfying. They almost taste homemade. I think the chocolate peanut butter was my favorite, but it's hard to pick. It would be nice if they used all whole grain flour, but at least the oats in them provide some fiber. I hope they add more vegan flavors in the future!

Funky Monkey Snacks - These are really fun snacks made from 100% freeze-dried fruit. My favorite was the "Applemon" (Apple Cinnamon). I loved how sweet/tart and crispy/chewy they were! I shared these with my brothers, sister, and mom and they all thought they were really good. My one brother LOVES fruit so he was crazy about these. I thought this was a really fun snack, and it's definitely something that kids will love. There is no sugar added, no preservatives, no coloring, no flavoring, and they are a raw food and non-GMO! It looks like some flavors are organic, but not all.

Everyday Gourmet Vegan Bakery - Both cookies I tried were diabetic-friendly, meaning that they are sweetened with agave, xylitol, and/or coconut sugar. I really like the fact that this bakery uses alternative sweeteners. That's not something even most vegan bakeries do! They are also wheat-free (not gluten free). These cookies were huge, too. Even though these are made with more wholesome ingredients, I'm not sure I would consider them healthy. But I'm sure they are way better for you than processed, commercial, non-vegan treats. They do pack a lot of calories and fat, but it's okay to indulge once in awhile. It's good to know that when you do, you aren't harming humans (they use fair-trade ingredients) or animals (they're vegan, of course)! The rest of their stuff looks amazing, too (especially the cakes!).They ship anywhere in the U.S.! The Fudge Stripe Cookie was dense and cakey. Like I said, these cookies are really big and satisfying. The bottom of this one has a layer of fudgey chocolate, too, and then the top is striped with the same fudge. These kind of reminded me of those other fudge stripe cookies I used to have when I was a kid, except these are WAY better! Chocolate Chip Cookie: I think the one I tried was diabetic-friendly, but I can't seem to find that listing on their website. It might be new. This had a terrific flavor, and the taste and texture is really everything I could hope for in a chocolate chip cookie. Diet Enhance: "Diet Enhance, offered in a convenient shaker bottle, is a patent pending blend of organic algae and carotenoids." I wasn't really sure to expect with this (the name is kind of vague), but it's basically just a green powder. It doesn't taste great on its own, but a sprinkle here and there on soups, smoothies, salads, and casseroles would be sure to up the nutrition and I think it would blend in more subtly with the other flavors.

Desiderio Chocolates - They sent me some of their Caramellas (All Natural Vegan Caramels), which are actually chocolate-covered caramels. Yum! These look beautiful and taste amazing. The chewy caramel is firm at first but it softens as it melts and there are nice notes of dark sugar and a touch of salt. Absolutely delicious! As you can tell, these really impressed me. They were unique yet completely mouth-watering. I would love to try their other treats!

Sun Chlorella - I tried the Sun Chlorella tablets and granules. The tablets did get stuck in teeth a bit, eaten plain, but I think they would be great for throwing in a smoothie. They taste a little grassy and also a bit like seaweed. I found that I liked the granules a lot better. The individual packets are really handy and I actually think it tastes kind of refreshing mixed with water. This company also sent me some Sun Eleuthero tea and tablets, which I had never heard of. I haven't tried these yet, but they sound intriguing! In addition, I also received a few other products, including the Pet Sun Chlorella and Sun Chlorella Cream. I didn't use the latter because I was a bit iffy on some of the chemicals it contained. If you've never heard of chlorella before, there is a great post on Choosing Raw that explains more about it.

Thank you to all the companies that sent me products to review!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Reviews of Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar and Fresh and Fast Vegan

2012-02-11T13:04:00.006-05:00

Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero -
This wonderful little book is jam-packed with mouthwatering vegan cookies. There is something here for virtually every occasion, from classics like Deluxe Cocoa Brownies and Peanut Butter Crisscrosses to sophisticated originals like Chocolate Chip Chai Spice Shortbread and Macadamia Ginger Crunch Drops. There are also vegan makeovers of old favorites like Nutter Betters Sandwich Cookies and Lazy Samoas. Whatever you choose, you really can't go wrong. The book is compact, includes 100 recipes, and has plenty of photos. Recipes aside, this book is fun to read because of the authors' witty writing. For example, on page 8 when describing different gluten-free flours (they provide suggestions for how to make many of the recipes gluten-free!) they write: "The tastes and textures of these flours are so interesting and yummy that sometimes we go gluten-free just for fun. But, ya know, we also organize our spice rack for fun, so take that with a grain of salt." That's just one example, but it gives an idea of the style. So far, I have made the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (75), Chocolate Chip Cookies (35), Lemon Bars (141), Citrus Glitters (70), Caramel Pecan Bars (111), and Fruity Oat Bars (101)…and I have a bunch more that I want to try. This book is one of the indispensable guides for vegan baking.

Fresh and Fast Vegan: Quick, Delicious, and Creative Recipes to Nourish Aspiring and Devoted Vegans by Amanda Grant -
For some reason this book just didn't catch my fancy. The cover is bright and inviting, but there are no photos in the book at all. This is a major turnoff for me because I am a very visual person. I would say that these recipes are for a more sophisticated palate than mine. I'm sure the dishes probably taste amazing, but none of it just really sounded like food that I would make in my kitchen. For some reason I just found it very unapproachable. I do appreciate that they include the nutrition facts for things, but unfortunately a lot of the dishes are really high in oil. The menus in the back were a nice touch and would be helpful if one was looking to prepare an impressive meal for guests. I would classify this book as gourmet vegan fare. It would be a perfect gift for adventurous foodies.

Disclaimer: I received these books free from Da Capo Press in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all thoughts expressed are my own. Please note that I have not read these books cover-to-cover.

Just Audrey

Review of Vegan Presence Subscription Service

Review of *Unrivaled* by Siri Mitchell

E-Book Review: Dreena Burton's *Plant-Powered 15*

Cookbook Review: *Vegan Family Meals*

Cookbook Review: *Quick and Easy Low-Cal Comfort Food*

Cookbook Review: *Quick-Fix Vegan*

Cookbook Review: *More Peas, Thank You*

Cookbook Review: *The China Study Cookbook*

Review of *Cravings: A Catholic Wrestles with Food, Self-Image, and God* by Mary DeTurris Poust

Runa Guayusa Tea - Review

Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky - Review

PROBAR Core Bars - Review and Giveaway

Teeccino Coffee Alternative and TeeChia Superseeds Cereal - Reviews

Bakery On Main Instant Oatmeal - Review

Jem Specialty Nut Butters and Chocolates - Review

Barlean's Organic Omega Swirl Flax Oils and Chocolate Silk Greens - Review

Vegan Review Round-Up

*Happy Herbivore Abroad* Giveaway - ENDED

Vegan Reviews: Caramel Corn, Bee Free Honee, Kale-nola, and more!

Another Serving of Vegan Reviews

Review of Dreena Burton's *Let Them Eat Vegan!*

Reviews: Vegan Cheese, Yogurt, Macaroons, Freeze-dried Fruit, and More

More Vegan Reviews: Chocolate, Stevia, Sprouts, and More

Snacks and Treats for Vegans on the Go

Reviews of *Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar* and *Fresh and Fast Vegan*

Review of Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

E-Book Review: Dreena Burton's Plant-Powered 15

Cookbook Review: Vegan Family Meals

Cookbook Review: Quick and Easy Low-Cal Comfort Food

Cookbook Review: Quick-Fix Vegan

Cookbook Review: More Peas, Thank You

Cookbook Review: The China Study Cookbook

Review of Cravings: A Catholic Wrestles with Food, Self-Image, and God by Mary DeTurris Poust

Happy Herbivore Abroad Giveaway - ENDED

Review of Dreena Burton's Let Them Eat Vegan!

Reviews of Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar and Fresh and Fast Vegan