Quorn Chik'n Patties & Nuggets

I'm going to review both products in this post since they are basically the same thing, in different sizes and shapes. :)

Quorn products are made in the UK, and are apparently much more popular there. If you visit their UK website, you'll see that they have a ton more meat-free products available, from the common burger and chicken-style products to turkey, lamb, sausage, pork, and some interesting British dishes. Not only is the range of US-available Quorn products more limited, but they can be much more difficult to find in grocery stores than other vegetarian brands.

Of all the vegetarian meat analogs I've tried, these win the award for Closest Resemblance to Meat. They have the perfect chicken-like texture and feel, and a flavor that could be mistaken for lean chicken. The breading is nice and crispy with a light seasoning that complements the chik'n flavor. My only complaint about these products is that the breading has a tendency to fall off, especially if the patty/nugget gets stuck to the baking sheet while cooking.

The patties make a delicious sandwich with cheese and lettuce, and the nuggets are yummy served with barbecue sauce. But they're good for much more than that! I've cut up patties and nuggets to mix in a green salad, made vegetarian chicken parmesan (YUM), and chicken quesadillas. And I'm sure there's much more that could be made with them as well!

I highly recommend both these versatile products.

Protein source: Mycoprotein (mushroom), wheat
Allergens: Wheat, milk, egg
Vegetarian

My two-month milestone

I just realized I've been a vegetarian for two months now. Some of the things I initially found challenging are getting a little easier. I don't really miss meat, exactly, but I do sometimes miss meat-based products. For instance, I've been feeling a little under the weather for the past week, and have found myself craving a nice steaming bowl of chicken soup. But, to my knowledge, there aren't really any vegetarian chicken soup substitutes. Things like that get to me sometimes.

For the most part, I really enjoy most of the meatless food I've been eating, though I find myself getting a little bored of eating the same things sometimes. And sometimes, being the lazy and convenience-loving person I often am, the extra effort I have to put into making myself interesting vegetarian meals feels like too much bother. Especially since my boyfriend is an omnivore (and a picky one at that) -- I used to cook dinner for both of us occasionally, but that doesn't happen anymore. Even dining out takes a little extra planning because there are fewer options where both of us will eat.

They say vegetarianism is supposed to be not only better for your health, but also better for the planet... plus, the cost of producing meat (in terms of money, resources, land, etc.) is, pound for pound, much higher than producing plant-based food. So the idea that the diets of the vast majority of people in the Western world are meat-centered just boggles my mind. I guess it's easier for a lot of people. It's how they were raised. It's more convenient. Meat tastes good. Meat is everywhere. Vegetarianism is for hippies, health freaks, and animal rights activists. Excuses, excuses. I was full of them, too. I'm not sure what finally pushed me one day to give up meat completely. I had wanted to for a long time, but something inside me just felt like giving up meat would feel like some kind of self-punishment, like I would be depriving myself of something that everyone else enjoyed... not to mention just generally making life more difficult and complicated for myself. Sometimes I do still feel that way. Life is a little more difficult and complicated now. But I'm choosing to see the challenge more as an adventure than a punishment. I'm trying all kinds of new foods now that I wouldn't have felt motivated to try before.

I don't expect my blog to change anyone's life or convert anyone to vegetarianism. I'm not even convinced yet that anyone will ever read it... but if somehow, somewhere one person tries a vegetarian food for the first time because of this blog, well... w00t!

Morningstar Farms Grillers Prime Burger

This has been one of my favorite veggie products since I started sampling vegetarian foods. Of all the beef burger substitutes I've tried (Boca, Gardenburger, Amy's, and MSF), this has the most burger-like flavor. It doesn't taste like vegetables or have visible vegetable particles like other burger substitutes, and it has a good texture. It's definitely my first choice when I'm craving a big, juicy cheeseburger. Yum. :)

Obviously, if you're a vegetarian because you don't like the taste of meat, this would not be a good sandwich patty for you. But if you do sometimes miss hamburgers, I absolutely recommend this product.

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat, milk, egg
Vegetarian