VEGETABLOG!

My 4th Vegetarian Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T01:36:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to be celebrating my fourth Thanksgiving as a vegetarian this week!

I don't have any new dishes planned, just my popular meatless Loaf, and some roasted veggies that went over well last year. I like how, more and more the past few years, everyone in my family brings something to the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Instead of the same stuff every year, there's always something new to try along with our favorites.

I'm really bummed that I haven't been able to locate Gardein's seasonal "Savory Stuffed Turk'y". I've become a HUGE fan of Gardein, and a Gardein turk'y sounds amazing... but according to their Facebook page, it is only available at Whole Foods and "smaller independent health food stores". If anyone out there tries Gardein turk'y for Thanksgiving, please let us know where you found it and how it was!

Yves Veggie Seafood - Veggie Shrimp

2011-09-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

Holy %$#@! This stuff smells, tastes, looks, and chews so much like seafood it's eerie! I swear, as I was first trying it, I had to check the ingredients list about 10 times to make sure it was truly meat-free because it was so disconcertingly fishy.

I found it at Safeway a few weeks ago next to other Yves and Gardein veggie products in the refrigerated section. It was expensive compared to any other veggie product I've ever bought -- about $7 for a 6 ounce package (about 2 servings). I'd never been a fan of shrimp, but the fact that I'd never seen vegetarian seafood before, plus curiosity, plus the fact that I haven't tasted seafood in years all meant that I had to buy it.

The package sat in the fridge for a few weeks simply because I had absolutely no idea what to do with them -- until finally my boyfriend said, "Why don't you just cook them with pasta?" Duh! :) So I did, adding fresh peppers from my garden and a little alfredo sauce. It was a bit of an experiment all around, since it was my first (and possibly only) pepper harvest of the year, and both the sauce and the veggie shrimp were new to me. I'd say it turned out pretty well, though. I had to eat several shrimp before I could get past the weirdness of eating something fishy-tasting, but they did grow on me.

The package mentions two other Yves Veggie Seafood products -- a veggie shrimp scampi and a veggie tuna steak in sesame ginger sauce. I would really like to try the veggie tuna steak, but wish it was available plain -- just because versatility is nice in a meat substitute.

I tried looking this product up on the Yves website to borrow a picture for this post, but I couldn't find it. In fact, there is no mention of any veggie seafood at all. I can't help wondering whether this means the seafood line has already been discontinued (which would make me sad) or if they just haven't updated their website in a while. I may have to contact them directly to find out...

Protein source: Whey
Allergens: Milk, potato
Vegetarian

Gardein Chick'n Scallopini: My new favorite "chick'n"!

2011-02-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

As you may already know, when I'm in any grocery store for any reason, I can't help peeking at their vegetarian frozen food section to see if there's anything new and interesting. A couple weeks ago I was doing just that, and stumbled upon a brand that was completely new to me: Gardein (= garden + protein). They only had 3 products on the shelf -- buffalo wings, beefless tips, and chick'n scallopini. I don't really know what "scallopini" is, but the picture on the package appealed to me the most at the time, and I was not about to leave the store without any Gardein to try!

I followed the preparation recommendation on the package -- just saute in olive oil over med/med high heat until lightly browned (2-3 minutes each side). I don't remember what I ate along with it -- perhaps Annie's Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese (very yummy, by the way)? But I do remember my first impressions of the Chick'n Scallopini -- Mmmmm! :D So tender, so juicy! Two things that most other chick'n products lack. And the flavor? Delicious! It is a tiny bit wheaty, but that's something I've grown to like quite a bit.

There are four cutlets per resealable plastic package, and I just ate the third one for dinner. The second one was with a veggie and noodle stir fry, and it went perfectly with the Chinese-style flavors. The other I ate with cheese ravioli and tomato sauce, and it was great with that too! Definitely a very versatile product, and I can't wait to find other dishes to use it in. I think it would be amazing in Chick'n Alfredo! I also can't wait to try the other varieties I found. :)

Protein source: Soy, wheat gluten
Allergens: Soy, wheat, gluten, amaranth, quinoa, millet, Kamut, pea, yeast, beetroot, carrot
Vegan

Marshmallows! Real, delicious, vegetarian marshmallows!

2011-01-05T04:31:00.000-08:00

For me, I think the saddest realization about going vegetarian was that marshmallows, containing gelatin, were now off-limits. I could deal with never eating lime Jell-o again, but marshmallow Peeps? S'mores? So sad.

I'd heard about people making their own squishy, sugary puffs of yumminess at home, but the recipes always contained gelatin. I found some vegan marshmallows you could order online or buy in select grocery stores, but they were expensive. I did find some vegan marshmallow recipes, but the reviews were disheartening. Finally, on the verge of giving up, I stumbled across a blog which referenced the marshmallow recipe in this cookbook (page 65). It uses xanthan gum rather than gelatin -- but vegans beware: it also uses egg whites to give it the firm, fluffy texture.

Upon seeing the picture of the homemade vegetarian "Peep", I felt renewed hope. But excited as I was, I also felt intimidated, as chocolate fudge was the whole of my previous candy-making experience. Plus, xanthan gum is expensive. And I don't have a stand mixer. Basically, I made a lot of excuses. But months later, as Christmas approached, I knew I had to try it. Assuming I succeeded, homemade vegetarian marshmallows would make the ultimate addition to the holiday treat line-up.

With the help of a friend (and her stand mixer), we set about making marshmallows. Turns out that it wasn't so hard after all! It was, however, extremely messy! By the end of the night, I was covered in marshmallow, corn starch, and sugar.

But...

...it was totally worth it!

They're not exact "Peep" clones, but according to a few taste-testers, they were even better! They have a wonderful soft texture and sweet, lightly vanilla taste.

A few notes for anyone who wants to make some of their own:

The ingredients in the recipe are measured by weight. While this is more precise (important for delicate recipes such as this), most casual cooks and bakers probably don't have a kitchen scale. I went to the trouble of looking up conversions for all the ingredients listed into cups, tablespoons, fluid ounces, etc. If you need this information, let me know and I can email you my notes. There is also this nifty website I wish I'd known about before. Either way, my marshmallows turned out well by my conversions.
MARSHMALLOW IS STICKY! Use more corn starch or powdered sugar than you think you will need to control the stickiness, then use some more. Cover the pan with it, the cutting board, the utensils, your hands, the newly cut marshmallows, your face, your dog, your kids...
If you want to try shaping with cookie cutters, use simple shapes. If the cutter has a lot of points or details, they'll get distorted as you try to push the sticky mass out of the little corners.
I've found that the best way to store them is spread apart on covered plates or storage container in the refrigerator. I had put some of them in a plastic bag, and within a couple days they had kind of melded together into one giant, gooey blob that was difficult to remove from the bag. :(

These squishy sweets have passed the taste and texture tests, but they have yet to be subjected to two other important marshmallow tests: the Hot Cocoa Test, and the Fire Toasting Test.

Allergens: Egg, corn
Vegetarian

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

2009-11-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a really simple recipe for cranberry sauce that I've been making for several Thanksgivings now. It's the only cranberry sauce recipe I've tried, because it was so easy and well-received that I didn't need to try any others. :) It's one of those traditional dishes that is enjoyed by vegans and omnivores alike -- so much better than the stuff out of the can. I recommend making this a little ahead of time -- though it cooks up really fast, it can take a while to cool and thicken.

It's a slightly altered version of a recipe I found somewhere on the internet... I wish I could remember where so I could give credit!

Yummy Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:
1 12-ounce package of whole cranberries, rinsed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 cinnamon stick

Directions:
Combine sugar and orange juice in a sauce pan over medium heat. When sugar is dissolved, add cranberries and cinnamon stick. Stirring frequently, cook until cranberries pop, then remove from heat and remove cinnamon stick. Sauce will thicken as it cools.

It's November again!

2009-11-09T22:05:00.000-08:00

It has been one year since I went vegetarian full-time! I am as happy about my choice as ever, and really can't imagine ever going back.

And you know what else this means -- my second vegetarian Thanksgiving is approaching! Time to start planning the menu!

Many new vegetarians (and non-vegetarian guests at a meatless holiday table) may feel like they will miss having a turkey, that it just won't be Thanksgiving without one. I say, what's so special about it, anyway? Most of my memories of Thanksgiving turkey weren't so great -- it was usually really dry and chewy, no matter how it was cooked (sorry, Mom!). I suspect lots of other people secretly feel that way about their experiences of Thanksgiving turkey, too -- but it's such a deeply ingrained American tradition that it's hard to let go of. But just think of all the poor turkeys! :(

Well, there are other options! Of course, there are various turkey substitutes available from Quorn (their meatless turkey roast -- a log-shaped, very tasty substitute which has a firm, meat-like bite -- I highly recommend it), Tofurkey (a meatless roast complete with stuffing -- not bad, but a little rubbery in texture), and Field Roast Grain Meat Co. (I have yet to try their stuffed Celebration Roast). Or you can decide to move away from the turkey tradition altogether and make another main dish -- my meatless "meatloaves" have been a big hit at the past two Thanksgiving dinners! Or take it a step further and have a completely untraditional meal -- whatever you want! Try a new hearty vegetable soup recipe with garlic toast or sandwiches, make a smorgasbord of your favorite breakfast foods, barbecue up some veggie burgers and tofu dogs, bake a vegetable lasagna or some meatless burritos with all the fixin's... or just get some take-out! Don't be afraid to think outside the box. The world will not come to an end if you don't have turkey and green bean casserole on the fourth Thursday in November. ;)

Over the next two weeks, I intend to share a few recipes and review a few Thanksgiving-related veggie foods. Stay tuned!

<3 jazzhands

Living Harvest/Tempt Hempmilk, Chocolate flavor

2009-09-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

I first tried Living Harvest Hempmilk about a year ago. It was the sweetened vanilla flavor, and I really wanted to like it. It tasted sweet and creamy and good at first, but left an unpleasant bitter aftertaste that I just couldn't look past.

Since then, Living Harvest Hempseed products got a makeover when they merged with the Tempt brand. While the new packaging looks very boring and generic (they call it "modern"), the taste does seem to have improved. They claim it now has more omega fatty acids, less sugar, and a smoother taste.

Of course, I can't really compare apples to apples here. I hadn't tried the chocolate flavor before, and I haven't tried the new, improved vanilla -- but there does seem to be a difference in texture between the old vanilla and new chocolate and, most importantly, there is no detectable bitter aftertaste!

It has a sweet, cocoa-y, nutty flavor, and the creamy texture you'd expect from chocolate milk. It's dairy- and soy-free and has lots of omega fatty acids, but is higher in calories and fat than other milk substitutes while only having 1g of protein per serving. It is also a bit pricier than other milk alternatives.

While it doesn't rate quite as high for me as chocolate Almond Breeze for flavor, it is a close second. It makes another great alternative to dairy and soy. The company also makes other hempseed food products, including a frozen dessert (which comes in several flavors), hemp protein powder, and hemp oil.

Oh, and one last thing: Sorry to break it to you, but this is HEMPMILK, not POTMILK. It has no THC and won't get you high. ;)

Living Harvest/Tempt Official website

Protein Source: Hemp seed
Allergens: Cocoa?
Vegan

Hello again, interwebs

2009-09-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

That's right, I just couldn't stay away from you, my fellow food adventurers. :) I keep finding myself trying new foods and wanting to blog about them!

I don't expect that I will update as often as I once did, but I would like to at least update once in a while. I'm not sure what that means yet, but we'll figure it out.

Your friend,
jazzhands

TTFN

2009-06-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

It's been 6 months since I started this blog. Since interest seems to have tapered off (assuming there was some to begin with) and I have a lot of other things going on, I'm putting Vegetablog on hold indefinitely. Perhaps someday if the mood strikes me or if I receive a petition full of signatures, I will come back to it. If not, hopefully the posts in the archive will be of use to somebody, somewhere.

your friend in food,
jazzhands

The Stir-fry

2009-05-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

One of the easiest and yummiest dishes I like to cook for myself is a stir-fry. It doesn't take too much time or preparation or skill, doesn't require a recipe, is full of flavor and nutrition, and can be easily tailored to your taste, mood, diet requirements, or what you've got lying around.

Often I decide to make a stir-fry just as an excuse to experiment with cooking tofu. :) Tonight was just such an occasion. I wanted to try marinating tofu for the first time. Previously, I had only ever attempted to add flavor to the tofu during the cooking process, but it never worked very well. So anyway, I searched the pantry and fridge and decided to whip up a concoction consisting of barbecue sauce (diluted about 1:1 with water), a bit of "beef" bouillon, and a few shakes of hot sauce. I cubed up a third of a block of drained extra-firm tofu and let it marinate in a zip-top bag for about an hour. During this time, I raided the fridge for veggies to add: fresh bell pepper, onion, green beans, and mushrooms, and frozen corn. I cooked the tofu first as I prepped the fresh veggies, then set the tofu aside on a plate while I cooked the veggies using the same pan. I've found that cooking the tofu and veggies separately has these benefits: tofu seems to take longer to cook to my liking than veggies, so cooking it separately first I can make sure it's right; plus, mixing uncooked tofu in with veggies tends to lead to crumbled tofu... not that there's anything wrong with that...

So, I seasoned the veggies as they were cooking with salt, pepper, and cayenne, and toward the end I threw the tofu back in to reheat it a bit. It looked and smelled pretty good, but I felt like it was missing something -- something crunchy. My first thought was chow mein noodles, but I don't usually keep those on hand. I considered crushing up some multi-grain chips, but finally decided on tossing in some sunflower seed kernels.

The final result: yumminess!

The tofu marination (if that's a word) worked pretty well. It added a lot of flavor, and probably would have worked even better if I had been patient enough to let it go longer.

Also, this dish wasn't just a tofu experiment: it was the first time I cooked/ate green beans that didn't come from a can or in a soup. I always thought canned green beans were pretty gross, but fresh green beans are completely different. They're actually kind of sweet-tasting, and way better than canned.

Protein source: soy, sunflower seed kernels
Allergens: soy, sunflower seed kernels
Vegan

Don't worry, I'm coming back

2009-05-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

Hello again, fellow food adventurers. Sorry about the month-long hiatus... things have been a little busy and I've been trying to decide on certain blog-related things -- namely, whether or not to write about certain topics -- and for the meantime, have decided not to. Thus, no new posts for a month. But I promise I'll get back to it soon! Really!

-jazzhands

Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup

2009-04-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup, available in two vegetarian and two vegan flavors (the Lemongrass and Chili flavor contains shrimp), is a delicious, flavorful ramen-like noodle soup. The rice noodles, if you haven't had them before, are softer and more absorbent than ramen noodles. Because these soups cook in only 1 cup of liquid instead of 2 like most ramen, the noodles will absorb most of the liquid in the bowl within minutes after you cook it. I actually really like that about this soup. And the little bit of liquid that is usually left in the bowl is really yummy for dipping a toasted sandwich into. :)

The packages contain a block of rice noodles, a packet of powdered seasoning and a packet of flavor oil. It cooks up really fast -- sometimes too fast. The packets can be tricky to open unless you have scissors handy (especially the oil packet, which can get messy if you don't tear it open just right), which means the noodles might be cooked before you can get the seasoning and oil in -- which means the noodles absorb less flavor.

I have tried three of the vegetarian flavors -- Spring Onion, Garlic and Vegetable, and Bangkok Curry -- and all of them are great. Thai Ginger is also vegetarian. The price is higher than some other instant noodle soups (especially since the portion size is smaller), but I think it's worth it. You'll find it in the ethnic/Asian foods section of the grocery store, probably between $.80 to $1.20 per package.

Thai Kitchen offers lots of other food products, many of them vegetarian or vegan. This page is a good reference for figuring out what contains what.

Allergens: See package or website
Veg*n: See package or website

Boca Original Meatless Chik'n Nuggets

2009-04-15T03:18:00.000-07:00

This was a surprise -- in more ways than one. I was in a Target today to pick up a few things and not even planning on grocery shopping (except to pick up a loaf of bread), but I decided to peek at the little vegetarian section of the frozen foods to see if there was anything new or interesting. I scanned it from the bottom up (meh, I'm short), not seeing anything I needed, knowing I had still had some burgers, sausage, and bacon at home... I was just about to walk away when the bag of Boca Chik'n Nuggets on the top shelf caught my eye. I have never seen this product since discovering my love of Boca Chik'n Patties, so I just had to try it. I figured it's got to be at least as good as the patties, right?

Um... well... insert confused face and head scratching here.

I was eager to have some of these for dinner, so I cooked up one serving (four nuggets) with some nummy MSF broccoli and cheese bites on the side, piled on a plate with a dollop of barbecue sauce. I wanted to get a pure sampling of the new nuggets, so I tried one first without sauce. It was... weird. I chewed on it, trying to figure out what it tasted like, and couldn't put my finger on it. So I took another bite, and it hit me: it tastes like... FISH? Now you see why I was confused!

As an omnivore, I loved eating fish. The smell, the flavor, the texture... It is still the only meat that I miss (except for the whole used-to-be-a-living-creature part). But there isn't any meatless faux fish that I'm aware of... so finding a vegan product that has a sort-of fish-like flavor -- even if it was supposed to be chicken-like -- is an interesting discovery. I'm still scratching my head over it, though.

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Lightlife Smart Ground Mexican Style

2009-04-02T03:37:00.000-07:00

I've been on a Mexican food kick lately -- after making my spinach enchiladas three times in the space of about a week, I picked up some flour tortillas and made some "chicken" quesadillas (one using Boca chicken patty, another using Quorn -- and the Boca one was better!). And after that, I have made several variations of a veggie super-taco. The first super-taco, made with Morningstar Farms Grillers burger strips cooked with taco seasoning, was super-yummy. Then, for something different, I decided to try a new fake ground beef product: Lightlife Smart Ground Mexican Style. It comes pre-seasoned with Mexican seasoning, and all you have to do is heat it up and throw it in your taco, burrito, or whatever.

It has a real ground beef-like appearance and texture, more than the Morningstar Farms crumbles I'm used to. The flavor is very wheat-gluteny, but I'm starting to get used to that, so it didn't bother me much. My only real complaint is that I wish it had just a little more seasoning added, but I can always mix in a little extra when I'm cooking it for myself.

The price (in the store where I usually shop) is about the same as a package of Morningstar Farms Grillers Crumbles, but you actually get 12 oz. of the Smart Ground, while MSF's deceptively larger package only has 8 oz... but either one is plenty for several servings.

Lightlife has many other fake meat products, including plain ground beef and ground sausage. Since I was fairly pleased with this one, I'm looking forward to trying more in the future.

Oh, and it's got 9 grams of vegan protein per serving.

**Edited to add: According to the Morningstar Farms website, the MSF Grillers Recipe Crumbles comes in a 12 oz. package. Even though I distinctly remember comparing the two products in the store and deciding to try the Lightlife product because it had more in it, I thought I should mention this in case the MSF product comes in different sizes... or in the unlikely even that I was wrong. ;) Because I don't have any MSF Crumbles in my freezer at this moment, I cannot say for sure.

Protein Source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

What can a veggie eat?: Taco Bell

2009-03-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly (to me, anyway), even though Taco Bell is probably best known for their meaty dishes, they actually have quite a few meatless options, thanks to good ol' beans.

These menu items appear to be ok for ovo-lacto-vegetarians:

Cinnamon twists
Bean burrito
7-layer burrito
Pintos 'n cheese
Mexican rice
Cheese quesadilla
Cheese roll-up

These items are iffy because of their mysterious "natural flavors" in the nacho cheese sauce and the empanada:

Caramel apple empanada
1/2 Pound cheesy bean & rice burrito
Nachos
Cheesy fiesta potatoes
Triple layer nachos

I'd also call the Fiesta Potatoes iffy for now, just because I don't know if they're fried with any meat items. Maybe someone else knows?

Disclaimer: This list is a guide, but isn't absolute. This list only pertains to what does or does not contain animal ingredients, but items on it may contain other ingredients you might find unsuitable (soy, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, etc). Or, you may find items on this list or at this restaurant unsuitable for other reasons not listed here. So: Don't just take my word for it. Do your own research. Ask questions. Make sure they don't cook your food in animal fat. Etc, etc. If you see any errors in my list or if you have additional information, please notify me kindly, but no flames please. :)

What can a veggie eat?: Burger King

2009-03-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest installment of trying-to-be-helpful tips for vegetarians caught in a fast food restaurant. I sincerely hope I am being helpful with this information and not insulting or offensive to other vegetarians! For more on that, please read my disclaimer at the bottom.

Burger King: not a lot of options here. But! At least they have a veggie burger! A yummy Morningstar Farms one, even. Just make sure they microwave it, not cook it on the grill with the meat!

These items appear to be okay for ovo-lacto-vegetarians (again, items marked with a "V" appear to be vegan):

BK veggie burger
French fries - V (website claims that these are always cooked in a separate, dedicated fryer)
Dutch apple pie - V
Apple fries - V
Kraft mac & cheese (kids' meal)
Cini-minis
Shakes
Hershey's sundae pie
Side garden salad - V
Tendercrisp/Tendergrill garden salad w/o chicken
Ketchup
Mustard

I've classified these items as "iffy", because the website warns that they may be cooked in the same fryer as meat products:

Onion rings
Cheesy tots
French toast sticks
Hash browns

I could not find any info on their website for ingredients in their salad dressings, so be careful. Read the packet first.

Disclaimer: This list is a guide, but isn't absolute. This list only pertains to what does or does not contain animal ingredients, but items on it may contain other ingredients you might find unsuitable (soy, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, etc). Or, you may find items on this list or at this restaurant unsuitable for other reasons not listed here. So: Don't just take my word for it. Do your own research. Ask questions. Make sure they don't cook your food in animal fat. Etc, etc. If you see any errors in my list or if you have additional information, please notify me kindly, but no flames please. :)

What can a veggie eat?: McDonald's

2009-03-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Fast food restaurants aren't generally known for being very veggie-friendly (or health-friendly, or animal-friendly, or earth-friendly, or ...), though some are better than others. But sometimes circumstances beyond our control place us in a fast food restaurant reeking of beef, with a growling stomach and few options. What can you do? Well, you can give them the finger and go hungry, or you can try to make the best of it. And if you should choose the latter, your friend Jazzhands is here to help.

Today I'm here to help you find something you can eat at McDonald's. Yes, I know you're groaning right now, possibly gagging, maybe even cursing my name -- but hear me out. We veggies may not choose to ever eat there, but you do have to give them a little credit: at least their website gives pretty thorough ingredient lists for all of their menu items (even demystifying those sketchy "natural flavors" by specifying whether they come from vegetable, dairy, or animal sources). And I have gone through the trouble of combing through the ingredient lists for you to find things you might not have known you could eat -- and some things you might have thought were safe, but aren't. There are even a few items that appear to be vegan -- nothing very substantial, but food nonetheless!

These appear OK for veg*ns (items marked with a "V" appear to be vegan):

southwest salad w/o chicken (has cheese; dressing is on the side)
caesar salad w/o chicken (has cheese; dressing is on the side)
side salad - V
vinaigrette dressing - V
english muffin - V
biscuit
hot cakes
apple dippers (but they have the flavor and peel removed -- bleh) - V
ice cream sundae
shakes
apple pie - V
cinnamon melts
mcdonaldland cookies
chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and sugar cookies
ice cream cone

These are definitely not OK:

caesar dressing (contains anchovy)
italian dressing (contains anchovy)
ranch dressing (natural flavors from animal source)
southwest dressing (natural flavors from animal source)
french fries (natural beef flavor)
hashbrowns (natural beef flavor)

These items are iffy:

fruit and walnut salad/fruit and yogurt parfait (contains gelatin)
mcgriddles, mcmuffin (these have meat by default, but you might be able to order them w/o. The griddle cakes and biscuits themselves are ok)
bacon ranch salad w/o chicken (you could possibly order this w/o the bacon, unless they are pre-made)

Disclaimer: This list is a guide, but isn't absolute. This list only pertains to what does or does not contain animal ingredients, but items on it may contain other ingredients you might find unsuitable (soy, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, etc). Or, you may find items on this list or at this restaurant unsuitable for other reasons not listed here. So: Don't just take my word for it. Do your own research. Ask questions. Make sure they don't cook your food in animal fat. Etc, etc. If you see any errors in my list or if you have additional information, please notify me kindly, but no flames please. :)

More restaurants to come!

Recipe: Spinach Enchiladas

2009-03-23T03:11:00.000-07:00

This is my version of Enchiladas Espinacas, inspired by a vegetarian dish of the same name from a local Mexican restaurant called El Gitano. When I eat it there, I always mix the beans in with the enchiladas, so for my own version I decided to just put the beans inside to begin with. ;) The bottled salsa verde I have used with this recipe isn't nearly as good as the green veggie sauce they use at the restaurant, but if I ever find a good recipe for that, I'll share it here too.

My version of ENCHILADAS ESPINACAS
(spinach enchiladas)
Serves 2-3

Amounts of filler ingredients are guesstimates. Adjust amounts to suit your own taste.

- 6 Corn tortillas (larger size)
- About 4 Baby Bella mushrooms (or equivalent), diced
- About 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed
- About 1/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
- About 1/3 of a large bell pepper (or equivalent of other pepper), diced
- About 1/3 cup diced onion
- 1/2 tomato, diced, seeds removed
- 1/2 can of red beans, rinsed and drained
- 16 fl oz of salsa verde or green enchilada sauce
- About 1/2 to 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese (or as desired)
- Salt, pepper, and Mexican spices to taste

Preheat oven to 375F.
Saute mushrooms, pepper, onion, corn, and spices until onion starts to look translucent. Add spinach and cook for another minute or two. Move cooked veggies to a bowl and mix together with tomato and beans. Heat tortillas in microwave according to directions on package to soften them. Place a tortilla in baking pan, fill with veggie mixture, and roll up. Repeat with other tortillas, laying them close to each other in pan. Top liberally with sauce and grated cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes or until hot inside.

Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle Burgers

2009-03-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

My first thought when trying this new veggie burger was, "Mmm, this would be really good in a taco!" The tasty chipotle peppers and spices give it a Mexican sort of flavor. I immediately wished I had bought some lettuce along with these burgers so I could try out a Black Bean Chipotle taco!

I was worried that it would be too spicy, but it's really pretty mild. The texture is similar to other vegetable-y veggie burgers, like Gardenburger's Veggie Medley patties (another one of my favorites). Color-wise, it doesn't look much like the burger on the package -- it's a lighter, more orangey brown. Cooking it on the stove (or a grill, I assume) darkens it a bit, but not as much as on the package. It's not that the color bothers me, just that the photo is sort of misleading...

Another funny thought I had while trying this product: As I was enjoying the aromas filling the kitchen as the burger cooked on the stove, I started thinking about all the yummy nutritious things so many meat-eaters are missing out on! There are really only so many things you can do with a ground beef burger. I mean, look at the menu at a fast food restaurant. For the most part, all their "different" hamburgers aren't -- they're just different combinations of the same old meat, cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, ketchup/mayo/mustard/sauce. But think of how much more variety you can get when you throw in a completely different kind of protein! And sadly, most meat-eaters will never give meat alternatives a chance, and will never know what they are missing. And restaurants won't, either. But that's another rant for another day.

So... overall, I really enjoyed this product and would recommend it if you like Mexican-type flavors. I can see it being another type of versatile veggie burger/meat replacement.

Protein source: Soy
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Why the fake dairy?

2009-03-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

If you've been keeping up with my blog up to this point, you may find yourself wondering, "If Jazzhands is an ovo-lacto-vegetarian, why does she bother trying fake dairy products?"

That's a very good question! It certainly seems easier (and cheaper) to just stick to moo juice and cheese. But something happened during my years-long conversion to vegetarianism -- my tastebuds woke up, and I discovered that I like trying new foods!

Plus, subconsciously I guess I'm sticking out my feelers toward veganism. I don't know if I could ever give up cheese or honey, but I'd never know if I didn't try some alternatives.

Also, it's good to know about alternative foods if the situation should arise that I would have to cook for vegans or people with other dietary restrictions.

The final reason is that I've often heard about cow milk containing undesirable stuff like antibiotics and hormones, which can mess with your body and your skin. If I could manage to switch off of cow milk for a while and feel better...

-jazzhands

Personalizing my blog... a work in progress

2009-03-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

Hi, everyone. I've been lazy about updating lately, but I wanted to do something for my blog, so I designed the new picture for the banner at the top. Hope you like it! But if not, too bad! I plan to keep it for a while. However, I may decide to mess around with some other layout stuff, so don't freak out if it all looks completely different next time. :)

-jazzhands

Yves Deli Slices

2009-02-25T03:43:00.000-08:00

It's amazing (or scary, depending on how you look at it) how much they can make food taste like meat without actually containing any meat these days. Yves Deli Slices are a good example of this.

They come in a variety of flavors: Turkey, Ham, Bologna, Salami, Roast without the Beef, Smoked Chicken, and Pepperoni. I have tried all of them except the Roast Beef and Smoked Chicken (only because I can't find them) and have enjoyed them all, but my favorites are definitely the Turkey and Ham. It's eerie how much the Ham tastes like ham...

The Turkey is delicious in a toasted cheese-and-turkey sandwich. In fact, for dinner tonight I had a fake Superbird (one of my old favorite items from Denny's) -- Yves Turkey + Morningstar Farms Bacon strips + Havarti and Pepperjack cheese + buttered bread + toasting until melty = veggie heaven!

The Pepperoni looks just like the meaty kind, and is pretty tasty added to a cheese pizza. I also like to add a couple of slices to a sandwich with another fake meat product -- it really helps to liven up a Nature's Burger.

All of the Yves Deli Slices have a bit of a wheaty flavor to them, since wheat protein is one of the main ingredients. However, it's not as strong as in other wheat-meat products I've tried, and the overall quality of the product makes up for it. Plus, they are a good source of protein and vitamins.

Protein Source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat (made in a facility that uses egg products)
Vegan

Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Vanilla Flavor

2009-02-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

Almond Breeze almond milk comes in three flavors: Original, Vanilla and Chocolate, all of which are also available in Unsweetened varieties. I have only tried the sweetened Vanilla flavor.

It's comparably priced to soy and rice milks, but may be slightly harder to find.

It's also comparable nutritionally, although like rice milk it has significantly less protein than soy milk -- only 1g. Also, almonds are high in vitamin E, and one serving of Almond Breeze gives you 50% of your daily recommended amount.

The thickness of it falls somewhere in between -- thinner than soy milk, thicker than rice milk. The flavor is pretty good, too. Sweet but not too sweet. It definitely does taste like almonds, but it's not overkill. Good for dessert, coffee, and cereal, and the plain unsweetened variety might be useful for some savory dishes.

** 2/25/09 Edited to add: I tried this on cereal, and it was delicious! It is by far my favorite milk alternative for cereal that I've tried.

**3/7/09 Edited to add: The chocolate flavor is SO GOOD! Go buy some now!

Allergens: Almond, soy (soy lecithin)
Vegan

New feature

2009-02-19T17:21:00.000-08:00

I have gone back through my previous product review posts and added info about ingredients, such as protein sources, allergens, and vegan/vegetarian status. This info appears at the end of each post in GREEN.

Hopefully this small new feature will be helpful. I'd hate to get someone excited about a product only to later find out they can't eat it!

-jazzhands

Boca Original Chik'n Patties

2009-02-19T02:19:00.000-08:00

So, this is the third brand of breaded chicken-style patty I've tried thus far. To be perfectly honest, I didn't expect much from it. I found Boca burgers to be very bland and boring, and figured this would be, too. However, I was quite pleasantly surprised.

Actually, the breading on the patty was on the bland side, but for me, the flavor and texture of the "chicken" made up for it. It had a nice, chickeny bite to it, and was actually juicy. I am glad I purchased these instead of the MSF chik'n patties I almost bought tonight; if the breading had a bit more seasoning to it, I think these could actually give Quorn chik'n a run for its money. And for me, that's saying a lot. In fact, because the breading stays on better than with Quorn patties, these might be a better choice for using in a dish that requires sliced chik'n -- salad, tacos, quesadillas, stir fry... Hmm, I'm gonna have to buy some more...

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan?

Morningstar Farms Grillers Recipe Crumbles

2009-02-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

Two nights ago, I made myself a tasty vegetarian lasagna using MSF Grillers Recipe Crumbles. It was relatively simple and came out pretty well, if a little overcooked. The Grillers Crumbles really made the dish for me, and it wasn't far off from my old favorite meaty lasagna.

I didn't use a recipe or measure anything, but it was something like this:

- 12-14 wide lasagna noodles, cooked
- 1 jar of vegetarian spaghetti sauce
- 3/4 of a bag of Morningstar Farms Grillers Recipe Crumbles
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 2-3 tbsp of grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- garlic powder, oregano, and basil to taste

Preheat oven to 350F.
While noodles are cooking, mix ricotta, parmesan, and herbs/spices in a small bowl. Also, thaw Crumbles in microwave (30 seconds at a time, then stir; don't let them cook) in a medium bowl, then stir in spaghetti sauce, reserving about 1/4 cup. Spread reserved spaghetti sauce over the bottom of a 13"x9" baking pan, and lay out one layer of noodles. Spread a thin layer of cheese mixture over noodles, then a layer of sauce mixture. Continue layering, ending with top layer of noodles, sauce, and grated mozzarella. Bake about 40 minutes, or until hot all the way through. Don't judge doneness by appearance of mozzarella cheese on top! I was waiting for the cheese to melt, and it never happened -- thus my top layer ended up overcooked.

I think this product would also be delicious in tacos, or other Mexican dishes. MSF also makes a crumbled sausage product, which I would love to try but can't find anywhere...

**2/25/09 Edited to add: This stuff is also really good sprinkled onto a cheese or veggie pizza!

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Lost in the interwebs of cyberspace

2009-02-15T04:38:00.000-08:00

4:30 AM, and I was sleepless and bored. I decided to Google it up and see if I could find my blog. Over 13 million results for "vegetarian blog", and I am not in the top 13 pages. If I search directly for "vegetablog", at least I'm on page 2. But who in the world is going to search for "vegetablog"?

I wonder how I can get my blog noticed... in a good way.

Gardenburger BBQ Riblets

2009-02-13T02:32:00.000-08:00

I have never eaten real ribs, so I can't really compare this product to the real thing, but...

I've been a fan of this product for a while now -- pretty much ever since I discovered that I love barbecue sauce about a year or two ago.

Unlike many other veg*n convenience foods, you only get two servings per package. Each veggie riblet comes in a plastic pouch, which is microwaveable. Be very, very careful when you microwave this product! It is very easy to overcook, especially if you have a powerful microwave oven. I only have to cook mine for about half the recommended time for it to be heated through. If it is overcooked, it will chewy and tough to the point of being inedible... which is very sad when it smells so good!

The sauce is delicious -- sweet (but not too sweet) and spicy (but not too spicy). I think they should bottle it and make it available separately. The riblets are tasty too, and have a sort of chunky texture. I have eaten the riblets as a sandwich on a long roll or toasted bread with swiss cheese, or as-is with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Yum.

And yes, it's even vegan! Yay!

On my last shopping trip, I noticed a suspiciously similar product from Morningstar Farms. I purchased it, not realizing that I already had a box of Gardenburger riblets at home. I compared the list of ingredients on the two boxes, and sure enough, they were identical. I wonder what this means..? Did MSF purchase Gardenburger? Hmm...

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
100% vegan

Morningstar Farms Chik Patties Original

2009-02-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

I bought these one day while at a grocery store that doesn't carry my beloved Quorn "chicken" products. I knew it wouldn't be the same, but I thought trying something new might be good. Morningstar Farms has rarely ever disappointed me. Besides, the Chik Patties now have received the Chef's Best award... though I'm not quite sure what that means (and I wonder what other fake chicken patties they could have compared this to? Hmm).

Overall, this product was about what I was expecting. They do have a different sort of "chicken" flavor and texture than Quorn or Gardenburger; I'd say it resembles more of a dark meat chicken flavor -- only more, um, blah. The "meat" flavor and the breading reminded a bit of something like Banquet chicken nuggets.

The product does stay together better than a Quorn patty -- the breading doesn't just fall off -- so it does have that going for it. Oh, and it cooks at a lower oven temperature, so the oven preheats faster, thus you can eat it sooner (always a bonus in my book!). And, though it still may not be quite as good IMHO, it is nice to have a little variety once in a while.

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat, milk, egg
100% vegetarian

Veggie Slices, Mozzarella flavor

2009-02-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

It wasn't until after I purchased this product and really looked at the label that I realized this cheese substitute is not intended for vegans, since it still contains milk ingredients. Then I tried it, and really couldn't think of ANYONE who would choose to eat it. I suppose if you were lactose intolerant or wanted to avoid cholesterol and wanted something VAGUELY (I repeat, VAGUELY) cheese-like, you might purchase this.

I chose to try the Mozzarella flavor, since it is one of my favorite cheeses, and since it seemed like it would be hard to mess up -- even artificial mozzarella (like the kind you find on really cheap frozen pizza) is usually passable. It comes packaged just like other processed cheese slices in a plastic wrapper, with each slice individually wrapped.

The veggie slice, once unwrapped, still resembles a processed cheese slice. It has a similar consistency and texture. The smell is pretty disconcerting, though. This should have been a big red flag.

When I first put it in my mouth, it actually tastes alright -- almost cheese-like. But after a couple of seconds, the flavor changes. It's TERRIBLE. The first time I tried it, it actually went back and forth between okay and god-awful every few seconds the entire time I chewed it -- a very bizarre and unpleasant experience. Also, the texture in your mouth quickly goes from American-cheese-like to tofu.

So what did I do with all the other slices? I'm not the type of person who can just throw away food. I decided that it might not be as bad if it were hidden in some other food, so I crumbled a slice and added it into some Nature's Burger mix. I had to be careful about the fake cheese burning and sticking to the pan, but it actually wasn't too bad. It added another, interesting dimension to the flavor of the Nature's Burger. In fact, the next time I had a Nature's Burger without the crumbled Veggie Slice in it, I found that I missed it!

This brand, Galaxy Nutritional Foods, makes many other flavors of cheese alternatives, some even rice-based. They do also make some vegan cheese alternatives, both soy- and rice-based, but I can't find any of these in any local grocery stores. Among all of these, there might be some flavors that taste better than this "mozzarella" -- but I'm not about to try them myself.

Allergens: Soy, milk
Vegetarian

Rice Dream Organic Rice Drink, Original Flavor, Enriched

2009-02-07T05:57:00.000-08:00

Rice milk is another popular milk alternative, and has a few things going for it over soy milk:

+ Rice milk is dairy-free and soy-free. Lots of veg*ns already get plenty of soy from other sources, and may prefer a soy-free milk substitute to avoid soy overload (that's not a technical term, btw).

+ Rice milk is white, like traditional cow's milk.

+ Rice milk has a thinner consistency, more like fat-free milk. That could probably be a positive or negative, depending on personal preference, but I generally prefer it over the thickness of soymilk. I have heard others describe it (negatively) as "watery".

+ The rice-iness of it would make it a good choice for use in both savory and dessert recipes.

Rice milk does have a couple of drawbacks:

- It tastes like rice. It's really kind of like drinking liquid rice.

- It has much lower protein content (1g per serving, in this particular brand).

- It may sometimes have a bit of graininess to it.

I have used this product to make mashed potatoes, with mixed results. The rice flavor was not obtrusive so the flavor was decent, but the creaminess that one usually expects with mashed potatoes just wasn't there, due to the thinness of the the rice milk. Margarine helped some, but it still just seemed off.

I have also used this product (in the Vanilla flavor) on cereal. It's not too bad, but you'd want to choose a cereal that goes well with rice flavor. Pouring it on Trix or Cocoa Puffs probably wouldn't taste too great, but it's decent on Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Allergens: ?
Vegan

Archer Farms Organic Soymilk, Vanilla flavor

2009-02-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

Archer Farms is a Target-exclusive food brand. I found this soy milk in the refrigerated section of my local Target's grocery department and decided to give it a try.

It has a pleasant flavor, slightly sweet and vanilla-y on top of the usual soy flavor. The beige color may be off-putting to some people who expect their milk (or milk substitute) to be white. The texture is very thick and creamy, and feels a little sticky in your mouth. I guess if you're used to drinking whole milk or whipping cream or something, that might be okay. But I'm used to fat-free milk, so it's a little strange. Also, you don't want to shake the carton too much before you pour yourself a glass, or else it gets really frothy. Unless you enjoy that sort of thing.

As with many milk alternatives, this product has lots of extra vitamins and minerals added, has 6g of protein per serving, and is completely dairy-free.

It's good in coffee. And lately I've been enjoying having a glass with a late night snack. But I couldn't see myself wanting to pour it on my morning cereal -- it's just not the right taste and texture. If you're looking for a milk substitute to go in a dessert recipe (especially if the recipe calls for whole milk or half-and-half), this would probably be a good choice. It is also available in a Plain flavor.

Allergens: Soy
Vegan

Quorn Chik'n Patties & Nuggets

2009-01-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-02T21:36:00.001-08:00

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

Nature's Burger Mix, Take 2

2008-12-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I gave the Nature's Burger Mix a second try. I incorporated some of the ideas I got from the first experiment. I threw some frozen veggies in my food processor (carrots, green beans, corn, peas, bell peppers), then mixed that with some vegetarian vegetable broth. I used that instead of water to make the dough. I also added some ground black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. From both experiences with this product, I've found that mixing exactly equal parts of liquid and powder mix results in a dough that is too wet; I had to add extra mix a little at a time to get a firm, moldable dough.

The result: definitely better flavor. The sesame flavor was still very strong, but not quite so overpowering. As I suspected, the patty didn't hold together quite as well with the extra ingredients, but it wasn't a huge problem. I think some more experimentation is in order, but it looks promising.

Koyo Ramen, Mushroom Flavor

2008-12-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

It looks a lot like the ramen you're used to: plastic packet, block of curly noodles, foil packet of flavoring. It cooks a lot like the ramen you're used to. However, it has some major differences:

*It is made of natural ingredients
*It contains no MSG
*It is vegan
*IT HAS NO FLAVOR

I was in the grocery store yesterday looking for a cheap, convenient, vegetarian, Asian noodle soup. I looked at a powder mix for miso soup, but it was about $3 and I wasn't entirely sure it was vegetarian. I looked at some tasty looking noodle soups from Thai Kitchen and Annie Chun's which come in their own disposable bowl, but they all cost >$3 each. Then I happened upon the Koyo Ramen. They had three flavors: Mushroom, Soba, and Miso/Tofu, all $1.29 each ($1+ more than the popular ramen brands). I decided to get all three.

Maybe I was wrong to expect that it would have as much flavor as the cheapo brands. They, after all, contain MSG, artificial flavors, and meat. However, I don't think that a health- and environmentally-conscious person should have to sacrifice flavor to eat organic and vegetarian -- but it's starting to seem like this may all too often be the case.

Anyway, my search for tasty, vegetarian noodle soup continues.

Protein source:
Allergens:
Vegan

Nature's Burger Mix

2008-12-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

Today I tried Nature's Burger Mix by Fantastic Foods, purchased from the bulk foods section of my local grocery store.

It was extremely easy to make -- mix equal parts burger mix and hot water, form into patty, fry in pan, serve on bread with cheese/condiments. I had no idea how much to use, so I guessed and used about 1/3 cup water and mix, which made one patty with a small bit left over. 1/4 cup would probably be about right.

I thought the dough smelled really bland so I added a few things -- a little fresh ground black pepper, garlic powder, celery salt -- but it didn't seem to help much. I thought about mixing in some diced veggies for more flavor, but wasn't sure if the mix would hold together with extra wet ingredients. Plus, I wanted to get an idea of how the product was (more or less) on its own.

The "burger" tastes strongly of sesame to me (not surprising since it does have a lot of sesame seeds in it...). For others, this could be a good thing or bad thing. For me, I thought it was a bit much.

The texture is good. It held together well while cooking and eating.

Overall, I'm not too impressed with the product as is, but I think it has a lot of potential -- especially since it is so quick and easy to make. I think with a little experimenting, some veggies or other ingredients could be added for more flavor, or veggie broth could be used instead of water. Also, I could see this mix being used to make "meat"-balls or perhaps other things...

Allergens: Wheat, soy, sesame
Vegan

Seitan Quick Mix

2008-12-08T18:00:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday I cooked seitan (a meat substitute made from wheat gluten) for the first time.
I used "Seitan Quick Mix" from Harvest Direct. The process was pretty easy, but I can't say whether or not it turned out right since I have no previous experience with seitan! I know it didn't look anything like the burger on the package...

I made the dough according to the directions, formed it into a sort-of log shape, and simmered it for an hour in a vegetarian beef-flavor broth. After an hour, I cut into it and it still looked doughy in the middle. So I cut it into four segments and simmered it for another 15 minutes.

I ate one of the segments with a big helping of mashed potatoes. Not surprisingly, it tasted like... wheat! The texture was quite firm, dense, and meat-like, though. I was hoping it would have absorbed more of the flavor of the broth, since it smelled so good as it was cooking. Maybe next time I'll try using broth to make the dough instead of water...

I stored the leftovers in broth in the fridge as directed on the package. The next evening I decided to cut up another portion and cook it in a stir-fry with some veggies I had on hand - carrots, peas, corn, green beans, bell peppers, celery, and onions. I cut up the seitan into small strips, and it seemed to absorb some of the flavor of the veggies as it cooked. I ate it with some white rice, and it was delicious!

I don't know what the white stuff is in the photo. It appeared in the broth after being refrigerated for a day. Something congealed, I guess...?

Protein source: Wheat
Allergens: Wheat
Vegan

hello, world

2008-11-29T15:37:00.002-08:00

i've started this blog with two completely unrelated purposes in mind: to share the products of my crafty labors, and to write reviews of veg*n recipes and convenience foods. i may also throw in a review of a green/organic/eco-friendly product once in a while, too. i'm not an expert in any of these areas, but i hope my blog will be of use (at least for entertainment value!) to somebody. i can't make any big promises about posting regularly, but i'll do my best. :)

-jazzhands