As with my "Some products I'd like to review" post, these reviews were written over time, and so might be a bit disjointed. I wanted to note my impressions while they were still fresh in my mind, even if it meant the post's continuity is a bit wonky. And these are MY opinions, though I'm sharing them in an effort to help you save money (after all, spending money on something you'll waste is far from frugal!). Anyway, on to the reviews:
I tried the vanilla flavour first. Took a little taste before scooping the rest over some unsweetened granola. It was the best yogurt I've ever had (both alone and with the granola). Perfectly sweetened (but not overly), with just enough "tang". And enough vanilla to give it a perfect taste.
Then, I tried the blueberry. Maybe it's because I loved the vanilla so much, or maybe it's because blueberry yogurt has always been my favourite, but this was just...meh. I could hardly taste any berry at all. It was slightly less sweet than the vanilla, surprisingly. To me, it was like lightly sweetened plain yogurt.
I would definitely recommend (and buy) the vanilla.
Everyday Dal by Maya Kaimal
I opened the package and dumped it into a pan, and thought of Elvira saying "Mmm, it smells good. But it looks like caca doodie". lol. I heated it over low, while the quick cooking (not instant) brown rice I had made to serve it with finished. Tried a tiny bit by itself and was impressed. It has a perfect blend of seasonings! It's not too "beany", like I'd feared. Then I combined it in a bowl with my rice...perfection! The cumin and tomatoes both come to the forefront, while there are subtle undertones of Indian spices. Of course, being me, I added a bit of hot sauce after tasting it. lol.
I would definitely recommend this flavour, at least.
Field Roast Deli Slices
I tried a slice of each plain. The Smoked Tomato really impressed me. It had a taste almost reminiscent of pepperoni, but not spicy. The Wild Mushroom had an overwhelming sweetness (the balsamic vinegar, I assume), with an underlay of dirt (to be fair, some people do describe wild mushrooms as "earthy", and this had a blend of them). Not to be deterred, I layered some of each with thinly-sliced Cabot Habanero Cheddar cheese between slices of bread (spread with margarine) and toasted it. It was delicious! A day later, I decided I wanted a cold "deli meat" sandwich. So, I layered some of each with reduced-fat American cheese, onions, tomatoes, pickles, Jalapeno mustard, and ketchup. It wasn't bad, though nowhere near as good as the hot sandwich.
I will most likely buy the Smoked Tomato again, and perhaps pair it with some Tofurky slices (all are listed at that link, though the top will say "smoked ham" [which I haven't been able to try]).
Nature's Path Frosted Buncha Blueberries Toaster Pastries
Growing up, my favourite Pop-Tarts were the Chocolate Fudge and the Blueberry. Alas, Pop-Tarts frosting contains Gelatine! The few unfrosted flavours are okay (though some contain whey, so if you're Vegan, read the label!). There's a petition to ask Kellogg's to make Vegetarian Pop-Tarts here. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a Veg-friendly Chocolate Fudge toaster pastry. But Nature's Path makes several different fruit pastries (and a Brown Sugar and Maple one).
The Buncha Blueberries pastries aren't bad. They have slightly less filling than the unfrosted Pop-Tarts I've bought in the past (Brown Sugar, my stores don't have the blueberry), but perhaps the frosted Pop-Tarts do too? I don't know. What I CAN say is that they're flaky and sweet, heat up quickly, and do satisfy that craving for a blueberry-filled toaster pastry.
Green Giant® Cauliflower Veggie Tots
They're larger than standard tater tots, and have an outer coating that looks like very fine breading. They bake up crispy on the outside and mostly soft inside, mostly. There are the occasional chunks with a very obvious cauliflower texture. As far as taste, they have a very subtle cauliflower flavour (except those chunks again, which have a distinct taste). They won't pass for tater tots, but if you're eating low-carb/low-GI or are looking to add more non-starchy veggies to your diet, they'll definitely fill that urge.
Birds Eye Steamfresh Flavor Full Buffalo Cauliflower (see image above)
I bought these on sale, though they still weren't cheap.
Fair warning: I cannot 100% swear this product is Vegetarian. Based on the ingredient list, it appears to be (though NOT VEGAN as it has butter). I contacted the company months back, and they never replied. This was a big part of why this has taken so long, I kept hoping for a definitive answer from either the company or a web search. So if you're a stickler, avoid this product. That said....
These are cooked in the microwave, which should've been a warning to begin with (every cauliflower "wing" recipe I've seen has involved baking). Then I shook it up really well. They didn't have the typical cauliflower texture, I CAN say that. In fact, they were downright mushy! They also didn't taste of cauliflower (thankfully). In fact, the first bite tasted of nothing. The second was an overwhelming vinegar taste. And the third (and final) bite was cayenne...hot (which is good) and bitter (which isn't so good). I threw the rest away...and I make it a point to never waste food! I just couldn't get past the mushiness, and the varying flavour with every bite made it worse. Give these a hard pass. If you really want cauliflower "wings", you could try one of these recipes (I haven't tried any, as I'm not a big fan of cauliflower).
Nissin Top Ramen
Some years back, the Chili flavour was also added to the "Accidentally Vegan" list. Unfortunately, no store near me carried it. Until Dollar General got some in this past winter. I was so excited! I expected something that would taste somewhat like a really brothy chili (the kind with tomatoes and beans). Instead, it was mostly dried CHILIES. There is tomato powder in the seasoning mix, as well as spices. But the main taste was spicy. Once I got over my initial surprise, I very much enjoyed it.
Are they HEALTHY choices? Definitely not! But if you're pinching pennies, they're affordable. And if you add in frozen veggies from the dollar store and a bit of tofu or egg (or "no salt added tomatoes" and a small amount of cheese or Nootch) you can make a decent meal.
BaKol Jel Desserts
It certainly wiggles like a gelatin dessert! As for the taste, I liked it. Not overly sweet, nor too tart. It could do with a LITTLE more lemon flavour. But overall, I'm satisfied.
Sweet Earth "The Greek" Burrito
I bought one of these on clearance at Whole Foods Co-Op. It was still a bit pricy at $1.99 for one burrito. But I'd been wanting to try them for a while now. They're filled with Bulgur wheat, white beans, Feta cheese, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and seitan (as well as seasonings, including lemon juice and soy sauce). They're rich in vitamins A and C, Thiamine, Folate, and Iron. They have about 1/4 of the fibre recommended per day, and 11gm protein. Unfortunately, they also have 9gm (14%dv) fat and 410mg (17%dv) sodium!
I microwaved mine (you have the option of microwaving or baking them). The wrap was rather chewy. The filling was very firm, unlike any other burrito I've had. Almost like they'd pressed everything into a log and put the wrap around it after. I could definitely taste the lemon. Honestly, it was reminiscent of hummus. Though at times, a clump of spinach would dominate the flavour. And occasionally there would be a deliciously salty burst of Feta. It was very toothsome, and rather filling. Would I buy them again? Maybe if I found them on sale or had a high-value coupon. I definitely liked them more than the Benevolent Bacon....
No Evil Foods El Zapatista "Chorizo"
I used the rest to make a quesadilla. I didn't want to get fancy, so I just layered a bit of cheese, cooked "chorizo", then a little more cheese between two tortillas. Heated it in a bit of margarine in my cast iron skillet and cut it up. Somehow, the "meat" managed to become chewy, yet still slightly "mushy"! And it lost a lot of it's taste. I topped the quesadilla wedges with a bit of sour cream and a lot of hot sauce, and it was okay. Not drool-worthy, but not nauseating like the "chorizo" and eggs had been.
At 440mg sodium per 1/4 package serving, it's a bit on the high side. However, it's very low in fat (1gm, though it DOES soak up oil during cooking) and high in protein (18gm) per serving. It's got some iron and Vitamin A (10%dv each).
Sorry to say, I will NOT be buying this again. Which is sad, as now neither Tops nor Whole Foods Co-Op has any other "chorizo" at the moment.
Bubba Veggie Burger
Low in fat (2.5gm per "burger") and high in Vitamins A (20%) and C (25%). And with 300mg sodium, they're lower than (or comparable to) other veggie burgers. On the down side, at 4gm of protein, they are rather lacking. The Beyond Burger (which I have reviewed already) has 20gm. Morningstar Farms' Spicy Black Bean Burger has 9gm and their Garden Veggie Burger has 17gm. Even Boca does better, at 13gm!
So, how do they fare? They're not bad. I cooked one in my cast iron skillet, with a little oil. There were peas, corn, bits of beans, etc visible in the grey-ish icy hockey puck. lol. As it cooked, the outside darkened beautifully.
I put it on a wheat Kaiser roll with some lettuce, tomato, rehydrated dried onion, pickles, reduced-fat American cheese, and homemade Big Mac sauce (I did use spicy ketchup and mustard for it). I tried a tiny piece of the "burger" plain, too. While the main flavour is obviously bean, it's not overwhelmingly bean-y. Nor do the apples stand out, like I'd thought. In fact, the flavours are mostly balanced. The plain bit I tried was just kind of Meh. But it worked in the sandwich. Definitely use plenty of toppings and condiments with this one. The texture? Well, there's a gritty feeling to it. Yet the middle is somewhat soft (not mushy, though).
They're the "bored hooker" of veggie burgers...not terrific, but not terrible. I mean, I doubt they'd win any awards, but I've certainly put worse things in my mouth. Er...lol. I'd recommend the Bubba Veggie, so long as you can find them at a reasonable price.
Gardein seven grain crispy tenders
ultimate beefless burgers the one time I could get my hands on some, and buy their golden fishless filets regularly. I didn't like their Mandarin crispy chick’n at ALL (though I'd never had Mandarin chicken before, Vegetarian or otherwise. Other people I know like it). And I've already shared my thoughts on their meatless pizza pockets in a previous review. I'd LOVE to try more of their stuff, but the stores I can get to don't carry anything else (even the pockets and "burgers" were bought when I happened to be at a store I can't usually get to).
Health-wise, these aren't bad. 4.5g fat, none of which is saturated. 8 g protein and 1g fibre. Sodium is moderate for a processed food (230mg or 10% dv). No vitamins/minerals to speak of, though.
So, my thoughts? Well, I deep-fried a couple of these (I know, bad!). They were definitely very crispy. They were alright, but not amazing. Then I baked three more in my toaster oven. The crispy breading kinda crumbled off in places. But the taste was incredible! I ate one by itself and turned the other two into a wrap. I will definitely buy these again, just bake them instead of frying.
Follow Your Heart New & Improved VeganEgg
I paid full price for this product, because I was just THAT curious about it.
I opened up the box and found a bag (not resealable) of powder. I opened it, and what a FOUL smell! Nothing at all like eggs. Not to be deterred, I started my pan heating while I measured out the 1/2C ice water and 2T of this yellowish powder. I added a bit of light salt (I never add pepper to eggs), and whisked this up well. Poured what looked like lemon-coloured porridge into the hot pan (it started bubbling) and started to scramble it right away. The stench intensified. I noticed my rats (who normally come running when I cook anything) were still in hiding...not a good sign. Never-the-less, I kept scrambling as this goop firmed up (and stuck to the pan just like the real thing). It sort of LOOKED like slightly undercooked scrambled eggs by the time I was done. Hopeful, I spooned it into a bowl and then took a bite. GROSS! It's rubbery, and the taste...well, if eggs tasted like that, nobody would ever eat them! I threw it right into the rubbish. I put the powder into a ziplock and put it back in the box. I may try using it to make an omelet (with lots of herbs, veggies, and cheese to hide the taste) or something in the future. Or it may languish in on the shelf.
I don't recommend this at all. Stick with either eggs or a good tofu scramble. Blech!
Seventh Generation Dishwashing Liquids
I'll start with the Free & Clear. It lasted for MONTHS! Just a little bit would suds up well, and leave the dishes clean. It even did a good job on the cage bottom for my rats! It rinses clean, and doesn't have an overpowering scent. I would absolutely buy this!
As for the Ultra Power Plus, I'm less enthused. It doesn't suds up anywhere near as well as the Free & Clear did. And it doesn't seem to clean as well either (though if you compare the two at soaking dishes that have cooked-on food, Ultra Power Plus outperforms). It has a subtle (but noticeable) citrus scent, which is derived from natural sources. So make sure to rinse MORE thoroughly any dishes that might come in contact with animals.
In conclusion? If you soak a lot of dishes, Ultra Power Plus would be your better choice. Otherwise (or if you and/or your animals are scent-sensitive), I recommend Free & Clear.
Final Thoughts
Well, that's it for my reviews! I hope you enjoyed them. I am going to try to work on some sort of writing schedule, so posts are more regular (though with my health, they may not be super-frequent [unless I'm trying something free in exchange for a review or getting paid, obviously]).
So, dear readers, now I leave YOU with a task. Please use the Contact page to let me know what sort of posts you'd love to see more (or less) of. If you would like me to check out a site or product, let me know. If you are a blogger and would like to trade mentions, let me know. If you'd like to pay me to write, PLEASE let me know (It's a long shot, but hey...lol)! And if you manufacture a product you'd like me to give an honest review for, let me know that too.
Until next time....