Sjaak's Vegan Easter Organic Chocolate Bunny & Basket

What's Easter without a giant chocolate bunny? Exactly. So I went to go find one. But that wasn't enough, I found a chocolate bunny filled with gummy bears. And on top of that, I found a dark chocolate basket with a tiny bunny in it. Does it get any cuter than that? As it turns out, Sjaak's has a ton of awesome Vegan Easter stuff.

The Organic Chocolate Easter Basket with Bunny and Eggs is adorable. Everything is edible except for the green "grass" and the egg wrappers. You can get it in dark or "milk" chocolate. Buy two so the bunny can have a friend.

Now for the greatest invention ever, the Organic Chocolate Bunny Filled with Gummy Bears. You're like, how is that even possible? But it is. Crack that sucker open and gummy bears come out. And they say Veganism is boring. Yeah right, thanks Sjaak's!

So Delicious Coconut Milk Organic Minis

Is it ever the wrong time of year for So Delicious Minis? Apparently not, because So Delicious has just released three new Coconut Milk Minis flavors! In the past, there have been Almond Milk Minis and Agave Sweetened & Chocolate Covered Minis (all which were DELICIOUS.) The new flavors are Simply Strawberry, Fudge Bar and Just Java. I'm a sucker for ice cream bars and I love that there's so many options out there now. I appreciate So Delicious sending me a box of each to review. So despite the sub zero temps (in Omaha at least) let's try these Minis out!

Let's start with my favorite, Simply Strawberry. I'm always a sucker for strawberry anyways, but this really was my jam. To me, it tastes like strawberry Julius bars. If you even slightly like s-berries, you'll love 'em. My next favorite is the Fudge Bar, this one is pretty self explanatory. A yummy chocolate bar. Nothing new, but I'm diggin' it. The last of the new Minis bars is Just Java. It's a coffee tinged bar. Not really my style, but you java lovers will be into it. Talk about a wide spectrum of flavors!

So no matter your flavor preference, there is a Minis out there for you.  

Veestro Vegan Frozen Dinners

Veestro is a company that delivers frozen Vegan meals to you home. I didn't realize there was such a service until Mark, the co-owner, contacted me about reviewing some of Veestro's products. Of course I said yes! About a week later I got this huge box full of goodies. There was quite a variety, with all kinds of Vegan goodness. Everything from soups, entrees, salads and even cookies. Best yet, every meal is Organic and GMO-free!     

Savory Croquettes with Veggie Hash. Probably my favorite meal of the bunch! Yummy tofu croquettes, veggies and sauce.  

Mediterranean Skillet. Loved the bacon tempeh on this one. And plenty of veggies to keep you feeling healthy.

Red Curry with Tofu and Vegetables. I'm not a big fan of curry, but I was loving this tofu curry! I also dug the rounds of brown rice.

Enchilada Casserole. Not the prettiest frozen dinner I've ever seen, but the great flavor makes up for it.

Risotto with Butternut Squash and Kale. You don't typically see risotto in a frozen dinner. Not bad!

Roasted Beet & Kale Salad. The yummy dressing came on the side, not pictured here. A well rounded salad.

Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce. This was pretty gingery. All I had to do was microwave the noodles, sauce and throw it all together.

Tortilla Soup. This soup came in a packet that you microwave, and poof, Spicy Tortilla Soup!

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. I was loving these cookies! And I didn't have to do anything, just had to thaw them out.

Overall, I was very impressed with the quality and the flavors or Veestro's food. Looking at their prices, they do cost more than your typical frozen dinner. But with that said, the premium is more than worth it. The meals are chef-created using the highest quality Organic non-GMO ingredients. Give 'em a try and let me know what you think! You can buy any of these items individually, by pack or build your own pack. Bon appetit!

Kopali Organic Chocolate Cacao Nibs & Espresso Beans

Back in October, I spotlighted a bunch of Fair Trade products. One of my favorites of the bunch was the Kopali Organic Chocolate Covered Bananas. Well, word got back to Kopali and they contacted me to see if I would be interested in reviewing two of their other products, Organic Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs and Organic Chocolate Covered Espresso Bean. And of course I said yes!

I gave the Cacao Nibs a whirl first. Basically you are eating chocolate covered cocoa, a chocolate lover's dream. I liked that they were nice and tiny, like little pebbles. Unsurprisingly, I ate them all within minutes. Definitely something I would buy again. Next was the Espresso Beans. I'm admittedly not a coffee lover, but I have had chocolate covered beans before and enjoyed them. These were no different! Granted, I didn't eat the whole bag right away like the Cacao Nibs, but there was a nice balance between the chocolate and the coffee bean. Which begs the question, is there anything that tastes bad dipped in chocolate?

So if you are looking for a little bit more punch to your chocolate obsession, take a look at Kopali Organic Chocolate Cacao Nibs or Espresso Beans. You can find them at you local Whole Foods.

Rudi's Organic Cinnamon Raisin Bread

I picked up a loaf of Rudi's Organic Cinnamon Raisin Bread to check the ingredients, fully expecting it to have dairy. It's true that Rudi's is very Vegan friendly and they even label it as such, but I seriously had my doubts. Well, I was excited to be wrong and thus the loaf went right from my hand straight to the grocery cart. When was the last time you saw Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread at the store? Um, never!

I'm not sure how you eat your Cinnamon Raisin Bread, but mine goes in the toaster. Lightly toasted with some Earth Balance Coconut Spread. Delicious! Just the right amount of cinnamon and raisins make this the perfect sweet snack. And I can't emphasize enough how much the Coconut Spread enhances the experience. If I were you, I'd leave the loaf in the freezer to keep it fresh, and just take out and toast what you need. Shout out to Rudi's for make some amazing Vegan bread that fills a void!

Nature's Path Organic Coconut Chia Granola

I remember the first time I saw Nature's Path Hemp Plus Granola cereal, my mind was blown. A.) How do you eat hemp? and B.) How do you make it taste good? Ultimately I discovered that it's an awesome cereal and really put Nature's Gate on the map for me. So you can say my eyes widened a bit when I saw this new Coconut Chia Granola the other day. Actual flakes of coconut in the cereal? Too cool! You know I gotta try that.

From the first spoonful, I was in love. It's like you're eating a rich coconut cookie. Amazing crunch and sweetness. Not low fat by any means, but it's good fat. A great source of Omega-3's and whole grains. And of course, it's Non-GMO and Organic. In fact, it's worth noting that Nature's Path is the only certified Non-GMO cereal brand on the market right now. So it's an all-around healthy and nutritious cereal that you can feel comfortable eating.

The best part of course is that it says VEGAN on the box. You make my job so easy, Nature's Path! I love it. So go out and get a box of Coconut Chai Granola and tell me what you think!

Amy's Organic Beans & Rice Burrito

In the last three years, I feel like I've represented all of my favorite Vegan convenience foods. From Uncle Eddie's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, to Upton's Seitan Tamales to So Delicious Almond Milk Ice Cream Minis, I feel like I've been covering my bases. Well, shockingly, there was one glaring omission. Amy's Organic Beans & Rice Burrito! For real, I eat that thing all the freakin' time. How have I not blogged it yet? Maybe I take it for granted? I have no idea, but I'm glad to finally show my love for one of the best Vegan convenience foods EVER.

So, there are many way to eat an Amy's Beans & Rice Burrito. My favorite way right now is to simply douse the burrito with Frank's Red Hot. I also love it with Food For Lover's Queso on top with lettuce and tomato. To those who have never had the pleasure of eating a Beans & Rice Burrito, it's got lots of flavorful refried pinto beans and yummy brown rice. Not spicy at all, which is great because you can dress it up how ever you want. On the nutritional tip, you are looking at 10 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. A pretty nice meal when you're in a jam. And don't forget to save those burrito wrappers for Amy's Points! Thank you to Amy's for creating one of my all time favorites.

Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread

When I was at the Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival this year, one of the samples I got to try was the Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread. I've seen it in the store before, but I'm not a huge Earth Balance/ Margarine person. The sample I had in Toronto really blew me away! When I got back to Omaha I bought a tub because I was so impressed. 

As you can see, the spread is white as snow. The flavor is obviously heavy on the coconut, which is good as long as you like coconut. It melts in your mouth!

You can use the Coconut Spread for many things, but my personal favorite has been on toast. Eventually I'd like to use it on something sweet. Cornbread, pancakes, banana bread? I think the sweetness plus the coconut flavor would be divine. I makes you wonder what new coconut product will they come up with next? 

Vegan Chocolate: Raisins, M&M's and Gummi Bears

Every year, I get ready for Vegan MoFo by buying a ton of stuff ahead of time. That way, I have some time to review everything, take pictures and of course, eat! I try to buy things I haven't eaten before, because it keeps things fresh and interesting. These three chocolate treats have been on my radar for awhile, but MoFo gave me a little incentive to buy them all. 

Vegan Chocovered Raisins from Fabulous Freefrom Factory. Talk about the holy grail! I can't tell you the last time I've had chocolate raisins, but they are as delicious as you remember. Soft, melt in your mouth chocolate, coating plump raisins. Why didn't I buy two packages? 

Holy Cow Vegan Dark Chocolate Beans. Miss M&M's? Well here you go! They're not as soft as M&M, but that's a minor complaint. I ate these like there was no tomorrow. Now I await the day when I can buy Vegan Reese's Pieces so I can do my E.T. impression.

Organic Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears from Chocolate Decadence. I had no idea that chocolate covered gummi bears was a "thing." I figured it was just Vegans being crazy. But no, chocolate covered gummi bears are the rage, and thankfully we are not left out. These were great! My only complaint was that the gummi bears were stuck together and I has to break them out of the chocolate. But hey, we live in a world with Vegan gummi bears covered in chocolate, and it's great!

Nature's Path Organic Corn Flakes

It seems the older I get, the more conservative I get...with my cereal. Don't get me wrong, If someone finally came up with a crazy Vegan marshmallow cereal (a la Lucky Charms) I'd be the first in line. But for the most part, I've been avoiding super sweet cereals. Enter Nature's Path Organic Fruit Juice Sweetened Corn Flakes. A great basic cereal that is lightly sweetened and has uncomplicated ingredients. Corn meal and/or yellow corn flour, grape and/or pear juice concentrate, sea salt. That's it. All while being Organic and Gluten Free.  

The cereal by itself does have a slight sweetness, but nothing that's going to blow you away and make you say "this was sweetened by a pear!" I tried the cereal by itself with unsweetened almond milk and it was tatsy. If you like a bit more sweetness, try some banana or strawberries to liven things up. Either way, it's a great way to start your morning!

Fair Trade Month!

October is Fair Trade Month and I'm happy to be reviewing a ton of socially responsible products. Katie from Fair Trade USA went out her way to send me some of the best Fair Trade products that are also Vegan. For those of you who aren't familiar with concept of Fair Trade, it's basically a movement to alleviate poverty in developing nations, while ensuring consumers quality products that improve lives and protect the environment. So when you see a product with the Fair Trade Logo, you can be assured that the product is a good one!  

Kopali Organic Chocolate Covered Banana. These are nom city! I ate the whole package right away. Well, after I took the picture anyway. They are little banana bits, which are easier to eat when compare to large banana slices. They taste wonderful and I hope to see them in the store soon!

Alter Ego Dark Quinoa Dark Chocolate. Who knew? Quinoa and chocolate are AMAZING! The quinoa gives the chocolate the perfect crispness. Sort of like a Crunch bar, but totally Fair Trade chocolate. Buy it ASAP.

Madhava Organic Raw Agave Nectar. Agave is a great sweetener that is usually on the counter at my house. I personally don't use it, but my coffee/tea drinking girlfriend swears by it.   

Sweet Riot Chocolate Kickin' Coconut Bar. Another amazing Organic chocolate bar, but this time it's got coconut! Oodles of sweet delicious coconut covered in dark chocolate. Another ASAP buy! 

Rishi Organic Pu-Ern Ginger Tea. A spicy, potent, gingery tea. Great for Sunday morning breakfast!

Honest Tea Black Forest Tea. A delightfully berry tinged non-caffeinated iced tea. Great when you don't want anything overpowering sweet.

And if that wasn't enough, Coconut Bliss was kind enough to include a free coupon for giveaway! (**Updated 10/16** Fair Trade USA will also send you an above product of your choice plus a Fair Trade Tote Bag!) All you have to do is comment down below which of these products you are most excited to try. I will randomly pick a winner, Wednesday at 4pm CST. Also, look for a Vegan MoFo Fair Trade giveaway soon! Thank you to Fair Trade USA for promoting these wonderful products. Remember to look for the Fair Trade label!

Dr. Cow Aged Cashew and Macadamia Nut Cheese

Earlier this year, I had Dr. Cow Aged Cashew Cheese for the first time. I'm not much of a hard cheese connoisseur, but I was seriously blown away! The Aged Cashew Cheese is so delicious, I knew I had to buy some more so I could blog about it. To up the ante, I also purchased some Dr. Cow Macadamia Nut Cheese to compare. Dr. Cow promotes their cheese as Tree Nut Cheese, which is a cute way of saying it's Vegan without scaring off non-Vegans. Dr. Cow Tree Nut Cheese is also organic, raw, unpasteurized and gluten-free.  

I could probably eat the cheese by itself very easily, but I decided to pair it with some Late July Classic Rich Crackers. Classic Rich Crackers are very buttery, just like Ritz. A great organic cracker that I find myself buying all the time.

The Aged Cashew Cheese has some salty ranch notes. I can taste the cashew flavor, but it's so refined, you might not notice. Comparing it to real cheese, I would say it has a smoked Swiss flavor. I'm in love with Aged Cashew and will go on the record as saying it's (presently) my favorite cheese. Aged Macadamia Cheese has some fruity notes. I got a strong macadaminan flavor. Very tangy and a little mustardy. I found it a little softer than the Cashew Cheese, which isn't a bad thing.

So if you love hard cheese or cracker cheese, I think you'll really enjoy Dr. Cow. I can recommend the Cashew and Macadamia for sure, and I hope to try the other varieties soon! If you can't find it in your area, Vegan Essentials is having a 10% off sale for the entire month of October, using coupon code "mofo!"

Late July Vanilla Bean With Green Tea Cookies

Cookies are the best dessert! No, I'm not going to argue with you. One thing about being a Vegan, is that there is no shortage of cookies to choose from. My new cookie love is for the Late July Vanilla Bean Green Tea Sandwich Cookies. I used to be a big green tea drinker back in the day, so I was intrigued with how the flavor would represent in a cookie.

If you are expecting a crazy herbal cookie, you are out of luck. The green tea is just a minor note in a delicious sweet sandwich cookie, and I enjoyed it! The mixture of the vanilla bean, the chocolate cookie and the green tea extract is the perfect symphony of flavors. As you can see in the pic, I got a little almond milk to dunk the cookies in and they were sooo good soft. If you love the typical chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies, give these green tea laced cookies a try. It's a flavor that you might not even know you like, but end up loving!

Sambazon Organic Acai Berry Sorbet

I'm new to the whole acai berry thing. Honestly, I've never gone out of my way to try anything with acai. It always seemed so gimicky and snake oilish. That changed a couple months ago when my friend Chris suggested I try a Sambazon Protein Smoothie. I ended up really liking it and I was surprised it contained acai berries. So the other day, I noticed this Samazon Acai Berry Sorbet and was pretty excited about trying it out.

So what does acai taste like? I would have to say a mix between blueberry and cranberry. If you like either of those, I would think you'd be down with acai. The sorbet was tangy and fruity. It was sweet without being over the top cloying. There's a little grit from the acai berries, but I've become accustomed to that by now. I'd say the Acai Berry Sorbet is a solid choice for someone who like sorbets and wants a healthier, less sugary alternative with loads of antioxidants. If you've never had any acai berry products before, this might be a good gateway to take you all the way to level 7 acai berry lover (that's when you're able to pronounce it.)

The Laziest Vegan Salad

Thanks to the boiling hot summer from hell, I've taken to eating more salads. It just seems more enjoyable to eat something cool, crisp and light then something heavy and hot. I've also always had trouble getting all of my daily veggies in, so eating a big salad kind of resolves that. Being the lazy Vegan that I am, I devised the easiest and most satisfying salad possible, while staying within the pre-packaged rules of my blog.

Yes, I know it would be cheaper to buy veggies from the farmer's market, but that's not the point. This is for people who never eat salad because they are lazy but are also salad-curious. Don't worry salad-phobic people, it's all about baby steps. Just do what you can to eat a couple more veggies everyday.   
    

Well, first you need to start with a mix of greens. Do yourself a favor and stay away from iceberg lettuce and get some spinach or kale. This Earthbound Farm Organic Power Greens mix is pretty nice because it has baby kale, baby spinach and baby green and red chard.

At my Whole Foods, there is always tons of pre-packaged organic vegetables. I chose the broccoli and cauliflower mix, but you can get whatever veggies you heart desires.

These pre-washed Bunny-Luv carrots are pretty amazing. I HATE peeling carrots so these are heaven to me. Someone told me that baby carrots have less beta carotene than normal sized carrots. Well, if that's true, a little beta carotene is better than none because I'm not peeling carrots!

I love sprouts! They add crunch, texture and healthy flavor to salads. I almost got some bean sprouts, but opted for these Sun Sprout alfalfa sprouts instead. And make sure you throw the leftover alfalfa on a sandwich. 

The one thing I don't like about salads is that they can be so boring! You're eating a damn salad, so make sure you put something fun on it. I don't know, get those Snapea Crisps or some raisins. On this salad, I threw some Pig Out Bacony Bits from Wayfare. They add a little texture and are super tasty.

This Salad Girl Crisp Apple Maple Dressing really hit the spot. It was sweet, but not overpowering. Follow Your Heart also has a ton of amazing dressings you should check out. I also kick it old school once in a while and use Braggs Liquid Aminos Seasoning.

So here is my Laziest Vegan Salad! Pretty, isn't it? As you can see, I've added a some tomatoes from my garden. If you've never grown a tomato, try it, it's pretty easy! You won't believe how much better they taste than the store bought ones. If I can grow a tomato, anyone can. In closing, if you are a Lazy Vegan, it doesn't mean you can't eat a couple veggies a day and a salad is the easiest way to do it!