The Laziest Vegans Top Ten Asks Danielle Konya

Danielle Konya is the founder and owner of Pennsylvania-based baked-goods empire, Vegan Treats. Founded in 1998 and located in Bethlehem (cue Billy Joel's Allentown), Vegan Treats is one of the top Vegan bakeries in the world. From cookies, cakes, cupcakes, doughnuts, rolls, CANNOLI, pies, cheesecake and recently, ice cream, Vegan Treats does it all. Danielle loves animals, (especially great apes like orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees!) and has dedicated her life to help people switch to a Vegan lifestyle. There's no better way than to make amazing Vegan desserts!
  
One of the first times I went to New York, I had a Vegan Treats Red Velvet Cake from Atlas Cafe and thought it was amazing! Ever since then, I've always been on the lookout for anything from Vegan Treats. Unfortunately, Omaha is out reach for most things (except for the Vegan Cannoli that can be shipped right to your house for Thanksgiving!!!) so I have to live vicariously through the Vegan Treats Facebook page. Now, the question that everyone wants to know is, what kinda of pre-packaged cookie does Danielle like?

What is your favorite store-bought veggie burger?
I REALLY like Gardein Sliders. I bring those to the bakery for a fast lunch on occasion! Now they came out with new “chicken” ones, mmmm…. SO GOOD!

What is you favorite frozen dinner?
Tofutti Pizza Pizazz. I’ve been enjoying these on occasion for over a decade.

What is your favorite ice cream?
So Delicious Turtle Trails! Caramel and chocolate, need I say more.

What is your favorite chip or cracker?
Baked Ruffles, I’m addicted. What’s up with the new, small bags?

What is your favorite cereal?
I will eat one cereal for six months straight before moving on to a new cereal (for another six months). Right now, it’s 365 Frosted Wheat Squares. They’re delicious! In another month or so I’ll have to pick a new one, I guess. haha.

What is your favorite candy?
Thumbs Up (vegan Butterfinger bar) by Go Max Go Foods. I love all of their candy bars. They’re also my favorite airplane and movie snack.

What is your favorite cookie?
Uncle Eddies. It’s a toss up between Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. It’s such a rare occasion that I find them, though. The scarcity makes them taste even better!

What three pre-packaged food items would you take to a desert island?
Obsessive Confection Disorder Caramels! Wow, so good. If you haven’t tried them yet, you absolutely need to. I had those sea salt caramels in my pocket while trekking for orangutans in Indonesia, that’s how much I like them. Baked Ruffles, I wasn’t kidding when I said I was addicted. Australian vegan nougat made by the Australian Nougat Company. I think you can buy it on Vegan Essentials- you need some!

Name a product you would like Veganized?
The child in me really wants Lucky Charms! Those fruity freeze-dried marshmallows are a fond memory of my childhood and I crave them every time I’m looking for my new favorite cereal.

What are your favorite local and/or online stores for Vegan products? Pangea, Obsessive Confection Disorder and Vegan Essentials.

And that concludes The Laziest Vegans Top Ten. Thanks Danielle!

Gardein Crispy Chick'n Sliders

Lemme start this blog off by saying that I've been looking for these Gardein Crispy Chick'n Sliders ever since they came out...with no luck. For some reason, my Whole Foods doesn't carry them. But a couple months ago, Katie from Don't Eat Off The Sidewalk mentioned that her Target carries them. Target, I thought, that's kinda weird! But sure enough they had them. Actually, they had a ton of Gardein stuff, so give your local Target a try. Anyway, I couldn't wait to see if they lived up to my self-created hype.

In short, yes. They are everything you could ask for in a frozen chick'n slider. A toaster oven is your best route for preparation. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to remove the buns only to put them on during the last two minutes of baking, but it's so worth it. If you're already a fan of some of Gardein's chick'n products, you'll fall in love with these. The breading is killer, and it's what sets it apart from other Vegan chicken products. That, plus of course your trusty, flavorful Gardein chick'n meat. Add some Vegenaise, lettuce and tomato and you're ready to go. You might feel guilty about eating all four sliders in one sitting, but don't. It's very easy to do, and honestly, they're small enough to do such a thing. So raid your local Target and have a chick'n slider party (preferably party of one.)

So Delicious Culinary Coconut Milk

So Delicious has introduced two new Culinary Coconut Milks, Original and Light, for use in recipes. Both milks have only three ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Cream and Organic Guar Gum. So Delicious has been kind enough to send me a couple to sample. Now, it's widely known that I love So Delicious products, but I had no idea how I was going to test and review this particular product. You know, it's for cooking and baking; two things I'm not exactly interested in. But I think I figured out an easy and enjoyable way of using the Culinary Coconut Milk. What you ask? Hot chocolate!

Well, you can't have hot chocolate without marshmallows! And it just so happens that I have a bag of the new Dandies Minis from Chicago Vegan Foods. They're tiny and perfect.

I pulled off the hot chocolate and it was tasty! The Coconut Milk added the right amount of richness and creaminess to the cocoa. I used the Original version, but if you are worried about the fat content you could use the Lite instead. I could see the Culinary Coconut Milk being perfect for use in baking and cooking. If you want to try my version of Laziest Vegans Hot Cocoa, here you go!

Boil 2 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt. Whisk smooth and then add a half cup of the Culinary Coconut Milk. Boil and keep whisking till mixed. It makes two servings, so you may need to double if there's more than two of you. And don't forget to add mini marshmallows to your mugs. Enjoy!

Sweet & Sara Halloween Marshmallow Giveaway!

It's that time of year for Sweet & Sara Halloween Marshmallows! I love 'em to death cause they're so cute and tasty. Pictured above are Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows, a Halloween Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Bat and a Halloween Marshmallow Ghost.  

If you've never had the pleasure of eating a Sweet & Sara Halloween Marshmallow, here's your chance! All you have to do is comment below and tell me your favorite Halloween movie. Make sure to leave a contact email (spam proof it if you like- ex. laziest vegans AT Gmaildotcom) so I can contact the winner. Giveaway ends Saturday at 7pm CST, good luck and Happy Halloween!
 

Mori-Nu Vanilla Pudding Mix

I've seen this Mori-Nu Vanilla Pudding Mix in the stores for years. A part of me has always wanted to try it, but I've honestly been afraid. You see, the main ingredient is a block of silken tofu. While I love tofu, I wasn't sure a dessert made mostly from a block of tofu would be very exciting. But I placed this on my bucket list of pre-package Vegan eats, so bombs away!

Surprisingly, I dig it! Now don't get me wrong, you're going to know you're eating a block of tofu. But there's ways to lighten the tofu taste. One way is to use almond milk (or whatever alternative milk you want) instead of the suggested water. Another tip is to add a little fruit. Also, make sure to chill it once blended, the warm tofu pudding isn't happening. If you wanna' see what it was like to be Vegan in the 90's, here's your chance! Tastier than it sounds, everyone should eat this at least once in their life. Enjoy!

The Laziest Vegans Top Ten Asks Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Isa Chandra Moskowitz is the creator of the Post Punk Kitchen and author of countless Vegan cookbooks. In about a  month, her new book Isa Does It will be released. Most of you know that I'm Isa's friend and I've had the pleasure of taste testing most of the recipes from Isa Does It. Let me tell you that this is her best book to date, hands down. If you are into cooking, this is the book to own. Lots of the recipes are even easy enough for a lazy vegan like me!

I can also reveal that creating The Laziest Vegans in the World blog was a way of impressing Isa. Whether that's worked or not is open to interpretation. But, I can vouch for this list, it is 100% accurate. So, what kind of cookies does Isa really like?

What is your favorite store bought veggie burger? 
I like those fake chicken patties, like Cluckphrey's. With sweet pickles, please.

What is your favorite frozen dinner?
If it weren't for Amy's Frozen Burritos I'd be dead.

What is your favorite ice cream?
Those super old school Rice Dream Nutty Bars and Mint Chocolate Sandwiches.

What is your favorite chip or cracker?
Completely addicted to Kettle Bakes Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips.

What is your favorite cereal?
I like to have a lot of cereals around, like Seinfeld. I don't eat them for breakfast, more for dessert. Let's say right now it's Arrowhead Mills Sweetened Shredded Wheat.

What is your favorite candy?
Caramels from Obsessive Confection Disorder. I really love the seasonal flavors, like apple cider caramels in the fall, or lavender in spring. But you can't go wrong with any of them.

What is your favorite cookie?
Is there another cookie besides Uncle Eddie's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip?

What three pre-packaged food items would you take to a desert island?
How about I take all condiments so that any items I scavenge will be delicious? Sriracha, Reduced Fat Olive Oil Flax Vegenaise, and Wildwood Soy Creamer for my morning salt water coffee.

Name a product you would like Veganized?
I think that every vegan baker in the world is crying out for some peanut butter chips to bake with. Tropical Source used to make PB chips and chocolate mint chips and they cruelly stopped producing them over a decade ago, but my heart still yearns. I'd also love a widely available cultured nut-based cheese. Especially a melty one. Oh, and I wish for the soy yogurt famine to end. Sorry, I have a lot of wants.

What are your favorite local and/or online stores for Vegan products?
My local Asian market is pretty great for really fresh produce, sauces and cool rice paper things. And I have to give props to regional chain, Natural Grocers, because when I fill stuff out on their customer request forms, they actually listen.

And that concludes The Laziest Vegans Top Ten. Thanks Isa!

Annie Chun's Spring Vegetable Ramen Soup

I'm always down for ramen! Be it in soup, salad or entree; I love me some ramen. Annie Chun's newest (well, new to me) instant soup, Spring Vegetable Ramen, is a packet of soft ramen with a flavor packet. To fix, all you have to do is warm up the noodles, drain, add the flavor packet along with water and then microwave. Pretty easy and painless.

So, overall the soup is easy to make. One drawback is that you need your own bowl, which can suck if you are at work or not at home. Taste-wise, I was a little disappointed in the flavor of the flavor packet. It had a very dark taste if that makes any sense. I like my broth a little herbier, and this wasn't it. Thankfully, the soft ramen noodles make up for the off flavor.

In closing, I think this is a decent quick soup assuming you have a bowl. Also, I wasn't very impressed by the broth, but it might be more to your liking. Give it a try!