Tofurky BBQ Chick'n Pockets

The product: I purchased the Tofurky Pockets from Whole Foods. Tofurky kept it simple - Tofurky and barbeque sauce wrapped in whole grain pocket. The suggested cook time is 1 minute 45 second to 2 minutes in the microwave which is similar to non-vegetarian pockets. 

The taste test: At first these Tofurky BBQ Chick'n Pockets sounded tasty, but I feel something is missing. The whole grain pocket was dry and chewy. The Tofurky was good and the texture was chunky as to imitate chunks of barbeque chicken.  The sauce was sweet, smoky, fragrant and overall had a nice tangy barbeque flavor. 

The verdict: I feel that the Tofurky Pocket needs more sauce, less Tofurky chunks, an additional ingredient such as red onions and the whole grain wrap needs work.  Overall, it is a good idea, but there is room for improvement.

 

 

Whole Foods Buffalo Garlic Tofu

The salad bar at Whole Foods is a revolving bar of various vegetarian items.  Buffalo Garlic Tofu is one of many tofu dishes that are often featured. This garlicky flavored tofu is potent enough to keep the vampires away and the Spanish onions amplify the flavor. If you love garlic, onions and tofu try some next time you visit your local Whole Foods. 

Want to make your own Buffalo Garlic Tofu?  You can find the Whole Foods recipe here: Buffalo Garlic Tofu Recipe



Buffalo Garlic Tofu, Black Bean and Corn Salad
and Pasta Salad with Feta from Whole Foods

Lite Lime Dressing from Newman's Own

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know how much I am enjoying this salad dressing. I purchased the dressing at my local Publix. Newman's Own Lite Lime Dressing is light, tart and has just the right amount of lime. I prefer salty over sweet and this dressing went beyond my expectations. I cannot even tell that it's lacking in calories because it's definitely not lacking in flavor. Two tablespoons = 60 calories.

Newman's Own Foundation gives ALL after-tax profits to charities throughout the U.S. and around the globe. Over $370 million has been donated to thousands of charities since 1982. Sadly, its founder Paul Newman passed in 2008. His line of food products, generosity and legacy live on. The Italian newspaper L'Osservatore Romano upon Paul Newman's death commented that "Newman was a generous heart, an actor of a dignity and style rare in Hollywood quarters."

Vegetarian BBQ Wrap from Whole Foods

Whole Foods has a revolving assortment of vegetarian wraps and sandwiches.  If you're lucky to visit on the day that they have their Vegetarian BBQ Wraps grab a couple.

The wrap has lettuce, caramelized onions, soy chicken chunks and barbecue sauce wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla.  The barbecue sauce has a sweet and smoky flavor.  The soy chicken is chunky, but maybe a little too firm.  Overall, the portion was filling and the flavors worked together extremely well.  The Vegetarian BBQ Wrap was a nice change of pace.  I wish Whole Foods would make these more often.

Pick up this delicious wrap at Whole Foods

 

 

Starbucks' Hearty Veggie & Brown Rice Salad Bowl

Head to your local Starbucks and pick up their latest vegetarian friendly creation.  I stopped by on my way to work and the new Hearty Veggie & Brown Rice Salad Bowl caught my eye. 



Starbucks' Hearty Veggie& Brown Rice Salad Bowl

At lunch time I inspected the "bowl."  Wow... there is a lot going on with this bowl and it is packed with veggies. It includes brown rice, butternut squash, broccoli, peas, roasted beets, kale, red cabbage and roasted tomatoes and a lemon tahini dressing to top everything off.

The tartness of the lemony dressing and kale are balanced by the sweetness of the peas and butternut squash.  The cabbage provides a nice crunch and the brown rice is sure to leave you feeling satisfied.  Did you know that brown rice has six times the fiber of white rice?

Overall, the bowl was very filling and I had some leftovers.  I would have liked a bit more dressing, but what a great medley of flavors and textures!   

 

 



Pick up this budget friendly salad at Whole Foods

Just a quick note...

I found this gorgeous salad at my local Whole Foods for $2.50.  It is a nice portion and comes with a cilantro/lime dressing.  The dressing is delicious and is just enough for the portion size.  This is definitely a great deal for what you get. 

What is in it?

Romaine lettuce

Red bell pepper

Green bell pepper

Black Beans

Tomato

Cheese

Red Onion

Raw Organic Coconut Water by Harmless Harvest

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

During my recent visit to Whole Foods there was a nice lady handing out samples of Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Coconut Water.  I am no stranger to drinking green coconut water right out of the coconut.  I was pleasantly surprised at how this coconut water had that SAME taste.  You may find that many of the different brands of coconut waters are very sweet.  If you have not had fresh green coconut water then you may not realize there is a BIG difference in the taste.  After tasting this coconut water I was sold and grabbed a couple bottles.

This product is from young, fresh, coconuts that are grown on small organic farms in Thailand.  The coconut trees grow over 100 feet high.  A harvester will climb up a ladder and lower the coconuts down with a rope to a canal.  A gatherer will load the clusters of coconuts into a small boat and deliver them to a truck which in turn takes them for processing. 

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

During processing thousands of pounds of pressure is applied to the product.  This process is used to kill harmful bacteria without the need for heat.  This end product is 100% organic coconut water with only 56 calories per bottle.  Coconut water has electrolytes, magnesium, potassium and calcium and is a great way to get rehydrated. 

I highly recommend Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Coconut Water.  I believe it is the best tasting coconut water that you can buy.

Pineapple Cucumber drink by It Tastes RAAW

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

When I stumble upon a cucumber drink I had to try it.  I purchased It Tastes RAAW's Pineapple Cucumber drink for $2.99 at my local South Florida Whole Foods.  It Tastes RAAW strives to create unique fruit and vegetable juice blends.  The ingredients that make up this drink are pineapple juice, cucumber puree and apple juice.  The drink is 100% natural and no water, sugar or preservatives are added. 

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

I expected the drink to be much sweeter than it actually was.  Upon first sip I tasted more of the apple juice than the pineapple juice.  I could certaintly taste the cucumber puree as well.  This product has the right blend to give it the refreshing cucumber flavor I would expect from a drink like this.

It Tastes RAAW's Pineapple Cucumber drink has 120 calories and there are about 1 and 1/2 servings per bottle. Although the bottle reads "very perishable" I found that this keeps longer than other natural juices I have tried. Also, just a side note that this product is gluten free, kosher and vegan friendly as well.  

It Tastes RAAW has other unique juices such as Cranberry Ginger and Raspberry Lemongrass.  You will find a complete list of their other flavors here.

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Meatless Sloppy Joes by Gardein

 

Gardein has introduced their All American (meatless) Sloppy Joes.  The packaging advertised "ready in minutes" and "easy."  I grabbed a pack of the meatless sloppy joes, some buns and headed home.  The package suggests to microwave the soy, but you can saute it if you prefer.  I tried the microwave option.  There are two servings in the pack at 190 calories per serving.  As you will see below each serving is packaged separately.  I emptied the soy crumbles and sauce into a microwave safe bowl, stirred and cooked on high for 2 minutes.  Voila!  Stir the mixture again and place on a bun.  Wow that was quick, but do the sloppy joes taste good?  Yes, Gardein got the flavor and texture that you would expect with sloppy joes right.  The sauce is more sweet than tangy and the soy had good texture and flavor.  Too easy!

Gardein Sloppy Joes are $3.99 at my local South Florida Whole Foods.

 

 

 

Kennesaw 100% Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Kennesaw Orange Juice is 100% fresh squeezed, but does it really have that "fresh squeezed" taste?  What makes it different from other brands of orange juice? I purchased a 16oz bottle from Whole Foods.  There are two servings per bottle with 120 calories per serving. It has the taste that I would expect from fresh squeezed orange juice.  This juice has a high pulp content with no preservatives, no fillers and is not overly acidic.  Kennesaw uses oranges from their own groves which are hand sorted.  The juice is cold processed to ensure a fresh squeezed flavor. Other brands use a standard pasteurization which means a longer shelf life, but the juice looses the fresh squeezed flavor.  Kennesaw advises that there will always be a variation of flavor with the juices.  They use Florida oranges year round with some California oranges added at certain times of the year to maintain sweetness.  Be sure to check the expiration date on these because they expire quickly, 17 days from extraction to be exact.  A sign of fresh squeezed juice is the natural separation of juice and pulp.  Shake well and enjoy.    

Vegetarian Times 2012 Foodie Awards: Vote!

Help Vegetarian Times choose what vegetarian products are on top for their 2012 foodie awards.  Go to the VT site and fills out a short form.  After voting you will be entered to win a $250.00 Whole Foods gift card.
The survey took me less than five minutes to complete.

Glaser Organic Farms: Raw Vegan Mango Salsa

Of all the mango salsas out there, this one by Glaser Organic Farms is by far my favorite.  Glaser Organic Farms is a certified organic grower based in Miami, Florida.  Glaser has a line of organic raw vegan foods.  I purchase their salsas at my local South Florida Whole Foods.

Photo by: Thatsillygirl

Glaser's mango salsa is a little spicy and I could taste the jalapenos from the first bite.  I am not one for spicy foods, but the salsa was not too spicy.  After a few more bites I could taste the layers of flavors.  Glaser uses organic ingredients which include red onion, cilantro, sea salt, pepper, lemon juice, jalapenos and of course mangoes to make this salsa.  The mango salsa is fresh and incredibly good.

Photo by: Thatsillygirl

Naked 100% Juice Smoothie: Blue Machine

I have seen Naked brand juice smoothies at Whole Foods and at my local Starbucks.  I decided to try the Blue Machine smoothie. Naked Boosted 100% Juice Smoothies are natural with no added sugars.  If you are trying to get more fiber into your diet the Blue Machine has 13 grams.  High fiber foods keep you feeling full longer.  This smoothie has 170 calories per serving and the bottle holds 2 servings so that is 340 calories total. Blue Machine is packed with vitamins. Naked has reduced calories smoothies as well.  

Photo by: ThatSillyGirl

The taste test...I was concerned that the smoothie would taste chalky. This was not the case at all. The Blue Machine juice smoothie was not too thick and perfectly sweet. Upon my first sip I tasted the blueberries and bananas. I enjoyed the smoothie for breakfast and it kept me feeling full until lunch time. This was a nice change from my usual breakfast of Greek yogurt or oatmeal.  I have since then tried the Green Machine which is very tasty and I am excited to try the other flavors.

Photo by: ThatSillyGirl

Veggie Xpress: Local Food Truck

I decided to check out a local food truck called Veggie Xpress.  Out of the many options on their menu I ordered the Veggie-Saurus burger, a vegan friendly burger, with a side of yuca fries.  The burger came with greens, tomato and a pickle on the side.  A nice portion of a vegan spread was served on the side as well.  The wheat bun held up nicely considering this was a hefty veggie burger and more importantly the burger did not fall apart as some do.

Next the yuca...yuca is a root vegetable that when fried is similar to a french fry.  I have found that many places overcook yuca.  Veggie Xpress prepared the yuca nicely and served it with a side of garlic oil/sauce.  It was crispy, but needed a little salt.

Overall, the food was good and the service was fast.  I will visit the Veggie Xpress food truck again. 

Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer

I had been looking for a primer type product and was excited to try Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer.  The Photoready Perfecting Primer smooths pores and fills in lines and wrinkles.  The bottle explains that you can use it alone or under foundation.  This primer is an odorless, slightly pink cream and goes on almost invisible, but giving a matte look. 

I start with a clean face and apply a moisturizer first.  If you have dry skin like me a moisturizer is important or this product will highlight any dry patches  Next, I apply the primer all over as I would foundation.  Be sure to spread it on fast because it dries quickly.  It is light and I cannot even tell I am wearing it once its applied.  I then apply concealer under my eyes and powder.  That is it - no foundation needed for me since the primer smooths and covers.  Also, my concealer does not end up highlighting under eye wrinkles because the primer fills these in. 

Overall, this primer does what it claims to do and works on my dry, fair skin.  If you have underlying redness to your skin you may want to try the Photoready Color Correcting Primer instead.

www.revlon.com     

Tofurky Chorizo Style Meatless Crumbles

Tofurky is such a wonderful meatless, vegan and kosher product.  I could not resist trying the chorizo style meatless crumbles.  I grabbed a pack and went home to make tacos.  I emptied the contents of the pack into a pan and browned the crumbles.  The soy crumbles were heavily coated in a red sauce and I recognized the smell of "taco flavored" seasoning.  I prepared the tacos and took a bite...the crumbles had a good chorizo taste and texture.  This product is not overly spicy, so I recommend it for kids as well.  What you see in my pan below is one pack which makes a lot. There is no need to add salt or any other seasoning as the soy is thoroughly seasoned.  The soy tacos were tasty, easy to prepare and budget friendly as well. 

Photos by ThatSillyGirl

Wallaby Organic Greek Lowfat Yogurt: So incredibly good!

With the Greek yogurt craze and so many brands to choose from which do you prefer?  I have tried many bands, but my top two for the longest time have been Chobani and Fage.  Recently, I discovered Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt.  The cup has two compartments with one side for the fruit and the other for the yogurt.  While most have a thick creamy consistency, Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt is not so thick.  The texture is thinner, velvety, cool, smooth and creamy.  The fruit and other ingredients are organic along with the organic milk from local family farms.  You can taste the quality.  This Greek yogurt stands up and demands to be different.  After a couple bites of this wonderful yogurt I was sold.  It is now my number one favorite Greek yogurt.  Try it in blueberry, strawberry, cherry, honey or plain.  You can find it in natural & specialty food stores.  I purchase my Wallaby Organic Greek yogurt at Whole Foods. 

Wallaby also offers organic yogurt options such as Australian style lowfat and nonfat yogurts.

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme: Five Stars!

I have dry skin and wanted a foot cream that really worked. This product caught my eye because of its many positive online reviews.  Check them out for yourself and you will find page after page of five star reviews and people raving about Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme. So, when I happened upon the creme at The Fresh Market I had to try it.  $9.00 seemed like a small price to pay for the 4.34 oz tube and seemingly endless positive reviews.  

While most foot creams have a strong peppermint smell, Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme has a tropical coconut smell with a hint of peppermint.  It is made with coconut oil, olive oil and other natural ingredients.  The texture feels less like a creme and more like a thick concentrated paste.  I followed the directions and applied the product before bed and covered my feet with socks.  Many of the reviewers noticed a difference within a few days.  After just a couple days of using the creme I was amazed that I really could feel and see a difference.  I have been using the foot creme every other day for a couple weeks and the tube still seems almost full.  A little goes a long way with this creme.    

Overall, Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme does not disappoint...I highly recommend trying it for yourself! 

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Rob's Really Good Swirling Cucumber Drink

I picked up a couple bottles of Rob's Really Good which were on sale for $1.00 at Whole Foods.  There were several flavors including teas to choose from and the Swirling Cucumber peaked my interest.  The color of the drink was almost clear with a hint of light green. I flipped the bottle around and not only was there cucumber, but also pear juice, celery juice, sweet potato juice, carrot juice and spinach juice all in one bottle.  Wow, that is a lot of different combined flavors and what possibly could this drink taste like?

The answer...Swirling Cucumber is a light, not too sweet and refreshing drink.  I suggest you enjoy it very cold.  I could taste the cucumber and celery along with the sweetness of cane sugar and sweet potato juice.  It is 50 calories per serving totaling 100 calories per bottle.  Rob's Really Good is also fair trade certified.

I am going back to Whole Foods and grab a couple more flavors while these are still on sale.

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Yves Veggie Deli Salami

As I browsed Whole Foods I noticed that Yves Veggie Deli Salami was on sale two for $5.00.  I had been wanting to try a meatless salami and this was a deal I could not pass up.  I grabbed two packs and headed home.  The texture, flavor and look is very salami-like and the slices are thin.  Yves Veggie Deli Salami has 80 calories per 5 slices.  This product is vegan as well.  One downside is that the pack does not seal back up after you open it.  I will purchase it again and look forward to trying other Yves deli slices.

Yves also offers other meatless deli slices such as bologna, ham, roast beef and more!  You can check out their meatless products here.