Salad with Grilled Vegetables

The product: I picked up this pre-made salad at Whole Foods. It's a salad that includes that includes feta cheese, garbanzo beans, kalamata olives, grilled vegetables (grilled eggplant, yellow squash, red and green bell peppers, onion) and a lemon wedge. The dressing that is included with the salad is a balsamic vinaigrette.  

 

Salad with grilled vegetables from Whole Foods
 

The taste test: This is a large salad and I had it for dinner. There was an adequate amount of dressing and the salad was very fresh. There's a lot of tartness going on with the feta cheese and the kalamata olives.  The balsamic vinaigrette had an unexpected sweetness. The grilled vegetables sort of take a back seat to the other ingredients, but add texture. 

The verdict:  This is a nice change of pace from the usual salad. Overall, it was very tasty.   

Amy's Gluten Free Baked Ziti Bowl

The product: This bowl is part of Amy's gluten free line and is dairy free as well.  The pasta is actually rice pasta hence the gluten free label. The dairy free cheese is a soy cheese combination. The tomato sauce is made from organic tomatoes and peas are included as well. I purchased the bowl from Whole Foods and I to have at lunch following day. 

Amy's Gluten Free Baked Ziti Bowl

The taste test: Initially I was hesitant to try this product. I assumed that it was going to be dry. I was completely 100% wrong on this one. Upon the first bite the pasta is tender and flavorful. The organic tomato sauce was not too tangy or acidic and Amy's gives a generous portion of it. I could taste each layer of the ingredients from the pasta, peas, sauce and the soy cheese.  The portion was a nice size for lunch.

The verdict: After trying Amy's pasta bowl it made me want to run out and buy rice noodles to make my own baked ziti.  Overall, it has great flavor a great taste and I can't wait to go purchase more Amy's Baked Ziti Bowls. 

Tandoor Chef's Masala Dosa frozen entree

The product:  I grabbed Tandoor Chef's Masala Dosa on a quick trip to Whole Foods.  I love Indian food with its many vegetarian options.  There were four individually wrapped masala dosa in the box with two packs of chutney that required 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave.  The product is not microwave friendly and the preferred method of cooking is a griddle.  I do not have a griddle so I went with option #2 my oven.  The product took an extra 4 minutes in the oven.  It cooked up crispy on the outside and was easy to plate.

 

The taste test: The outer shell was airy and crisp.  The potato, rice and onion filling was hearty, rich and nicely spiced.   The chutney mix of coconut and spices and complimented the masala dosa. 

 

Tandoor Chef's Masla Dosa

The verdict:  I enjoyed Tandoor Chef's Masala Dosa.  Unfortunately, due to the griddle and/or oven cooking methods this is not something I could take for lunch at the office.

Chutney

Amy's Quinoa & Black Beans with Butternut Squash & Chard

The product:  Upon finding this in the frozen section at Whole Foods I had high hopes. I'm no stranger to Quinoa.  I have been eating a lot of butternut squash lately considering the cooler weather. Throw in some black beans and Swiss chard and I was sold!

 

The taste test: I tried this product at lunch today. It heated up nicely in the microwave. It was not fragrant, but within the first bite I knew I needed to pick up a few more. The quinoa, butternut squash and chard were tender. The black beans complimented the dish. 

Amy's Quinoa & Black Beans with Butternut Squash & Chard

 

The verdict:  Amy's hit one out of the park with this simple yet tasty light and lean meal.  Time to go pick up some more of these.

Amy's Roasted Polenta with Swiss Chard

The product:  I came across it at Whole Foods.  Could it be?  Roasted polenta and swiss chard as a frozen entrée?  How could this possibly taste good?  The polenta is made with organic cornmeal and is described as being topped with a vegetable stew that includes mushrooms, organic squash and tomatoes.  The swiss chard is slow-roasted.  



The taste test:  I am no stranger to Amy's products and this is one of the latest that Amy's has added to the vegetarian frozen products line.  The roasted polenta was perfectly creamy, smooth and sweet.  The topping of vegetable stew tasted mostly of tomatoes, but complimented the polenta well.  The swiss chard had a surprisingly fresh taste for a frozen entrée.   

 

Amy's Roasted Polenta with Swiss Chard

The verdict:  I enjoyed this meal and will purchase it again.  It is filling, not too heavy and the chard tasted fresh.  As an added bonus this is one of Amy's Light and Lean products and contains only....wait for it...140 calories!

Le Provencal grilled veggie sandwich by Whole Foods

The product: As part of the rotating sandwich line up at Whole Foods the Le Provencal sandwich ranks among one of my favorites.  Grilled vegetables, Brie cheese and sundried tomato pesto on ciabatta bread make up the Le Provencal sandwich.

The taste test: The sundried tomato pesto is sweet and the Brie has a creamy texture that blends well.  The grilled vegetables which give the sandwich its slight crunch include eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, onions and red and green peppers.  The vegetables are seasoned with olive oil, spices, balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard and this combination of flavors works incredibly well.

 

Le Provencal veggie sandwich by Whole Foods

The verdict:  Whole Foods' Le Provencal grilled veggie sandwich is absolutely delicious.  At first the sandwich may seem simple, but the layers of flavor prove otherwise.  It is highly recommended!    

Amy's Vegetable Parmesan Bowl review

The product: I happened across a new bowl from Amy's in the frozen section of Whole Foods.  I purchased the Vegetable Parmesan Bowl for lunch at work the next day.  It is described as a ratatouille of vegetables and organic brown rice.  The bowl is gluten free.

The taste test: The eggplant, onions and mushrooms seemed to be cooked to a mushy texture.  The broccoli and green beans stood out as far as what I tasted the most. The tomato sauce was tangy, but the cheese was lacking.  The portion was a good size for lunch.

The verdict: I will purchase Amy's Vegetable Parmesan Bowl again.  When compared to other Amy's Bowls I feel the vegetable parmesan ranks on the low end as far as taste.

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