Category: Foods I’ve tried-Foods I Use

I LOVE individually wrapped snacks that I can throw in my purse, keep in my or Kevin’s coat pocket or toss in the secret “under the passenger seat compartment” I have in my Jeep. (Did you even know that’s a thing? I didn’t until I got my Jeep. Kudos to whoever came up with that! But I digress.)

We all know it’s not easy finding “on the go” snacks we like and also meet our dietary needs, but we keep looking. A couple weeks ago, I found a new one in Target. “Made Good Soft Baked Mini Cookies” certified vegan and gluten free, along with a whole lot more certifications!

I bought the cookies. While my two grandsons and I waited for my daughter and granddaughter to check out, I opened the box. I had a package of cookies for myself, and I gave each of the boys one, saying “If these don’t taste good, you can tell me. You won’t hurt my feelings.” The 18-month-old mowed through them. The five-year-old looked at me and said, “Nana, these are isgusting!” (That’s not a typo, he said isgusting – no ‘d’.) Then he proceeded to stuff the remaining cookies in his mouth. I asked, “Then why are you still eating them?” He just smiled. (He’s got a little bit of his dad in him. Likes to yank my chain every once in a while. LOL)

So, there you have it. Our scientific research, conducted in the front lobby of Target – while waiting for Mama and Sissy – with our distinguished panel of three individuals (all with discriminating taste) have reached a consensus for you: These aren’t too bad and they are really handy!

So, you may want to check them out.

Thanks for stopping!

Brenda

Disclaimer:                                 

These recipes and tips are not guaranteed to work or be safe for everyone. Allergies are extremely complicated and vary for each individual. It is still your responsibility to read labels to ensure your safety. I cannot be held liable for any ill effects from using my tips to avoid your allergies. (Sorry guys, I don’t foresee any problems, but Momma’s gotta cover her backside, ya know?) Just read your labels! Do your research!

Soft-Baked Mini Cookies – MadeGoodFoods-USA

Have any of you checked out Meijer’s ‘True Goodness by Meijer dairy free yogurt alternatives’? They are killing it!!

They offer coconut-based, almond-based and oat-based yogurt alternatives, in two different sizes. The 5.3 oz. container sells for $1.29 and the 24 oz. container is $4.49. These not only taste great but look at those prices! Over the years when buying different brands of dairy free yogurts, I’ve sometimes been paying as much as $2.10 for a 5.3 oz and upwards of $7.00 for a 24 oz. dairy free yogurt.

The 5.3 oz. size: I’ve tried all three varieties. I liked each, but there is one stand out. The ‘coconut-based fruit on the bottom tart cherry’ is by far, my favorite. Not only do I love the flavor, but out of the three varieties that ‘True Goodness’ offers, the coconut-based is super thick and creamy; unlike any of the other dairy free yogurts I’ve tried.

So many choices!

The ‘coconut-based fruit on the bottom tart cherry yogurt alternative’. Look at how thick and creamy that is!

‘Plain coconut-based yogurt alternative’ is great for cooking and baking.

The 24 oz. size: For years I’ve used dairy free yogurt alternatives for cooking and baking in place of sour cream. Again, this coconut-based yogurt alternative is super thick and creamy and great to cook and bake with.

Below my disclaimer you can find a link to meijer.com showing the different ‘True Goodness’ brand products. Keep in mind when shopping that ‘True Goodness’ offers non-dairy and dairy products. So read your labels carefully.

Thanks for stopping.

Brenda

Disclaimer:                                 

These recipes and tips are not guaranteed to work or be safe for everyone. Allergies are extremely complicated and vary for each individual. It is still your responsibility to read labels to ensure your safety. I cannot be held liable for any ill effects from using my tips to avoid your allergies. (Sorry guys, I don’t foresee any problems, but Momma’s gotta cover her backside, ya know?) Just read your labels! Do your research!

true goodness yogurt | Meijer

Today I got a call from a friend asking if I had a recipe for a gluten free pie crust.

I had to tell her no, BUT I was able to let her know that I do have a frozen pie crust I love. The ‘Wholly Gluten Free 9″ Pie Shells’ in a 2 pack. They are great to work with, bake beautifully and taste fabulous.

I’m usually able to find them in either Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme or Better Health Stores, but they always seem to be down to the last two or three packages. I always buy at least two, sometimes three. Remember, they’re in the freezer section, and they last for months in the freezer.

I usually make one crust pies, lemon meringue, pumpkin, banana cream or chocolate cream. Lately I’ve gotten a little bolder with two crust pies. I’ve tried my hand at chicken pot pie and just this past week, I made a cherry pie (Kevin’s favorite) for his birthday. When I make a two-crust pie, I brush the top crust with my ‘Smart Balance’ dairy free butter. It comes out a beautiful flaky, golden brown and tastes like you’re eating pastry. Delicious!

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping.

Brenda

(Links for the products are below my disclaimer.)

Home – Wholly Gluten Free

Smart Balance® – Butter Alternatives, Spreads, Oils and Dressings

First I saw a commercial about these non-dairy chocolate truffles. Next, I got a $2 Kroger coupon for them and today when I stopped in the Lake Lansing Rd. Kroger, I found them. And they were on sale! Aaaannnddd…they are fabulous!!

Thank you Lindt!

Thanks for stopping!

Enjoy.
Brenda

Fun Fact: The pic of the chocolate fountain, below, is actually the Lindt chocolate fountain in their Germany factory. Kevin and I toured it eighteen years ago. I LOVE chocolate!

https://www.lindtusa.com/shop-chocolate/non-dairy?srsltid=AfmBOoprmu-s-5JiMw6lJ-Xffl6Jr_VK1yZi8C8qzXZjPI-qgiXGjD4h

Honestly, daring is not the emotion I was feeling that day in the grocery store. It was frustration. Once again I’d hoped I could quickly find a “ready-made frozen something” I could keep in the freezer at work for those days I don’t have leftovers to bring for lunch. Silly girl.

Then, I spied a bag with the name Daring on it. “Daring Breaded Plant Chicken Pieces” to be exact. Now I’ve said it before, I’m not vegan, but ordering vegan in a restaurant assures me that my food has been prepared without dairy or eggs. With that being said, I also want to make it clear that I am not opposed to the occasional meatless burger or chicken nuggets either.

So, I bought the bag and put it in my work freezer. A couple weeks later I took the plunge and warmed several strips up. I wrapped a couple of those puppies up in lettuce with some of my Hellmann’s Vegan Dressing and Spread. I also dipped a couple pieces in spicy mustard and a couple others in bbq sauce with some green beans on the side. Tasted great! Just like regular chicken strips. (I should let you know that Hellman’s recently changed the name from Vegan to Plant Based. I had a friend trying to find the Vegan Hellman’s recently, she called and said she could only find Hellman’s Plant Based; she asked if they were the same product. I did a quick search and discovered the name change. Yes, they are the same product.)

While they’re a bit pricey, I will not hesitate to buy them again. I mean, seriously, when eating foods that comply with your dietary restrictions, what isn’t pricey, right?

So, if you’re feeling daring the next time you’re in the grocery store, take a leap and pick up a bag of the ‘Daring’ brand of meatless chicken strips! You won’t regret it.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping.

Brenda

Links for products below my disclaimer.

Home | Hellmann’s US (hellmanns.com)

Superbowl is a week from today. Giving you a couple quick ideas for your party.

Wholly Veggie! Mozzarella Style Sticks. Vegan and gluten free. These are REALLY good. The “cheese” actually melts. You can cook them in the oven or an air fryer. I found them in Walmart and Kroger, but I don’t think all Kroger stores will have them. (The St. John’s Kroger just did a ‘Last Chance Clearance’ on them). Pretty sure that means, I’ll be shopping for these in Walmart from now on.

Caulipower Chicken Nuggets. Gluten free. So yummy. Even the grandkids liked them. You can cook them in the oven or an air fryer. I found them in Fresh Thyme, Walmart and Meijer. Again, location makes all the difference.

That’s it. Short and to the point. Now, get to the store! Links for both products are below the disclaimer.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping.

Brenda

Disclaimer:                                 

These recipes and tips are not guaranteed to work or be safe for everyone. Allergies are extremely complicated and vary for each individual. It is still your responsibility to read labels to ensure your safety. I cannot be held liable for any ill effects from using my tips to avoid your allergies. (Sorry guys, I don’t foresee any problems, but Momma’s gotta cover her backside, ya know?) Just read your labels! Do your research!

Mozzarella Style Sticks (whollyveggie.com)

All Natural Chicken Nuggets | Gluten Free | CAULIPOWER® (eatcaulipower.com)

Next stop, the Upper Eastside, for a 100% organic, plant-based lunch at ‘Le Botaniste’.

We ordered 3 different ‘half portion’ bowls:

1) Pasta Bolo, a gluten free/vegan version of an Italian pasta and marinara. By far, both my favorite and Kevin’s.

2) The Spicy Chili Sin Carne, just what it sounds like – (kind of), but of course, it’s a gluten free/vegan version of chili, cheese and sour cream. Kevin and I both said this was a distant second. There was just something about the texture that we couldn’t get past.

3) The Tibetan Mama, a combination of brown rice, coconut peanut butter curry, greens and kimchi. Wow! Kevin and I… not fans! Bradley on the other hand said this is one of his favorites.

Along with our half bowls, we also ordered several sides, four of which were spreads.

1.) The roasted beets, which were fabulous. We’ve got to figure out how to make these.

2.) Green Pea Hummus, which was a bit of a let down. Even though I knew it was made with peas, it looked like guacamole and that was what I was expecting – it wasn’t.

3.) The Jackuna, which looked a little like chicken salad. I was excited for this. I’d read about Jack Fruit before but had never tried it. It was okay. I’m glad it was served with crackers!

4.) Turmeric Lemon Hummus – not a fan.

5) Lastly, the Young Coconut Ceviche, a spread of coconut meat, cashew, cilantro, jalapeno and garlic. I do not like cilantro, so one small bite of this was enough for me. Kevin didn’t like it either. Bradley liked everything we ordered.

Bradley has talked about this place for years and was anxious for us to try it. I’m glad we were able to finally to get there.

Link for ‘Le Botaniste’ is below my disclaimer. Thanks for stopping!

Brenda

On a recent trip into East Lansing, I found the O’Doughs Thins Bagels – Vegan. (O’Doughs products are certified gluten free.) I can’t remember if I found them in Fresh Thyme or Kroger. Fortunately, I’m seeing more of the O’Doughs products in many stores, so hopefully they won’t be too difficult for you to find.

I paired the bagel with Violife 100% Vegan “just like Original Cream Cheese” sprinkled with some “Olde Thompson Everything Bagel Seasoning”.

How are the taste and texture? Wow, really good! You got a little chewy going on, just like a regular bagel. The chewy bagel with the Violife “just like Original Cream Cheese” and the Everything Bagel seasoning – delicious. Took me back to my college days, when we’d stop at Bagel Fragel on early morning class days. Nice little bonus: As you can see, these bagels are labeled as “Thins” on the package. That means I can eat both the top and the bottom, feeling satisfied, but not stuffed.

What a nice start to my Saturday morning!

Links for the products can be found below my disclaimer.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping.

Brenda

Disclaimer:                                

These recipes and tips are not guaranteed to work or be safe for everyone. Allergies are extremely complicated and vary for each individual. It is still your responsibility to read labels to ensure your safety. I cannot be held liable for any ill effects from using my tips to avoid your allergies. (Sorry guys, I don’t foresee any problems, but Momma’s gotta cover her backside, ya know?) Just read your labels! Do your research!

https://odoughs.com

https://violifefoods.com/us/