Posts Tagged ‘organic’
almond, Chocolate, Coconut Milk, Food, Frozen bars, frozen coconut milk, frozen dessert, non-dairy, organic, So Delicious, vegan
In Good Eats, Recently Reviewed on July 25, 2014 at 1:07 pm
During the hot summer, there’s nothing our family enjoys more than retiring to the garden after dinner for a frozen dessert. Well, if we’re talking about these frozen dessert bars it’s easy to make any excuse to take a cool break. And since they’re dairy-free, we can all indulge in this treat every now and again.
So Delicious Mini Coconut Almond Bars As soon as we spotted these dairy-free beauties in the freezer section, we grabbed them. On closer examination my daughter noticed the NON GMO and Certified Vegan product labels, and into our cart they went.
PRODUCT NOTES From the first bite, the taste and smell of coconut was unmistakable. No watered-down flavouring here. Simply top-quality frozen coconut milk generously dipped in a crunchy and delicious chocolate-almond coating. They reminded me of my earlier dairy-filled days in terms of flavour but easily top their fat-filled competitors and pack a mere 180 calories per bar. BOTTOM LINE These bars are keepers. An amazing organic, non-dairy treat like this really has no comparison. To be honest, we weren’t really sure we’d like frozen coconut milk but now that we know how good they really are we can’t wait to try other offerings by So Delicious.
Baking, Coconut oil, crumble, Fruit, nut free, organic, strawberries, vegan
In Food, Glorious Food, Recipes on June 4, 2014 at 2:39 pm
My husband visited a strawberry farm earlier the other day so when I arrived home I discovered he had plunked two containers of fresh strawberries on the counter that needed tending to. Strawberries are one of the fruits that can be quite toxic, so always go for organic. Although I don’t always list “organic” as part of my ingredient list to save space (and I’m a lazy typist), it’s always implied as you’d be hard pressed to find non-organic ingredients in my home!
Now I’ve never made crumbles before and didn’t realize it was so easy! Apparently the trick is to not over mix the crumble part. I literally just threw this together on the fly and was quite pleased with the results. Perhaps it was beginners luck.
Vegan Strawberry-Coconut Crumble
Ingredients
3 cups fresh strawberries, roughly chopped
Mix together
3 tbsp coconut sugar
3 tsp vanilla
3 tsp water
Mix together
4 oz whole wheat or gluten-free flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
2 tbsp coconut sugar
4 tbsp shredded coconut
4 oz rolled oats
4 oz coconut oil (melted)
Method
Chop strawberries and line bottom of baking or casserole dish. Mix sugar, vanilla and water together until sugar dissolves. Pour over berries. Mix flour, baking power, sugar, coconut and oats with fork until blended. Add melted coconut oil and stir until crumble forms being careful not to over mix. Top berries with mixture and bake in preheated 350°F oven until crumble is browned and fruit is bubbling. Approx. 20 mins. Enjoy!
Costco, countless benefits, Food, Health, healthy eating, Hemp, Mango Coconut, Natural product, organic, protein, protein bars, Shandiz Natural Foods, super foods, vegan
In Good Eats, Recently Reviewed on May 28, 2014 at 10:01 am
In case you’ve missed the news on the super foods front, hemp has long been touted for its amazing nutritive value and countless benefits. There are so many products available now — from the original hemp hearts, hemp cereals, hemp milks and many things more. If you’ve been reluctant to try hemp, here’s an easy entry into healthy eating.
True to Nature bars made by Shandiz Natural Foods.
My daughter was the first to spot these bars in the snack aisles at Costco. Since we love anything hemp in our household and we’re big eaters of organic granola bars — we snapped them up to try right away. PRODUCT NOTES It’s hard to believe that something that tastes this good can also be good for you and so rich in protein! With yummy flavours like Peanut & Peanut Butter; Mango Coconut; and Chocolate Banana – who can resist such decadence? BOTTOM LINE Words of warning: can’t stop eating these. Once you try them, you’ll be hooked, too.
Cheese, Dairy, dairy-free, Daiya, Daiya Cream Cheese, Food, gluten-free, Gluten-free diet, Home, Lactose intolerance, organic, soy-free, vegan
In Good Eats, Recently Reviewed on November 20, 2013 at 11:08 am
Giving up dairy has been a journey in itself. At first, we went all organic and lately have tried to go entirely dairy-free. Sure we all love cheese in our family and didn’t think we could go without. Funny though, I thought I could still have a bit of cheese now and again – after all, I was the only one in our family who wasn’t lactose intolerant. And who can resist the occasional slice of pizza? Well I’ve been surprised to discover that dairy doesn’t agree with me now – after eating it, I suddenly suffer anything from congestion to stomach cramps, thank you very much.
Daiya Cream Cheese style spread. 
I’d heard about Daiya products from other vegans, so I when I saw this dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free cream cheese style spread, I thought why not give it a try? The chive and onion flavour is our favourite particularly on fresh bagels (yes, some old habits die hard). We tried the strawberry one but it got a definite thumbs down from my daughter for being too sweet. PRODUCT NOTES Looks and tastes like the real thing. Regular cream cheese eaters will be surprised how realistic it is. BOTTOM LINE Some fake cheese products have a funny aftertaste and people I know have complained about headaches after eating them. So limit your intake, and don’t go overboard. As my Grandfather used to say, “everything in moderation.”
Almond meal, Bake, Baking, cocoa, Cocoa solids, Coconut oil, cookies, Flax, Halloween, Icing (food), Measuring cup, organic, Sugar, vegan
In Food, Glorious Food, Recipes on October 31, 2013 at 11:36 am
Happy Halloween! Don’t be a scaredy cat. Go ahead and try this delicious recipe — it makes a wonderful vegan cookie batter that can be whipped up for any occasion.
For these spooky skeleton cookies, I used a standard (approx. 3-inch) gingerbread cookie cutter to make the bodies and then iced them to fill in the bones. Have fun!
Cocoa Almond Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Beat together
¾ cup coconut sugar
¾ cup coconut oil or vegan shortening
Add
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (or 1 egg substitute)
1 tsp vanilla
Mix together
2 cups whole wheat flour
¼ cup almond flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Icing
Mix together
2 ½ cups icing sugar
3 tbsp soy, almond or hemp milk
Method
Beat sugar and coconut oil. Add flax egg and vanilla until combined. Separately mix dry ingredients then stir into sugar mixture in two additions to make smooth dough. Divide dough in half and refrigerate discs about 1 hour until firm. Can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight.
On lightly floured surface, roll out each disc to ¼-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake in preheated 350°F oven until edges darken (approx. 18 to 20 mins.) Cool on racks.
To make icing, mix icing sugar with milk to make a smooth icing that can be piped using a piping bag with small plain tip.
Chickpea, Falafel, Food, Food and Related Products, gluten-free, Hummus, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, organic, Pita, Tahini, vegan, Vegetarian
In Good Eats, Recently Reviewed on October 3, 2013 at 10:51 am
While I’ve always enjoyed eating falafels, some friends have said that when they have falafel, they feel awful. Not so with these tasty little bites. So grab a pita or wrap and assemble your favorite salads, dips or stuffings together, and get ready to enjoy a lovely Mediterranean meal.
Sol Cuisine Organic Falafel
We’ve tried many different varieties of falafel over the years – from the mix your own kits to the pre-made variety. So far, these are the best we’ve found plus they’re organic. Perhaps it’s because they use organic ingredients they taste better! PRODUCT NOTES They look more like little pucks than veggie balls but have an authentic taste and include an organic tahini sauce – something you don’t see everyday. Having a bake option also means they’re far less greasy than the fried ones. BOTTOM LINE As a busy mom, I can’t stress how great it is to find quality organic foods you can keep in your freezer. It’s a wonderful convenience to be able to whip up a nutritious meal quickly and easily that you know your family will enjoy.
Apple, Baking, Bird, Food, Fruit, Home and Garden, organic, vegan
In Food, Glorious Food, Recipes on September 30, 2013 at 8:49 am
Call me old-fashioned but I love the feeling of satisfaction one gets from making things yourself. So you can imagine my delight when my husband decided to harvest apples from our own backyard. We’ve had two old apple trees since we moved into our house some 15 years ago. Not sure what variety they are. The local birds and squirrels have always been happy to make short work of them. Not this time though, we beat them to it.
According to my better half — this is as organic as it gets although I figured they’d be wormy from neglect and well past their prime. Much to my surprise, all eleven of the apples harvested were actually quite fine and tasty, too. Have apples? Make cake.
Apple Almond Cake
Ingredients
Beat together
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water (or 2 eggs)
2 tsp vanilla
Mix together
1 ¾ cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup almond flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp fresh ground nutmeg
Add dry ingredients to sugar mixture until well combined. Stir in
4 cups apples (peeled, cored and chopped)
¼ cup sliced almonds
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare oblong baking pan. Beat sugar, coconut oil, flax eggs and vanilla until combined. Mix dry ingredients then add to sugar mixture. Stir in apples and almonds. Smooth into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven until golden, about 40 minutes. Cool in pan about 10 mins. Sprinkle with icing sugar if desired.
Baking, Cake, Chocolate, Confectionery, Cookies and Cream, Cream filled, Cupcake, Food, Lavendar, nut free, organic, Vanilla, vegan
In Good Eats, Recently Reviewed on September 16, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Sweets from the Earth has done it again by adding their own vegan offerings to the plethora of choices out there in the current cupcake rage. Beautifully decorated, these cupcakes could easily sit beside any bakery version but are ideal for anyone wishing to avoid nuts, dairy, eggs and all the other additives found in many mainstream baked goods.
Sweets from the Earth Nut Free Cupcakes The variety package of four caught my eye as I was perusing the dessert section in the freezer of my local health food store. PRODUCT NOTES Although the combinations vary each cupcake has distinctly different flavours: Lavender packs an unexpected lavender punch in the icing atop a chocolate cupcake (personally I prefer my lavender in soap but it was surprisingly good); Cookies ‘n’ Cream tasted more like mocha coffee but was delicious nonetheless; Cream Filled features a dense chocolate brownie-like cake with an equally lovely glaze; Vanilla was the plain Jane of the bunch but not without its merits. BOTTOM LINE Although a bit on the sweet side for my liking, they certainly are less sugary than confections you’ll find elsewhere and definitely made with higher quality organic ingredients. Definitely splurge and special-occasion worthy. Invent an excuse.
Apple, Cooking, Egg, Flax, Food, Fruit, Health, Muffin, organic, Sunflower Seed, vegan, Whole-wheat flour
In Food For Thought, Food, Glorious Food, Recipes on August 6, 2013 at 9:36 am
Recently I submitted a muffin recipe to a national competition that claimed to be looking for new and innovative products. Ironically, the moment I mentioned to the taster that my muffins were organic and vegan, he glazed over and quickly became dismissive. “People want full fat, full sugar indulgences.” Seriously? His words are still ringing in my ears.
It was clear he wasn’t the least bit interested. Guess he wasn’t accustomed to tasting anything made from whole wheat flour! Despite this competition being hosted by a major grocery chain with their own line of organics, he obviously didn’t get the memo that some people are actually interested in healthy living. Sadly though, I think the majority of large grocers are more about making a profit from enlightened shoppers than being committed to offering consumers better food choices. Why else would they continue to sell GM foods and all the other processed junk you find disguised as food? Until consumers speak out, we’ll continue to be told what we want and what we can buy.
But I digress. Be your own judge and try these vegan muffins. They’re quick and easy to make plus you can substitute different fruit or fruit-and-nut combinations to suit depending on what’s in season.
Caramelized Apple-Blackberry and Sunflower Seed Muffins
Caramelized Apple-Blackberry and Sunflower Seed Muffins
Ingredients
To caramelize fruit, sauté on low heat
2 tbsp each coconut oil and coconut sugar
2 cups apples peeled, cored and chopped
½ cup blackberries
Mix together
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup sunflower seeds
½ cup coconut sugar
3 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch fresh ground nutmeg
Whisk together
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
3 tbsp water
Add
1 cup hemp milk (almond or soy can also be used)
¼ cup safflower oil (or other vegetable oil)
1 tsp vanilla
Method
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 12 medium-size muffin cups. To caramelize fruit, melt coconut oil and sugar over low heat until they become liquid. Add apples and berries cooking until soft. Remove from heat and let cool. Can be made ahead of time. Mix dry ingredients. Whisk together flaxseed and water to create egg substitute then add remaining liquid ingredients. Add liquid mixture to dry stirring until just combined. Fold in fruit. Fill muffin cups and bake in preheated oven until golden, about 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
breakfast, cereal, chia seeds, Costco, Cranberry Vanilla, Food, Genetically modified organism, GMO, Hemp, hemp seeds, Natural product, Nature's Path, organic, Shopping, superfood, Vegetarian
In Good Eats, Recently Reviewed on July 9, 2013 at 1:02 pm
We’re big cereal eaters in our home and have come to enjoy many of the organic and non-GMO varieties that Nature’s Path makes. And anytime we see something new and organic at Costco, we’re quick to snap it up, as it’s often less expensive than at the health food store.
Qu’i Superfood – Chia, Buckwheat & Hemp cereal in Cranberry Vanilla by Nature’s Path $15.49, Costco. 
Hemp and chia seeds have already made their way into our home, as we continue to discover their many uses, so we were eager to see how this cereal measured up. PRODUCT NOTES As soon as you open the bag, a wonderful waft of vanilla greets your nose. The cereal itself is just as flavourful but you have to wait and let the seeds soak unless you want to crack a tooth. BOTTOM LINE My picky teenager absolutely loves it mixed with almond yogurt while I like to use it as a cereal topping since the recommended amount seems a tad skimpy to me for a proper breakfast on it’s own. But if you’re looking for quick convenience and are the type who rushes each morning in a mad dash to get out the door, you might find this cereal a bit hard to chew.
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old sage hands 