Veggie Bits
"Into the Wild" of Mushroom Ravioli
Lightlife Foods introduced two varieties of vegan filled pasta: Wild Mushroom Ravioli and Veggie Sausage Ravioli. The Wild Mushroom option is filled with a blend of tasty portabella and porcini mushrooms along with breadcrumbs. The mushrooms are impressive, not chewy, and could be easily mistaken as never frozen. Thyme is the dominant seasoning but not overpowering. The bag contains one decently sized portion with 390 calories, 14 g of protein, along with relatively high sodium at 740 mg. The Veggie Sausage Ravioli is filled with vegan sausage, roasted red pepper, kale, and vegan mozzarella cheese. A serving contains 540 calories, 19 g of protein, and 600 mg of sodium. Lightlife's ravioli cook in just three minutes and don't include sauce. The ravioli are very thin and perfect with a light drizzle of virgin olive oil or tomato sauce. Lightlife's vegan pastas are available at Safeway, ShopRite, and Wegmans, and can be found elsewhere using the product locator at www.lightlife.com.
Written by Griffin Stein, VRG Intern.
So Delicious® and So Many Flavors
So Delicious® offers a variety of creamy vegan frozen desserts. The new flavors we tasted were either cashew milk- or coconut milk-based. The Peachy Maple Pecan feels like home, with the sweetness of a peach cobbler and a bit of a pecan pie. Some reviewers felt the peach didn't come off as fresh and was less pronounced; however, the overall flavor was still good. As for the Toasted Coconut Key Lime, one reviewer commented, "It's really good; tastes how it's described with full flavor from lime and coconut pieces." Another tester said, "Coming from someone who loves fresh key lime pies, I find the lime almost overpowering like a zesty lime candy but missing the complementing crust I'm accustomed to." The Chocolate Drizzled Banana Foster was the definite reviewer favorite. There are small chocolate chunks, and the banana is very smooth. If you're not buying this flavor in a gallon bucket, you're doing it wrong! As for the Blueberry Cardamom flavor, there are blueberry bits, but some found the spice combination a bit odd. Others found this flavor the least complex. Lastly, the Cold Brew Coffee tastes like a lightly sweetened iced coffee made with a light roast. It feels awakening; however, it is a bit bitter, especially in comparison to the others. Available at stores including The Fresh Market, Giant, ShopRite, Target, and Wegmans.
Written by Griffin Stein,VRG Intern.
Bailey's Almande Almond Milk Liqueur
For vegans of age to imbibe, the first almond milk liqueur is here and available at many neighborhood liquor stores. Bailey's Almande opens with a light aroma. The flavor is nutty with a sweet vanilla undertone and creamy without becoming cloying, like spiked almond milk. Bailey's recommends enjoying Almande chilled or over ice. It's excellent in traditional Irish coffee or hot chocolate, too. For a refreshing twist, try Bailey's Almande mixed with coconut water, in an adult smoothie with your favorite fruits, with vodka for a martini, or look up a recipe for vegan horchata. Bailey's Almande doesn't stop there, though. It's also tasty in desserts. I puréed a splash with frozen bananas and almond butter for a sophisticated Nice Cream. If you're serving brunch, add some to vegan cheesecake (this was amazing!) or mix it with maple syrup to serve over waffles and French toast. I liked it served over vegan brownies, too, as well as in a Green Tea Almande High Ball (chilled green tea, sparkling water, and Almande over ice). Find Bailey's Almande at liquor stores or get info online at www.baileys.com/en-us/flavors/baileys-almande.html.
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor.
