Veggie Bits

SO Delicious released a new line of creamy cashew milk beverages that are soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and vegan. With only 35 calories per serving, this milk provides a whopping 60% of the RDA for vitamin B12, and 35% for vitamin D. Pour over cereal, use as a smoothie base, or drink it by itself. The cashew milk is sold in shelf-stable quarts. It is available in two flavors: Unsweetened Original and Unsweetened Vanilla.

To learn more, visit their website at http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/. To request So Delicious Cashew Milk at your local store, fill out the request form via this link: http://bit.ly/MLSfcb.

Ola Granola is a good source of fiber that kids and adults can enjoy plain by the handful, as cereal with milk, or as a yogurt topping. It is hand-baked, soy- and gluten-free, certified vegan, non-GMO, and kosher. It contains no trans fats while also being low in sugar, fat, and sodium. Ola Granola comes in four delicious flavors: Vanilla Almond, Cranberry Orange Pecan, No Nut Vanilla, and Chocolate Banana Chip. It is sold in several convenient forms: a 9 oz. resealable family pack, 3 lb. bulk bag, 16 oz. gift jars, or 1 oz. grab-'n-go singles, which are perfect for the kids' lunch boxes. You can find Ola Granola in supermarkets nationwide or order online at www.olafoods.com. All net profits are donated to the BeFoundation, whose mission is to support and improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged students and their communities.

From the makers of Earth Balance, whose buttery spreads you may already know, comes Vegan Aged White Cheddar Flavor Puffs! These 'cheese' puffs are completely vegan, gluten-free, and do not include trans fats or GMOs. They're made with USA-grown corn and have a navy-bean base, making them the perfect crunchy snack.

Earth Balance has successfully improved the vegan snack food market with these puffs, creating a distinctly real white cheddar flavor without any of the 'fake' vegan cheese taste you may be expecting.

Whether you're packing them for lunches, snacking at the office, or munching them during a movie, it's hard to stop once you get started with these puffs.

For more information and a list of retailers, visit http://www.earthbalancenatural.com.

Making a vegan quesadilla can go from exciting to disappointing quickly. The ever-widening array of vegan cheeses all promise melty goodness while so few deliver.

Follow Your Heart's Vegan Gourmet Shreds will not let you down. Not only will your quesadillas be oozing with 'cheese,' the Fiesta Blend (with cheddar and pepperjack) adds a spicy kick to your Mexican-inspired dishes. Mozzarella and Cheddar are offered as well, meaning that the possibilities are endless. The shreds are dairy-, gluten-, and soy-free, all possessing impressive melty-ness to take your favorite vegan dishes to the next level: try topping kidney beans with the cheddar and microwaving for a few minutes, or creating mini toaster oven pita pizzas with the mozzarella. Visit http://followyourheart.com for more information.

Chickpeas are a vegan's go-to salad bar topper, and a favorite dip in spreadable form, but it turns out that they also hold their own in the crunchy snack food category. Saffron Road's Crunchy Chickpeas pack the same protein punch as regular organic chickpeas, but come in three tasty flavors. Wasabi is true to form — intense. Bombay Spice is an intoxicating and slightly sweet blend of paprika, onion, tumeric, garlic, and annatto. Falafel, the flavor of which I was most dubious, turned out to be my favorite. This snack replicated the essence of the Middle East so well that I reduced the package to crumbs in record time. A one-ounce serving includes 6 grams of protein, plus they're gluten-and GMO-free. Crunchy Chickpeas come in handy resealable packages, but you may not find that necessary. They are available nationwide. Visit www.saffronroad.com to locate them near you.

I'm constantly amazed at the vegan wonders that can be achieved using nuts. The Real Vegan has introduced Faux Gras, a humane version of foie gras, traditionally made from duck liver. It's a walnut-based pâte, flavored with lentils and caramelized onions, and it's cholesterol free. Faux Gras is bound to get devoured at your next party when paired with crudités, baguette slices, or crackers. Basilcotta is another Real Vegan spread; this one is a cashew-based ricotta cheese or dip alternative. The possibilities are endless: pizza, pasta, paninis, salad dressing, sauce, and more. To find out where to buy Basilcotta and Faux Gras, and for recipes including Basilcotta Cream Sauce and Red Apple Faux Gras Sandwiches, visit www.realvegan.com.

I would like to consider myself a pumpkin pie connoisseur. It has been my favorite type of pie for decades, but only if it was homemade. Store-bought brands would often frustrate me; they were never any good. They were always too sweet, too watery, or not pumpkiny enough; their crusts weren't flavorful enough, and the spices were not spicy enough! So, upon receiving Sweet Earth vegan pumpkin pie, I had rather low expectations. After trying it however, all I can say is: wow!

Not only are Sweet Earth pies absolutely delicious, they can be considered fairly healthy for a dessert.

They are completely vegan, made with Vermont maple syrup, surrounded by a whole wheat crust, and low in fat. Other flavors of Sweet Earth pies include: triple berry, apple streusel, blueberry crisp, and peach cobbler. You can order these pies in two sizes: large (8-inch circumference and weighing 2 lbs.) or small (5-inch circumference and weighing 13.5 oz.). So whether you're planning on sharing the pies with family and friends or keeping one for yourself, Sweet Earth has a pie for you.

Everybody here at The Vegetarian Resource Group gave Sweet Earth's pumpkin pie two thumbs up! To find participating retailers near you, visit www.sweetearthfoods.com, e-mail them at [email protected], or call (831) 375-8673.

Thank you to TheVegetarianSite.com, which has supported The Vegetarian Resource Group for over ten years. TheVegetarianSite donated a portion of October purchases to The VRG. TheVegetarianSite offers non-leather shoes and clothing, cruelty-free personal care products, books, videos, food, and more. Also check out their vegan dollar menu. We thank them, and we'd like to thank you for supporting The Vegetarian Resource Group!