VEGGIE BITS
Ready-to-Eat Cookie Dough
EatPastry Cookie Dough provides the homemade cookie taste we all want without any of the hassle. While not overly sweet, this premade cookie dough bakes into cookies that are soft and chewy with a heavenly aroma. This product offers a quick and perfect solution for potlucks and family gatherings, and is available in a wide spectrum of flavors, including Chocolate Chip, Chocoholic Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip, plus gluten-free options in Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, and Sugar Momma. There's something for everyone, whether you are vegan or not. If you've had a long day and don't want to wait the 9-12 minutes suggested baking time, feel free to spoon it straight from the container because this cookie dough is just as pleasing and possibly even better eaten raw. Made in a full vegan kitchen free of cross-contamination from dairy and eggs and certified non-GMO, you can rest easy while enjoying this cookie dough. You can find EatPastry Cookie Dough at Whole Foods, Wegmans, and your favorite natural food stores, or visit their website, eatpastry.com, to find the nearest retailer.
By Ivy Grob, VRG intern.
Pizza Party for my Palate
Amy's Kitchen Rice Crust Pesto Pizza is better than any pizza I've eaten out or ordered in. I even burned it a bit and it still tasted amazing. The gluten-free rice crust is light and crispy, providing the perfect bed for layers of pesto, cheese, tomatoes, and broccoli. The pesto and Daiya mozzarella cheese are dairy-free and do not disappoint. Some vegan cheese can be too gooey, but this cheese has just the right amount of melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The tomato slices and broccoli florets provide a garden-fresh-tasting flavor that will leave you satisfied long after eating it. Amy's Pizza is available for purchase nationwide at most grocery and health food stores. This pizza is higher in fat, saturated fat, and sodium than Amy's roasted vegetable vegan pizza, another tasty option.
Written by Anne Custer, VRG intern.
Nana Creme
VRG staffers were so excited to try Nana Creme that we skipped lunch and dug right into dessert! Nana Creme, a vegan ice cream made of bananas rather than a nut milk, is heavenly, with distinct flavors that include Vanilla, Strawberry, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Covered Banana, Mint Chip, Chocolate Chip, Brownie, Blueberry Pie, Banana Cinnamon Crumb Cake, Sugar Cookie, Salted Maple, Cremesicle, and Mango. If you like fruity tastes, you'll definitely love the Mango or Strawberry flavors, and if you're into ice creams with more of a creamy consistency with lots of tasty chunks, you can't go wrong with Brownie, Cookie Dough, or Chocolate Covered Banana. Blueberry Pie was the most unique flavor, which one staffer described as "next level." Though the base of Nana Creme is bananas, the banana taste is not overwhelming, and in some flavors, not detectable. Nana Creme doesn't include any common allergens in their products; the base ingredients are just water, cane sugar, organic bananas, safflower oil, and lemon juice. Nana Creme ships nationwide. For store locations and details about shipping, visit http://www.nanacreme.com.
Written by Navaal Mahdi, VRG intern.
Creamy Vegan Dressing
Follow Your Heart, popularly known for their vegan mayonnaise, Vegenaise, has made a veganized version of classic dressing favorites. Flavors include Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Thousand Island, Caesar, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and my personal favorite, Honey Mustard (with no honey.) These dressings are unbelievably thick and creamy and taste exactly like their non-vegan inspirations. Bleu Cheese is remarkably similar, complete with a pungent aftertaste, perfect for dipping vegan chick'n wings. I used to spread Honey Mustard on everything, so I'm an expert on the sweet and tangy taste, and I'm happy to say this is the perfect substitute! Dip veggies in them or drizzle them on a salad. These products are available to purchase nationwide at major chain grocery stores and health food stores. See followyourheart.com for more details.
Written by Anne Custer, VRG Intern.
Broccoleaf
BroccoLeaf (short for broccoli leaves) from Foxy Produce is now being harvested as an addition to your favorite group of leafy green vegetables. Grown from the stem underneath the crown of broccoli, you can buy these huge leaves pre-cut and prepackaged in bags or as bundles of whole leaves. Less bitter than kale and smoother than collards, BroccoLeaf stands out with its own personality. This veggie is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and is also a source of potassium, folate, and calcium. Use BroccoLeaf in any of your already beloved recipes such as stir-frys, smoothies, juices, tofu scrambles, and salads. Try it wrapped around a veggie burger or falafel patties as a substitute for a bun. At a recent VRG luncheon, I cooked BroccoLeaf in vegetable broth with onion, garlic, stewed tomatoes with chiles, and corn for a new take on an old Southern collard green recipe, and it was received with numerous compliments. This vegetable offers the ultimate versatility, and is also certified organic. You can find BroccoLeaf in select Whole Foods.
Written by Ivy Grob, VRG Intern
Peel off Polish
Forget everything you know about traditional nail polish. Play Love Laugh has reinvented and reinvigorated the nail polish world with the changed features to show it. Gone are the harsh, lingering smell, acetates, and artificial dyes, which are instead replaced with an odorless fruit and vegetable base that dries quickly and is completely vegan. It is free of formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals found in most commercial nail polishes. The best part is that you don't even need nail polish remover; it can simply be peeled off after being soaked in warm water. There is a whole range of colors to choose from, all with fun names and perfect for adults and kids alike. "Go for the Green," "Really Teally Fun," and "Grapelicious" are the bright statement makers, with plenty of other more low-key pinks and purples. Top off the polish with the sparkly varieties for an eye-catching look. Sets of three complementary colors are available together for mixing and matching or for any artistic designs you can create. You can find the Natural Peel Off nail polish at www.playlovelaugh.com.
Written by Ivy Grob, VRG Intern
Pasta Chips
One bite of Pasta Chips will have you booking a flight to Tuscany. There are four vegan varieties, which all evoke authentic Italian flavors: Garlic and Olive Oil, Mediterranean Sea Salt, Spicy Tomato Herb, and Spinach Broccoli Kale. Each chip is baked into a perfectly proportioned size for ultimate snacking. Pair these zingy one-of-a-kind chips with your favorite dip or condiment. Try a roasted red bell pepper or lemon zest hummus with the Spinach Broccoli Kale, or your favorite nut butter with the Mediterranean Sea Salt for a best-of-both-worlds salty and sweet taste. The possibilities for different combinations are endless, not to say these chips cannot stand alone. I recommend first trying the Spicy Tomato Herb by itself to savor the rich flavor of tomato and garlic, then try it dipped in your favorite vegan cream cheese or topped with salsa. Find Pasta Chips in grocery stores nationwide. Use the store locator or buy directly by visiting pastachips.com.
Written by Ivy Grob, VRG Intern.
Za'atar Burger
The Za'atar Veggie Burger by Sweet Earth Natural Foods packs a plant-based protein punch of Middle Eastern spice. Available in a convenient two-burger pack, this veggie burger would be great to fix for a simple date night at home. The spices of the veggie burger are zesty and fiery, while not overpoweringly spicy. Dress up this burger with traditional fixings like lettuce, tomato, and vegan mayonnaise, or for the more adventurous try it with your favorite kimchi or fresh sliced apples and roasted asparagus packed into a pita. I tried my Za'atar Veggie Burger topped with tomato and mustard and wrapped in broccoli leaves. Whether dressed up or eaten plain to savor the natural flavoring, this veggie burger is just as nutritious as it is delicious. It contains 18 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving, leaving your body feeling as good as your taste buds. Find the Za'atar Veggie Burger at a natural food store or major retailer near you by using Sweet Earth's Facebook Store Locator App.
Written by Ivy Grob, VRG Intern
