Veggie Bits
Cauliflower Does It Again
Elegant, vegan, and gluten-free fresh pasta has arrived in grand style. Caulipower's Linguine and Papparadelle come from the freezer case and cook up perfectly in boiling water in only three minutes. You can twirl it with your favorite jarred marinara, toss it with pesto, or get saucy with some arriabata, and this cauli-pasta holds up to it all. Both varieties result in the ideal al dente texture and bite, and stand up to scrutiny for a neutral, authentic pasta flavor that works with any sauce. It holds sauce as any noodle should and doesn't yield any overpowering cauliflower aroma or taste. Each container holds about two portions, making it a good choice for date night or to treat a friend to a nice supper. Available at major grocery chains nationwide, including BJs, Target, Wegmans, and Whole Foods, or online from Amazon. Find more at eatcaulipower.com Rissa Miller/Senior Editor
Ready To Go Fruit Jels
Zellee Fruit and Sports Jels are convenient and flavorful ways to power through a long day at the office or a tough workout. These jels have all the texture of gelatin but with none of the animal products, and they come in easy-to-use pouches that won't make a mess of your desk drawer or gym bag. They're perfect for on-the-go snacking. I had a blast eating these; they reminded me of old-fashioned "gel" products that I gave up going vegan. The texture is right on! Whether you're grabbing the Sports Jel for a hard run or Fruit Jels for the family on a road trip, these pouches are a win. They are gluten-free, have no added sugar, and are really fun to eat. Available at independent natural foods stores across the country and online at zelleeorganic.com
Joseph Kirkenir/Vegan Runner and VRG Volunteer
Garbanzo Goodness
Get ready to pack lunch with allergen-friendly, garbanzo bean-based Banzo Butters. The texture is like a nut butter, and the taste is slightly sweet, with all the satisfaction of beans. Available in Chocolate, Chocolate Mint, Original, Pumpkin Spice, and Strawberry, these spreads are ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and snacks. Make a bagel-wich with Strawberry and some banana slices, dip pretzels into Chocolate for a silky smooth treat, or smear Pumpkin Spice across toast for a bite of fall. All flavors are gluten-free and nut-free. Available online, banzobutterbrand.com
Rissa Miller/Senior Editor
Plant Crumbles for Easy Cooking
Boss up your busy weeknight meals with Plant Boss pea crumbles. These dehydrated crumbles need a quick soak in water, and they're ready to sauté recipes. They're available in All-Purpose (plain), Breakfast Sausage, Chili, Burger Mix, and Meatball Mix. In addition, there are 3 taco-seasoned varieties: Mild, Pico de Gallo, and Southwest. None of the flavors tested were overwhelming. Pre-seasoned varieties were even and tasty, without dominating other parts of dishes, but also saved the time and cost of adding more seasoning. Of course, if you want to do your own seasoning, grab the plain ones! They're a perfect match for burritos,
enchiladas, and nachos, but there's much more they can do for your dinner. Plant Boss holds up in casseroles, soups, and stews; scattered across a salad, or even to give some heft to vegan mac'n'cheese. The bags
are shelf-stable. Available online at Amazon, Thrive Market, Walmart, and plantboss.com
Rissa Miller/Senior Editor
