thatvegandoc

[thatvegandoc]

Hello. It's been awhile. I've been busy but I have kept trying to new things and started feeling I should share these opinions again. So here we go!

I tried this vegan mac and cheese yesterday after several weeks of cravings for mac and cheese and being too busy/lazy to make it from scratch. I'll be honest, my hopes for vegan mac and cheese are low. I've been disappointed far too many times. And then this one? Made from chickpeas? What was I expecting? Definitely not what I got. I thought this would be really bad but to my surprise it was palatable. Actually, it was better than palatable. I slapped some hot sauce on it and it was pretty good! I followed the directions and the directions of many tiktokers: add in some vegan butter and vegan milk for consistency.

Is it the best mac and cheese (vegan) that I've ever had? No. I need a creamier consistency. I need more flavor. More salt. Honestly, I need them to add more powder to the dang packet. But for a pre-packaged easy meal this is pretty great! If you've got some time, maybe take some silken or firm tofu and blend it up with some garlic, nutritional yeast, onion, and whatever other flavors you like and add it to this to get that creamier consistency. If I had time I would add some extra flare to it but overall I'm very pleased. 7/10 from me!

*This post is not sponsored. Let's be honest. Who's sponsoring someone who barely updates, lol. This is just my two cents.

[thatvegandoc]

Miyoko’s Organic Cashew Milk Mozzarella

Um... excuse me.  Have you all tried this?  Because it’s amazing.  This vegan cheese has no weird after taste, is smooth and creamy, and goes great on salads and sandwiches.  AND it’s gluten, soy, and palm oil free!  How insane is that?!

For taste and texture I would give this a 10/10.  It’s the best and I always keep this on hand to make a nice vegan tomato mozzarella pesto sandwich.  This has been my go to sandwich for over two months now so I’ve gone through a lot of this cashew mozzarella, let me tell you.  Though it is a bit (very) pricy, I do feel like we get quite a good amount of it.  Each pack lasts about 2 weeks for me and if you saw how many of these sandwiches I'm making and how many different ways I use this you’d be shocked.  Another thing to consider is the actual ingredients.  This product has pretty neutral ingredients that aren’t really unhealthy so that’s another plus compared to some of the cheaper alternatives.

I know the package says it’s meltable and it very well may be, but I just haven’t used it on pizza or anything so I can’t comment on that.  I did, however, put it on the stove on top of a slice of bread but didn’t see much melting.  It tasted great and was creamy, though!  Maybe I could have left it on the stove for longer.  Who knows.  I’m not patient enough to wait especially when it tastes this good.

All in all, I think this is a product that is worth it even at a steeper price because it is good.  If not a regular purchase I still think it’s worth it to get it for a vegan cheese/cracker/fruit board or other special occasions!

Click here to see Miyoko’s other products!

[thatvegandoc]

Hippeas: Organic Chickpea Snacks

I don’t know about you guys but I get nostalgic for cheese puffs.  I remember 6 year old me sitting in the back seat of our family’s Ford Explorer, munching on cheese puffs, while my parents drove us all over the country.  Long car drives and travel make me crave cheese balls/puffs but, alas, they were made with cheese.  And if you’re thinking, “Hey!  I’m a vegetarian!  I can still have those!”  Nope, you’re wrong because they contain animal rennet which was the bane of my vegetarian existence.  As a vegan it doesn’t affect me anymore, haha.

I was never able to find vegan versions of this before but over the last few years there have been quite a few brands.  I can’t say I’ve tried every brand out there but the majority of the time I’m left unsatisfied.  UNTIL NOW.  I absolutely love these chickpea puffs!  The nacho flavor is my favorite and I always buy at least two bags when I find them because there’s a high chance I’ll eat the entire bag while binge watching a tv show (currently re-bingeing New Girl on Netflix).

I’ve only tried two of their flavors: nacho and white cheddar.  I liked white cheddar but I think it’s a little too bland.  The nacho cheese flavored ones are a bit sharper, but, that said, they could be a little bolder.

The texture is more dense than the Cheetos cheese puffs but are still pleasantly airy.  You will still find a powdery orange residue on your fingers with a strong garlic and acidic taste very close to regular cheese puffs.

All in all I would rate these as 8.5 or 9/10.  I buy them pretty frequently and will continue to buy them when I get a hankering for some orange finger tips.  I highly suggest you try them if you haven’t already!

Here’s a link to the website if you want to check out their other products and flavors!

[thatvegandoc]

Violife cheddar cheese shreds

Since I tried the violife mature cheddar cheese block I haven’t been too keen on trying the other types of cheeses they offer, especially because they’re so expensive.  But I did it.  I bought the cheddar shreds and the mature cheddar slices (which I’ll be reviewing in another post).

These shreds look good and they’re free of a lot of common allergens.  I tried them in a grilled cheese sandwich along with the cheddar slice and I must say, these melted really well.  Initially I thought it wasn’t melting because the part of the slice that was hanging off the side of the bread didn’t look melty but it was soft to touch.  I definitely saw the classic cheese pull and I had an explosion of cheese in my mouth with every bite!

Taste wise I thought these were pretty good!  My only qualm would be that it does have a bit of a coconut-y taste but it’s very very faint.  I’m not a fan of coconut flavors but even I wouldn’t say no to this grilled cheese.  It definitely was not off-putting at all.

Would I rate this as the all-time best grilled cheese?  No.  I’m still very staunchly a Follow Your Heart grilled cheese person.  They have more pungent flavors.  But I would definitely rank this second to Follow Your Heart.

Would I purchase this again?  100% yes.  So, in conclusion, I will be giving this product a 7/10.  I cannot wait to try this in more recipes and see how it turns out!

Check out their other products here!

[thatvegandoc]

Chao Vegan Cheese Shreds

I know I’ve sung my praises for Follow Your Heart Vegan cheese shreds but I’ve tried Chao vegan cheese shreds now and I can say that this is definitely amazing!  Though taste wise I would still rank Follow Your Heart shreds higher because of the more pungent taste, these are still very good.

Just like the packaging states, these are creamy.  These are fantastic for melting in sandwiches, wraps, burritos, etc.  These definitely melt better than Follow Your Heart, in my opinion.  Both options are great and I would suggest anyone to try these.  These will not disappoint.

I give these a 9/10 for taste, texture, and meltability.  I sincerely hope you all try these at some point in time.

Check out Field Roast’s other products here!

[thatvegandoc]

Biscoff Biscuits

Um, hello.  If you haven’t tried these then I really don’t know what you’re doing with your life.  I first had this biscuit on a flight and it blew my mind.  I immediately went searching for these online and found them at my local Target and Walmart.  Turns out these are super common.

This biscuit has the best flavor, the best crunch, the best everything, AND THEY MAKE A BISCOFF BUTTER (like peanut butter but with these biscuits).  None of my family even knew they were vegan until I told them.  So if you’re not already on this bandwagon you need to get on it now.  This is a 10/10 and anyone that says otherwise probably has a very messed up tongue.

Check out their products here!  Heads up, their ice cream is NOT vegan and I haven’t done any research on the rest of their products.  These specific biscuits are vegan but I cannot vouch for their other products so please read the ingredients before you try anything else!

[thatvegandoc]

Mint Chip Brownie Larabar

This flavor is the absolute easiest to rate.  Without a doubt this is a 10/10.  Home run.  Love it.  Amazing.  Honestly, this hits the spot if you’re craving a brownie.  Bonus if you love mint chocolate (like me).  It’s a brownie version of the Andes mint chocolates and I couldn’t ask for anything better.  I would say this is the absolute best flavor Larabar has to offer.  If you haven’t tried this then please run to the store or order these online, in bulk, because you’ll run out of these fast.

This is perfect for a snack or after lunch/dinner dessert.  It actually feels like a cheat dessert but it’s healthy.  I don’t have single bad thing to say about this bar.  I mean, unless you have a nut allergy, then you should definitely stay away from this.

Check out the rest of their products here!

[thatvegandoc]

Election Anxiety

anx • i • e • ty     |     \  aŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē  \

Definition: Apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill : a state of being anxious.

I tap my foot continuously against the dining room table while I wait for each states results to trickle in.  My eyes are glued to the screen for about a minute before I pull them away to make myself some breakfast.  The volume’s still loud enough for me to hear if anything happens.

“He’s won the state!” My father yells from the living room.  I hastily pile together some toast on a plate to serve everyone.  I can feel my heart beating in my chest and my stomach feels a bit uneasy.  Why do I feel like this?  I’m not the one running for president.  No matter what the outcome, I don’t really know if this will effect me that much.

“It looks like the state is flipping but we’ll have to wait in for the rest of the ballots to be counted.  Tim, any word on the other states?” Says the anchor on the news.  Everything’s still predictions now.  There’s an odd mixture of excitement and fear everywhere.

It’s already 8 am.  I have to start working.  I take my laptop out and set up my work desk as usual while the living room is bursting with excitement.  I’m going to channel that out while I work.  I have to.  Checking my emails and, well, what do you know.  I have about 10 emails on the elections.  I can’t donate anymore money.  The time has passed so I’ll just delete you.

I’m trying to concentrate but I’m just so antsy.  I can’t sit still and I can’t focus.  I check my phone to see 12 new messages from friends all over asking me my opinion on the elections.  I love politics, don’t get me wrong, but I’m no expert.  What’s my opinion going to do for you?  But I still respond to some messages and pass on my knowledge, whatever it may be.  No, I have to get back to work.  I can’t respond to all these messages.

Making graphs and now all I can think of is what that person will think of me if I don’t respond to them.  Are you judging me because I’m not responding?  Perhaps you think I don’t know enough on the topic to respond.  Or maybe you think I’m ignoring you.  Either way, those aren’t feelings I want you to have about me so I’m going to respond to you because if I don’t I’m going to be sick to my stomach until I do something.

Okay, back to work.  I’m a few pages in now.  Things seem to be looking good right now but that’s not okay with my brain.  Oh, no.  We worry constantly.  Remember those other 5 little things you need to do that wont take too much time?  Let me blow that out of proportion so I worry about them for half an hour while not doing anything about it because I’m trying to calm myself down.

Cool, I think I’m a little calmer now.  My heart doesn’t feel like it’s in my throat.  I’m going to watch the elections for a bit since I’m calmer now because apparently we don’t like being calm over here.  And here come the muscle aches and fatigue.

[thatvegandoc]

Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Roasted Vegetable Pizza

I didn’t hate this as much as I thought I would.  That said, I did not love this product, either, so do with that what you will.

The base was meh, the vegetables were meh, and the cheese was pretty bad when compared to a more traditional frozen pizza but overall meh when you assess it as a vegan frozen pizza.  I do recommend this over their plain cheese frozen pizza.  This at least has vegetables for a different flavor.  I wish it had more seasoning.  All in all I would give this product a 4/10.  But let’s be real, here.  When has anyone ever had a frozen pizza and thought, “That’s it!  That’s what I’ve always wanted!  10/10!”?  Because I seriously doubt that has ever happened.

I’d say it’s is great for a movie night with vegan friends.  I would not feed this to my non-vegan friends though because they would not like this.

Here’s a link to their website to check out the rest of their products, if you’re interested.  I feel like I need to experiment more with Daiya’s products because I really do believe there is something I will like.  For now, this is not it.  Maybe if I was really hungry.  But I’d still need a large amount of various seasonings.

[thatvegandoc]

Amy’s Pad Thai

I’m not at all into frozen meals.  The entire idea is kind of revolting to me.  But I’ve had times where I haven’t been able to cook either because of lack of time or lack of resources and I’ve had to go through my fair share of frozen dinners.  Of all of the things I’ve tried, this is one of the best.  It is a bit sweet, so keep that in mind, but I add some crushed red chili to this along with a few more veggies I might have on hand at that time.  Generally it’ll be frozen broccoli and some bell pepper and onions.

I was very happy that this item was vegan because at that particular time I didn’t see many other appetizing vegan options at the store and was really craving noodles.  This did hit the spot.  I would give this a solid 6/10.  I’d give this a higher rating based on taste alone but I felt the portion size was a bit too small and wasn’t really filling.  Especially for someone who had just worked without breakfast or lunch for 12 hours.  I ate two of these in one sitting because I was famished.  But maybe it’d be fine for another time.

Amy’s in general has a lot of great vegan options that I’m still exploring and I think I’d turn to this brand again when I can’t make or buy a fresh meal.

Check out their website for more products here!

[thatvegandoc]

Enjoy life Mini Chocolate Chips (Semi-sweet)

I don’t really like the idea of reviewing chocolate as a “vegan” product because dark chocolate is pretty common but since baking chocolate chips generally contain milk, here we are.

What can I say?  They’re just like regular chocolate chips.  I would give these a 9/10.  Not a perfect score but that could just be from my baking errors because I felt like these kind of made my brownies greasy, separate from the oil I used in the dish.  But I’d still use these and maybe fix my recipe.

These are also fantastic in trail mix.  I love munching on these with a few nuts and dried fruit.  These also work great when making homemade granola bars or Lara bars.  I definitely recommend this brand.

Check out Enjoy life’s other products here!

[thatvegandoc]

Country Crock Plant Butter with Olive Oil

I was ready to rave about this product.  I really was.  Taste was spot on and it really is an exact dupe for butter.  My vegetarian family members grab this without a second glance to spread on toast even when the dairy butter is available.  But it uses palm kernels and I can’t support that.  I should have looked into the ingredients before buying this.  This automatically gets a 0/10.

I’m not even going to link this product because it’s not worth it and from what I’ve seen some of their other products that may seem “plant based” or “vegan” contain Vitamin D3 that’s not vegan.  So sad.

[thatvegandoc]

Ordered a vegan pizza from Peace Love and Pizza!  It was delicious.  By far the best vegan pizza I’ve had so far.  9/10 because the cheese is weirdly creamy and stretchy but not like dairy cheese.  But it’s still definitely the best pizza I’ve had so far.

Click here to check out my other account and click here to check out my insta to see some vegan recipes!

Click here to check out Peace Love and Pizza’s website!

**This post is not sponsored.  This is just my two cents.

[thatvegandoc]

This is my other blog!  Check it out to see all the recipes I make and try out!

Overall these cookies were a hit!  I’d give them a 9/10.  They’re a bit dense since I made them with whole wheat but the sugar/cinnamon coating really takes these cookies to the next level.  Would definitely make again and again!

Vegan Cinnamon Molasses Cookies

Click here to access this recipe and more on my insta!

[thatvegandoc]

This is my other blog!  Check it out to see all the recipes I make and try out!

This oatmeal recipe is very straightforward.  There’s really no secret ingredient.  The ingredients go really well together.  I’ve substituted peanut butter instead of almond butter and it was great but I prefer the almond butter - maple syrup combo myself.  When I make this with peanut butter I generally sub in date syrup.  10/10 especially with the toasted walnuts and berries.

Vegan Maple Berry Oatmeal

Click here to access this recipe and more on my insta!

[thatvegandoc]

This is my other blog!  Check it out to see all the recipes I make and try out!

Who doesn’t love a crisp salad packed full of veggies and flavor?  This recipe is an 8/10 for me.  I’ve rated it lower than the taste just because of the prep work that goes into making the falafels and hummus.  But if you’re using store bought for those two things then this is easily a 10/10.  I love topping this off with a homemade apple cider vinegar dressing.

Falafel Hummus Salad

Click here to access this recipe on insta!

[thatvegandoc]

This is my other blog!  Check it out to see all the recipes I make and try out!

If you love paneer burji or egg burji then this is the recipe for you!  Packed full of flavor, spice, and protein, I give this entire dish a 10/10.  The veggies and masala give it a great kick and it’s perfect for anytime of the day.  I love this with roti or rice but my personal favorite is jazzing it up by making it a roll with some fresh veggies (onions, beetroot, bell pepper, carrots) thinly sliced and some spicy ketchup.  Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it.  Throw some hemp seeds on there for that nutty taste.  No matter how you decide to eat it, this dish is a must try.

Tofu Burji

Click here to access this recipe and more on my insta!