Product Review #1: Bac'Un Bits, Parmela Cheese Sub, Kool Ranch Kale Chips

Frontier Natural Products Co-op Bac'Uns Vegetarian Bits (Vegan, Kosher)

As my friend Alison and I would say in delight: "Peegs in sheet! Peegs in sheet!"(Apparently 99% of all New Yorkers think everyone who grew up in Iowa had a pig as a pet. But I digress...)These little crunchy crumblers are delicious - SJM and I have been mad pouring them on our "too hot to cook" salads like pork starved olde tyme miner 49-ers. The great thing about these pork-less bacons is you don't have to worry you are eating human flesh by proxy (Yes, I take "Deadwood VERY seriously), or eating some poor, little Iowa farm girl's one and only piggie friend. I will be keeping my fridge stocked with these babies!

http://www.frontiercoop.com/

Parmela - Grated Parmesan Cheese Replacer


If it smells like Parmesan, and it tastes like Parmesan - it must be...raw nuts, fermented soybeans, nutritional yeast, soy sauce and lactic acid! Okay, it doesn't look like dairy Parmesan - however, it is by far the best cheese replacer I have ever tried. Excellent in pesto or atop pasta - especially good to serve omnis who are terrified of "fake" cheese.

http://parmelafoods.com/Home.html

Rhythm SuperFoods - Kale Chips - Kool Ranch

My journalistic integrity (I don't have any) may have been compromised with this product. I sort of turn into a twine-ball- making-Depression-era grandma in regards to Kale chips. "Why would you buy them when you can make them fresh yourself?"  However, since they were on sale I bought a bag to try. I hated them and may have likened them to looking and tasting like ear wax. To be fair, I called in SJM for a second opinion. He thought they were "okay". He then looked at the package and said: "You don't like ranch.". Oh, yeah. I hate ranch flavor, although I do not think these tasted particularly like ranch flavor. SJM and I both agreed that these chips leave a slightly unpleasant coating in your mouth best described by SJM as: "How your mouth feels after eating French's onion pieces". I described it as "a lardy after-taste". SJM also said he wished they weren't such teeny-tiny crumbs. (The package may have gotten smashed in my bag.)  Like your granny, I still think my homemade are better (SJM agrees).

http://rhythmsuperfoods.elsstore.com/

The Costco Question: Worth It or Not?

HOT BUTTON TOPIC! Is it worth it to be a member of Costco if you are a vegan/vegetarian/organic only? Aside from the adult diapers (male & female), flush-able wet toilet wipes - are there any food products available?

Here I present an unbiased, undercover (not so much) report of what organic and vegan/vegetarian products were available at our newly opened Iowa City location. I'm kind of like the Anderson Cooper of Iowa City here, people. I am 100% sure I missed some organic items because I kept having to dodge doddering septuagenarians, prairie whale pods of moms + offspring and aggressive stay-at-home dads on a mission yelling into their walkie talkies.

 ORGANICS:

• Organicville - Vinaigrettes Olive Oil & Balsamic - 2/24oz bottles - $7.79
• Organicville - Sesame Teriyaki Sauce - 35oz bottle - $5.59
• Organicville - BBQ Sauce - 35oz bottle - $4.99
• Seeds of Change - Quinoa & Rice - 4/8.5oz pouches - $7.99
• Flax USA - Golden Milled Flax - 48oz bag - $6.99
• Earthly Choice - Quinoa - 4lb bag - $9.49
• Wholesome Sweeteners - Sugar - 10lb bag - $10.99
• Wholesome Sweeteners - Blue Agave Nectar - 2/36oz bottles - $9.99
• Kirkland Signature/Bolthouse Farms - Carrot Juice - 3/32oz bottles - $6.99
• Seapoint Farms - Edamame - 4/14oz bags - $6.59
• Bybee Foods - Green Beans - 5lb bag - $6.49
• Pure Nature - Broccoli - 4/1lbs bags - $5.99
• Bybee Foods - White Corn - 5lb bag - $5.99
• Earthbound Farms - Mixed Baby Kale - 1.5 lbs - $4.49
• Earthbound Farms - Brocollette - 2lb bag - $6.29
• Earthbound Farms - Mini Peeled Carrots - 5lb bag - $5.49

 

NON-ORGANICS:

• P.O.M. Wonderful - 100% pomegranate juice - 60oz bottle - $8.99
• Odwalla Juice - Variety Smoothies - 10/12oz bottles - $14.59
• MaraNatha - All Natural Almond Butter - 26oz jar - $5.89
• Kirkland Signature - Raw Pine Nuts - 1.5lb bag - $17.79
• Kirkland Signature - Pecan Halves - 2lb bag - $15.99
• Kirkland Signature - Walnuts - 3lb bag - $17.99
• Kirkland Signature - Almonds - 3lb bag - $10.89
• Earthly Choice - All Natural 100% Whole Grain Bulgur Wheat - 4lb bag - $5.79
• Earthly Choice - All Natural Chia Seeds - 2lb bag - $7.39
• Earthly Choice - All Natural Black Rice - 3lb bag - $5.69
• Sugar In The Raw - Natural Cane Sugar - 6lb bag - $7.99 

There was also soy milk and tofu products available - I did not get brand names, pricing info, etc. As always it is imperative to read labels so you know exactly what is in your food.
 
Full disclosure - I do have an Executive (cheapest at $55) membership - after doing some research SJM and I did decide a membership would be worth the money, mostly based on dog food and toilet paper. (PS The Kirkland Signature dog food is highly rated by Consumer Reports  and DogFoodAdvisor.com with a four out of five stars.) We also split our membership with another couple, which allows us to break the bulk foods down into a manageable amount.

I absolutely will not be going grocery shopping there on a regular basis - they just do not have the fresh, organic, local selection to keep me coming in weekly. Honestly, excluding entertaining, I will only shop there when we need to replenish the dog food/dog treats and toilet paper supplies.

Two items they did not have which I use frequently and would buy in bulk - organic canned beans (chickpeas, esp) and brown rice. However, the products keep changing on a regular basis and the Costco staff member I asked about Organics did tell me that they plan to keep expanding that market.

Recipe Review: BIG VEGAN: Tortilla Soup with Mock Duck & Chipotles

This recipe is from my favorite new cookbook: BIG VEGAN by Robin Asbell published by Chronicle Books.

Tortilla Soup with Mock Duck and Chipotles

• 1  tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 8 oz/225 g Mock Duck (page 38) or chicken style seitan, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 qt/960 ml Basic Vegetable Stock (page 49) or mock chicken stock
• 1 small sweet potato, cubed
• 1/4 cup/45 g quinoa, rinsed
• 1 tbsp chopped chipotle chile in adobe sauce
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 3/4 tsp salt
• Six 6-in/15cm corn tortillas
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1/2 cup/15 g cilantro/fresh coriander
• 1 large lime, cut into wedges, for serving

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onion and stir for 5 minutes or so, lowering the heat to medium. When the onion is soft, add the mock duck, garlic, cumin, and cloves. Stir for a few minutes.

2. Add the stock, sweet potato, quinoa, chipotle, and oregano and bring to a boil. Add 1/2 tsp of the salt. Reduce the soup to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes. When the quinoa is throwing off its tiny white halos and the sweet potato is tender, reduce the heat to low.


3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C/gas 5. Stack the tortillas and slice them into strips 1/4in/6 mm wide. Place them on a baking sheet/tray and drizzle with the canola oil and the remaining 1/4 tsp salt. Bake, stirring every 5 minutes until the strips are crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Serve the soup topped with the cilantro/fresh coriander and tortilla strips, with lime wedges for squeezing over the soup. 

NOTES:    
  Working with mock duck for the first time was a little unsettling. It is almost too like poultry - pimply goose skin and all - and it sort of plops meat-like out of the can. I gagged a few times, to be honest. It is delicious if you can get past that resemblance!
Out of my four taste testers, two thought there was too much clove flavor in my soup. I suggest a very conservative, small pinch. 
   I took the lazy route and used store bought, tortilla chips for the crispy topping. Next time I will set aside more time to make the lower fat homemade version detailed in the recipe.
This was a fun recipe to make and I think meat eaters would like the mock duck, so it would be good for a mixed crowd meal.
   This cookbook has been my go-to for the past few weeks. I really like the recipe page set-up, with ingredients on the left in a green box and instructions to the middle/right. The recipes I've made thus far have been quick, easy and tasty. In my opinion, it  would be a good cookbook for any vegan to have in their arsenal.

Vegan On The Road: TC: The Barbary Fig & Spoonriver

BLERGH! I don't have any food pron photos from these last two restaurants, so please enjoy some touristy shots of the Twin Cities - Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts museums from our trip. I *photo of Spoon Bridge and Cherry* Minneapolis. I really should have gotten one of these tee shirts at the Walker!

Where: The Barbary Fig

http://www.thebarbaryfig.com/

What We Ordered:
Appetizer: Hummus with warm pita bread
Entrees: Special order by the owner! When we told our server that we had two vegans and two vegetarians in the group she spoke to the owner/chef and he made us a delicious special lunch. The falafel was just mouth watering and their pitas were so thin and flavorful - I wanted the recipe. The hummus was a taste treat and had some different subtle flavors I wanted to figure out to add to my own. It was a real treat having a customized meal made with such care - I didn't see The Barbary Fig on many veg dining sites, so it might be a well kept secret. Vegans do NOT shy away - we were completely accommodated in every way!

What is happening to this young woman's face? I do not know. She appears to be a half pig/half girl "Animal Farm" hybrid (but a nice, sweet piglet, not a Nazi boar!) and I could not get enough of her.

Where: Spoonriver

http://spoonriver.com/

What We Ordered: My fellow vegan, Big D and I both got the Chicken Udon Salad with Mock Duck subbed for the chicken.

Notes: In all fairness to Spoonriver, I must divulge that we met friends for dinner here and I was pretty busy jabbering away at my beloved college gal pal rather than paying attention to the menu. Bitches be triflin'! This restaurant was in an amazing location, had a lovely space and after dinner we walked over and toured the Guthrie Theatre (http://www.guthrietheater.org/) which offered stunning views of the river and city. As a place to meet for a nice dinner and to accommodate vegans, vegetarians, an omnivore and a gluten-free diner; Spoonriver did an excellent job of making us all happy.

Why are dudes dressed as chicks almost always better looking than me? This painting also had me singing Tone Loc's well loved line from Funky Cold Medina "Sheena was a man..." under my breath.

I tripped over this hobo camp sculpture about fifty times and may have lost a toenail to bruising in the process. Who leaves a lead hobo in the middle of a gallery? Again, my mind wandered to my version of "improving" the art by adding an old can of pork and beans and a spork.

I do not see why the flattering, practical and comfortable neck ruff ever went out of style? I'm sure plenty of bed bugs bug, lice and sores could be daintily covered under so much white starched lace.

And that's a wrap for the Twin Cities May, 2012 visit! I can't week to return in November for my big Scorpio birthday bash with Cindy Sherman!

Vegan On The Road: TC: Hard Times Cafe

Where: Hard Times Cafe


What We Ordered: Sadly, I can't recall the name of what we ordered and Hard Times has no website (champagne problems!) for me to reference. I know I got a burrito, and it was a big fattie that I slapped contentedly. Weird habit: I like to smack my burritos before I eat them to test the ingredients packing level, distribution and fullness. This burrito passed the test. (below)

  

Big D, my vegan mentor, ordered a falafel plate and some monstrosity of a soda called Jolt. Jolt's original slogan from 1985 was "All the sugar and twice the caffeine". In my eyes it is a man-made abomination, but I guess it is something of a legend among cola drinkers. Admittedly, I hate all cola drinks - I am an anti-colite. Fun fact: on an episode of "30 Rock" Tracy Jordan demands a can of Jolt Cola, which he explains "will be hard because it no longer exists". (below)

Tacos, y'all with the softie shells! You really can't go astray with good ole tacos, amiright? Served with a side of chips and salsa. (below)

Notes: Hard Times interior is reminiscent of a punk rock dive bar from the early 80's once the lights go up after a hard drinking night and maybe a small fire and a few fist fights. We were there in late afternoon for lunch and the food was cheap and filling, the music was quiet and there weren't many other patrons present. The diners were varied and all very quiet ranging from a guy in a suit to some punks rock guys bumming cigarettes to a schoolgirl chic middle aged lady in a gyno short plaid skirt. I did think our cook was wearing an oxygen mask but it turned out to be my own fanciful interpretation of a side view of a tribal face tattoo. I have to say, it would be a fun place to eat after a concert (when I was in my twenties and could still handle mosh pits, loud music, and wore my knee high lace-up Docs). Try not to use the restroom - or just go to look at the graffiti and wash your hands. CASH ONLY!

B.A. Baracus pities the fool who doesn't recycle!

Vegan On The Road: TC: The Bad Waitress

Where: The Bad Waitress
http://thebadwaitress.com/

What I Ordered: The Amsterdam Hash - red potatoes, broccoli, red onions, mushrooms, and tofu with a side of Monster Plate O’ Potatoes hash brown style. My beverage of choice was the cold-press iced coffee. (I kept wanting to call my entree The Hamsterdam Rash in homage to The Wire.)

Notes: Every single food photo I took of this feast was blurry - I must have been all a tremble with hunger. The cold-press iced coffee was my favorite coffee of our entire trip. Another solid eatery - it was a real treat to have so many vegan options for breakfast. The decor here was very funky-retro, colorful and fun. To my recollection the hash browns were cooked to crispy-on-the-outside perfection and the hash was a fortified way to start the day. Each table has a super hero mascot - we were The Human Torch. I wanted to be Apache Chief, however, I didn't see him as an option in my brief scan. Next time!

Vegan On The Road: TC: Seward Cafe

Where: Seward Cafe
http://www.sewardcafe.com/

What I Ordered: Biscuits & Gravy (above top) - "housemade vegan biscuit topped with vegan cashew-mushroom gravy, tomatoes and scallions"; Hashbrowns; Vegan GMO-Free "sausage" patties (above bottom).


Notes: This was my personal favorite breakfast meal which I devoured like a Duran Duran wolf lady. I seriously licked up that mushroom gravy - I was lucky to get this photo without biting my own hand off. Another recipe I wanted to steal - the "sausage" patties had me all atwitter in the taste buds.

The atmosphere is ultra hippie-granola, look past that if it bothers you, as the food is worth it. There was a really nice outdoor patio space we wanted to sit at but it was too rainy and cold. The name announcing system sounded like an old Speak-And-Spell so I'd give a very distinct multi word name so you don't miss the call to kibble. 

Warning: The unisex bathrooms were covered in graffiti that read like a Jane Seymour for Jared commercial script, and they smelled like an unwashed hot yoga mat topped off with soaking bean farts.

Vegan On the Road: TC: Cafe Luce

Where: Pizza Luce

http://pizzaluce.com/

What We Ordered: Appetizer Sampler - VR (above) Rinotta, bruschetta, sun-dried tomato and Greek olive tapenade, red sauce, with toasted focaccia.

Entree: Mock Muffeletta - VR (below) Their website says it best: Not to be mocked or ducked, this vegan version of our Muffuletta comes toasted with tangy BBQ sauce and seasoned mock duck, our Muffeletta olive mixture and Rinotta*—our homemade 'uncheese' made from tofu and cashews. Served with 'the fixings'."

 

Entree: Specialty Pizzas! 

Lil’ Gracie - VR (below right): vegan veggie ball crumbles, house Muffuletta olive mixture, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and Notcotta on red sauce.

The Rustler - VR (side left) Again, defer to the brilliant menu description: "The vegetarian version of the chop-lickin’, chap-wearin’ little doggie. She’s a silent little smoker on the side, without the chirp-chirp. Topped with mock duck, pineapple, banana peppers, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella on our barbecue/red sauce. Cowgirl approved!" (The "VR" vegan version topped with Notcotta in place of mozzarella)

 

Notes: Among our intrepid travelers Cafe Luce was consistently mentioned with drooling mouths and misty-watercolor-memories and longing. This place was a gold mine for a vegan wanting pizza! The choices! The "cheese"! We went full on Piggy a la "Lord of the Flies" on the appetizer sampler. NEXT! The pizza was charmed and only served to fuel our obsession with mock duck. The Muffeletta sandwich was otherworldly in its deliciousness. (PS I have been plotting and planning a deal with the Devil to make my own version their Notcotta - it was so decadent!) Also, our tatted, punk rockin', 9 months preggers waitress went out in the rain to jump a customer's car for them. That is some impressive service.