Tag Archives: vegan

Product Review: Explore Cuisine Pasta

Explore Cuisine Pasta Boxes
All Photos By Gail

Do you like pasta? I sure do. One exciting thing about being a pasta fan is how innovative foodies and culinary experts alike are continually coming up with new recipes to make pasta a healthier, better-for-you meal choice, especially if you happen to be on a gluten free diet. At the recent Summer Fancy Food Show, I was introduced to Explore Cuisine pastas, which are made from variety of different kinds of organic beans. The folks at Explore Cuisine were kind enough to send me a couple of varieties to try at home, and happy to say that these pastas are fantastic!offs

Red Lentil Penne Pasta Box

Founded by Joe Spronz, Explore Cuisine products are vegan, organic, gluten-free, and kosher, ensuring your health and igniting your taste buds! These delicious bean pastas contain nearly 20-25 grams of protein per serving and are low in carbs and sodium while simultaneously containing a high fiber content. With Explore Cuisine, you’ll experience the incomparable taste of pasta with all the benefits of nutritious beans! I tried the Red Lentil Penne for dinner earlier this week, and it exceeded my expectations.

Red Lentil Penne Drained

A friend of mine who is an excellent Italian chef once advised me that pasta cannot be held to strict boiling times when cooking, and experience has shown her advice to be right on. But with this pasta, the suggested cooking time (8-10 minutes) on the back of the box is a pretty accurate if you don’t want the pasta to get overdone (and I like my pasta on the tender side). Just keep an eye on the clock, is all I’m saying.

Red Lentil Penne with Sauce

Here it is, all plated and topped with Trader Joe’s Bolognese Sauce and a grating of cheddar cheese, which I love on my pasta as a change-up from the traditional hard Italian cheeses. Explore Cuisine Red Lentil Pasta has a distinctive and very satisfying flavor of lentils.  And, unlike many gluten free pastas I’ve tasted, it maintains an appealing bite and mouth feel. This pasta is an excellent quality product that anyone should be proud and excited to serve to their family.

Red Lentil Penne with Sauce

Here is close-up of my quick and delicious meal! So yummy!

Learn more about Explore Cuisine foods (they also make rice-based pasta, and soups, among other items) and get recipes at This Link!

Yes, It Exists: Bitchin’ Sauce

Chipotle Bitchen Sauce
All Photos By Sue Simone

Would you eat something called Bitchin’ Sauce? I sure would. Recently, my pal Sue spotted the Bitchin’ Sauce at a farmer’s market in San Diego and here is what I found out about it from their Website:
Continue reading Yes, It Exists: Bitchin’ Sauce →

Product Review: So Delicious Brand Dairy Free Frozen Almond Milk Dessert, Cookies ‘N’ Cream Variety

So Delicious Almond Milk Cookies and Cream
All Photos By Gail

The great news for people suffering from food allergies and dietary intolerances these days is that there is an exponentially growing market of specialty food products that cater to those who can’t eat dairy, nuts, gluten, soy and a laundry list of other ingredients. Hallelujah! I’m fortunate that I can eat just about anything I want, but I taste test and review a variety of specialty products for the blog. Sometimes, say with a brand like Better 4U Gluten Free Pizza, the product is just as flavorful and delicious as its non-restricted ingredient counterpart. Other times, the specialty product might fall short in a head-to-head comparison. Such is the case with So Delicious Brand Dairy-Free Frozen Almond Milk Dessert. Continue reading Product Review: So Delicious Brand Dairy Free Frozen Almond Milk Dessert, Cookies ‘N’ Cream Variety →

HPY THX GVG

T Day Dinner
Bring It On

Last night, in celebration of me being grateful for the end of a hellish three-day work week, Geoffrey and I paid a visit to our current favorite Mexican restaurant, Tequila Chitos on West 23rd Street (recommendation: go there!) to drink a pitcher of sangria and engorge ourselves with a pre-Thanksgiving feast of enchiladas and chips. Mexican Food! Continue reading HPY THX GVG →

Meat Eaters Support Group? Not Necessary

Carnivore Support
Image Source via Passive Aggressive Notes

Because Meat is Awesome.