An Apple A Day

Cover art by Karla Nolan
Showing posts with label frozen foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frozen foods. Show all posts

April 30, 2009

The Secret is More than the Sauce


Morningstar Farms, introduced by Worthington Foods in the 1970s, has been around long enough to be very, very good at what they do. Now a division of Kellogg’s, Morningstar is currently the largest vegetarian food producer in the U.S.
They have just introduced three noteworthy additions to the menu: BBQ Riblets, Italian Sausages and Maple sausage patties. While all are delicious, the star is unquestionably the BBQ Riblettes.

There is nothing like the mouth-watering taste and texture of BBQ ribs dripping with Hickory sauce and so tender they just about melt in your mouth. BBQ ribs, however, no matter how much you may try to fool yourself—are not so good for you. And what if – for any number of reasons—you don’t eat meat or would rather not consume so much of it? Nothing like BBQ ribs? Until Now.

The Secret is not so much in the Sauce, although the sauce is mouth-wateringly good. The Secret is that there is no meat in these come-hither ribs. Packed two to a box—2 servings—they are best wrapped in aluminum foil and heated up in the oven (or perhaps the grill?) . In a pinch they can be microwaved in their package-pouches after making a few steam release openings. For the best texture and flavor though, use the oven. You will not believe you are eating vegetarian ribs. A ground-breaking vegetarian product.

The Maple Veggie Sausages also hit the mark—they taste like the real thing. The maple infusion adds an extra bite to the flavor and gives them a "country breakfast" vibe. Even a person who absolutely hated "veggie/soy" products, would like these sausages! Make your own healthy fast-food type breakfast sandwich at home with these patties. Save money and cholesterol!

The Italian Sausages are very tasty and versatile. Use them in sauces and pasta dishes or cook them on the grill. They can stand up to any recipe. Again—a healthy “trompe les tasebuds” alternative to artery-clogging, detrimental entrĂ©es.
Morningstar Farms products are available in the frozen food section of most grocery outlets. Try them for yourself. At the very least you will be very pleasantly surprised.

November 20, 2008

Vegetarian Steps

We asked several lifelong meat eaters who had always steered clear of anything “veggie” for most of their lives, to try the Boca Bruschetta Tomato Basil Parmesan Patties. Here are a few comments:

Said one young woman from PA: “I’ve got to tell you they taste undeniably good. They certainly did not taste like chewing on cardboard, which I partly expected it to before I popped one in a frying pan and cooked it with a bit of olive oil.”

Another respondent from NY commented: “I didn’t check the fat/calorie content on the back of the box simply because I rarely do, but after I micro-waved and ate the Boca Bruschetta Tomato Basil Parmesan “burger,” I checked. I was surprised to find that the pattie I had just consumed had a measly 70 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Truth is, the pattie tasted so good I certainly expected it to have much more fat/calories. And now, I have begun taking an interest in these vegetarian “meat” products. So, have I been “converted” to Boca? Surprisingly, yes.”

Said a now-veggie convert from CT: “I am hooked. From now on I will be sure to have a more open mind when it comes to trying vegetarian alternatives. If they all are as good as the Boca Bruschetta Tomato Basil Parmesan burger, then I was missing something.”

Don't miss out. Give them a try yourself.

October 16, 2008

Once in Love with Amy…

...always in love with Amy's Kitchen, produced by Amy’s Kitchen, founded in 1987 by Rachel and Andy Berliner,--and yes, there really an Amy—their daughter, who was born around the same time as the company. Amy’s still retains the culture of a family business, even though it has grown over the years.

Amy’s Kitchen offers a wide selection of vegetarian meals and snacks. Focusing on pizza this time around, we tried several varieties: Margherita Pizza, Cheese & Pesto Pizza with Whole Wheat Crust, Spinach Pizza and regular Cheese Pizza.
(Some other varieties include Soy Cheeze Pizza, Rice Crust Spinach Pizza). Bought frozen at most grocery chains, they are best cooked in the oven for about 25 minutes.

Everyone loved them--the varieties, the freshness, the portion size, the ingredients. Some had thought that the pizzas would less caloric than they are. But, they were happy to just eat a little less and balance it out with a salad and/or soup.

These are not “diet foods.” They are foods for a healthy diet.