A Good Vegan Substitute for Chicken Tenders: Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders

I wanted to share this with you guys because I said that I would tell you about the substitutes I found in my last post. I actually tried these "chicken tenders" awhile ago, but haven't written about them. These are good for days when you just want to throw something in the oven and get your protein fix. I know that processed and frozen foods aren't the best for you, but some days, you just need to treat yourself.

The cooking instructions say to bake them for 20 to 25 minutes, but I usually bake them for less time because my oven tends to burn them. These are pretty delicious and convincing, though. I love to cut them into little pieces and put them on pizza. They're also really good with any sauce: ketchup, sriracha, and Dijon mustard.

I'm also planning on making a vegan "Chicken Parmesan" with these (as soon as I get the time!) They would probably also be super delicious in a wrap with bean sprouts, Italian dressing, and cashew cheese or vegan tzatziki sauce.

What are your thoughts on Gardein products? 

Product Review: Good Belly Probiotic Juice Drink

While visiting the health food store to pick up some Daiya vegan mozzarella the other day, I came across Good Belly Probiotic Juice Drink. Because I really believe in the use of probiotics for digestive health, and because I was craving a good fruit juice, I decided to try it.

There were 3 different flavors: Mango, Blueberry Acai, and Strawberry. I decided to go with the Blueberry Acai. There's nothing like superfruit to make you feel better. According to Good Belly's website, this is the only probiotic juice drink like it in the US. You can also find it in Europe. They recommend that you drink 8 ounces of this drink a day for 12 days to really feel results.

I really like to drink this juice with ice, and though I haven't reached the 12-day-mark yet, I'm feeling better. I'm not bloated, and my stomach isn't bothering me at all. The flavor is good, it has a little bit of a weird aftertaste, but I've found that the ice eliminates that a bit. I'm thinking about adding this to a smoothie, so I'll have to let you know how that turns out.

If you're looking for a good, vegan probiotic product that's not a pill, I definitely recommend this juice drink.

Find it at: Whole Foods, Wegman's, Local Health Food Stores. (Good Belly's website has a store locator). 

Visit Good Belly's Website.

Product Review: Lotus Biscoff Spread:

After raving over this Biscoff Spread for months, my grandma gave me a jar of it when I was home over Christmas. I can't remember where she said that she got it, but she kept telling me how good it was, and she was so excited that it was vegan and that I could eat it.

Coined "Europe's alternative to peanut butter," this spread is truly delicious. Made with Lotus Biscoff cookies, it tastes like ginger snaps with touches of both cinnamon and brown sugar.

Though I love my peanut butter, this is a great replacement for days when I'm feeling a sweeter, more decadent flavor. This spread can be used to add more flavor to desserts, on toast, with fruit, as an icing for cookies or brownies, and in dressings. The possibilities are pretty much endless. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, so be sure to go pick it up at Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Wal Mart, or anywhere else you can find it. (There are more locations listed at biscoff.com - link below). 

Here's the link to the site: http://biscoff.com/biscoff-spread/.

Product Review: Lightlife Smart Dogs:

I give these dogs: ★★★★★ (Better tasting than hot dogs without all the fleshy by-products). ☺

I fried these in a pan on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Though I would prefer to use the grill, I had an unfortunate incident lighting it a few weeks back, a situation in which my hair has not yet fully recovered from. Needless to say, I've been steering clear of the grill.

I like to top these with a few generous servings ketchup, diced red onions, and Dijon mustard. Is anyone else as obsessed with Dijon as I am? I like to mix 2 tablespoons Dijon with 2 teaspoons agave nectar to make a Honey-Dijon-Like sauce. I could eat it by the spoonful!

Anyways, these are delicious. I would have taken a picture of the veggie dog that I made if I wasn't so busy inhaling it. Sorry! ❤❤❤

PS: A healthy recipe involving sweet corn and white beans should be up by tomorrow afternoon! ❤