What We Tried Today: Field Roast Vegan Sausage

A few people told me Field Roast's meatless sausage are tastier than Tofurky, so I decided to pick up a pack the last time I went to the grocery store.  I cooked the sausage with red & green bell peppers and rice.

Likes:

*The whole family enjoyed the sausage

*It was a little spicier than I expected but not enough to turn anyone off (including kids)

*Good ingredient list that includes potatoes, dried apples, and spices (Smoked Apple Sage version)

*Makes for a quick meal with sauteed vegetables or tofu scramble

Overall:

I think Field Roast sausages are a perfect introduction to vegan meat alternatives.  Also, the variety I purchased didn't have soybeans or soy byproducts; which I know can be a plus for some.

Don't expect these to taste exactly like traditional beef sausage (pretty close though).  Field Roast offers a delicious way to transition from conventional sausage.

Have you tried Field Roast sausage?

What We Tried Today: Gardein Crispy Tenders

A few weeks ago I picked up a bag of Gardein Crispy Tenders for lunch.  I was pleasantly surprised at how close the taste is to regular chicken. 

I decided to test them out on the fam for dinner and everyone enjoyed it. Simon actually suggested that I pack them in his lunch box. Woohoo!

Pros:

*Kid-Friendly

*A great way to transition from eating conventional chicken nuggets -Tastes just like regular chicken

*No crazy ingredients-Being able to pronounce all of the ingredients is another huge plus

Cons

*Takes about 25 minutes to bake-this isn't a major con but I was hungry lol

To save time, you can thaw them out and use the microwave instead.

*Contains wheat & soy-I know some people have allergies and problems digesting these foods

Both a Pro & Con

*Pricey-You get 10 (kind of small) tenders for about $5~Since we're a family of 5, I had to buy $15 worth to feed us for one night.  I also picked up a bag of french fries and broccoli, so the total came to about $22. It would cost a lot more to eat out at a restaurant, so this would make a great occasional dinner.

Ideas for the lunch box and beyond with Gardein Crispy Tenders:

Wrap a few tenders in a tortilla with lettuce and cucumber slices-top with a sauce of your choice

Make a basic garden salad and top with warm tenders

Have you tried any Gardein products?  Let me know what you think.

Let's connect. Follow me on Twitter and/or Facebook.

Since I love music just as much as I enjoy cooking, Pandora is usually playing in the background while I explore vegan recipes. Starting today, I will feature a "song in my head" at the end of each food related post. This idea was inspired by Byrant Terry's writing in Vegan Soul Kitchen.

Song in My Head While Cooking

Al Green's "Tired of Being Alone" performance onSoul Train

R.I.P. Don Cornelius

Tofurky Stir-Fry

“In 2011, livestock operations account for 30% of the Earth’s entire land surface use-much

of which has been deforested to create pastureland.” Forks Over Knives

Tofurky sausage may look like typical sausage, but this tasty alterative to meat is made from soybeans and is gluten-free.

Ingredients:

1 pack of Tofurky Italian Sausage, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

½ half red onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon of basil

1 teaspoon of all-season salt

Instructions:

Cook sausage for 7 minutes over medium heat.

Remove from heat and rest them in a bowl.

Cook your chopped vegetables for 4 minutes over medium heat.

Add the sausage back in and cook for 2 more minutes. Season to taste.

Serve with your choice of rice or noddles.