Saturday, February 5, 2011

Tasty and easy. Vegan convenience foods.

Yep, even I rely on these easy ready made (or almost ready made) convenience foods, because, honestly, after a long day at work, sometimes I just don't feel like cooking from scratch.

Here are two of my new favorites: Gardein Beef Strips and Nacho Mom's Queso.  I got these at Whole Foods in Laguna Beach.  The Queso was really affordable.  Only $4 something for a pretty decent size jar.  The Gardein isn't really cheap at all.  About $10 a pound from the prepared foods department.  I haven't seen the strips packaged yet, so I get them from the deli department.

Here are the Strips prepared in a "beef" and broccoli bowl:
Gardein Vegan Beef Strips
The strips are very eerily realistic.  Stringy like real beef.  So, if that is a turn off to you, well, then you won't like them.  BUT if you are trying to win over some omnis, well then, add these strips to a stir fry or bowl or fajitas, and dare them to even notice.

Here's the Queso on, well, Nachos of course!
Nacho Moms Vegan Queso
The Queso comes in two flavors; original and fire roasted.  I like them both.  The crazy thing about this stuff is how low in calories it is.  AND fat free to boot!  10 calories per serving, means you could gorge yourself on the entire jar for only 160 calories!  WOOT!  Try to say that about traditional queso.  This is almost diet food.  HA!

I will post later about my Toffalo Wings I plan on making for tomorrow's big game.  YUM!  I'm not really into footbal, but I do enjoy the commercials.

3 comments:

Jodie said...

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, those strips are the same as the Trader Joe's Beefless Strips (refrigerator section, with the tofu). I don't know exactly how much they are, but it's considerably less that $10/lbs. They come in 8oz. packages.

Healthy on Purpose said...

Yum! We are getting a Trader Joes in Kansas City this year. I am so excited! I am a CA native and miss it. I haven't seen the Gardein strips before so am excited to try them - I love having Gardein on hand too for quick meals. Our favorite are the beef tips. And just a note, 500 Vegan Recipes is my FAVORITE cookbook! LOVE it - we are newly vegan as of June last year. Thanks for the great recipes!

celine said...

I think the TJ strips are 3 bucks for 8 ounces, so basically 6 bucks for 1 pound. took me a while to like them, but as you said: they're really great when you're in a pinch and now I sometimes find myself dipping them in salsa and having a blast doing it.

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