Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Vegan MoFo: Tofurky Tuesdays!



I have always been a busy girl.  In high school I was in the marching band (TUBA!), jazz band (TENOR SAX!) and swam on a year round club swim team (GO LAKEWOOD AQUATICS!) and was seasonal water polo player (GO BEACH!).  In college, I was just as busy.  Working two jobs and going to school.  And now, working a full time job, testing for and writing cookbooks, writing freelance for Answers.com, and of course, keeping up with this blog!  So easy, convenient, tasty foods are always a turn on for me.

When I was going to Brooks College and working at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool (around 1998-1999) I would get up at 4 am to get to work by 5 am, work until 8 am and head to school until the afternoon.  Then, I would head back to work after school.  On my way to school from work, I would stop by 7-11 and grab a Hot Pocket, heat it up in the microwave there, and eat it waiting on the bus bench.  I did this 4 or 5 days a week.  Probably not a very nutritionally sound way to eat, but it was warm, cheap, and tasty, and did the job just fine.  I haven't had a Hot Pocket since I went vegan, obviously, and to tell you the truth, I don't think I have had one since those days on the bus stop.

The fine folks over at Turtle Island Foods, makers of Tofurky products, in conjunction with Hot Ice Media were kind enough to send me a sample pack of the new Tofurky Pockets.  I was able to taste just a bite at the Vida Vegan Conference last spring but I was super excited to get full sized samples to sink my teeth into.  I haven't found these at Whole Foods yet, so this was an extra special treat.  (I also received a sample of the pot pie, but I will save that review for another day.)

I had all three flavors to try.  I will give you my opinions on each individually, but let me start with some overall thoughts.  These are a great convenient way to get some hot food in your belly fast.  They are perfect to keep at work, if you have a freezer and microwave at work.  They cook up in the exact time stated on the box.  The crust on all three flavors was less flaky and more doughy than I thought it would be, but I actually prefer it that way, so for me, that was a bonus.  Plus, the crust is whole grain.



I started with the Turk'y Broccoli and Cheddar.  This was very intensley filled with brocolli flavor and fresh green broccoli.  Almost too much broccoli.  Well, not really, but there was a lot of broccoli.  If you like broccoli, you will love this.  The cheese sauce was good, not too much, but a little thin, and the turk'y bits were pretty much what was to be expected, a little bite of cubed Tofurky.  Tasty and chewy and meaty.



Next up was the Pepperoni Pizza.  This was pretty much exactly wht I remember a Hot Pocket to taste like.  It was perfect.  There was sauce, cheese and pepperoni in every bite, and the crust had an herb blend on top that gave it an extra bit of Italian goodness.  I think this was my favorite of all three flavors.



I finished my sampling with the BBQ Chick'n.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this one.  The picture on the box made me think it would be boring.  Just chicken chunks and BBQ sauce.  Now even though, that is exactly what it was, it was good!  The sauce was sweet and tangy and the chick'n was chewy and meaty.  The wheat crust played nicely with the sweet sauce which would have been too sweet otherwise.

My final verdict is that these are awesome.  Each package comes with two pockets and my husband sampled the other pockets.  He feels the same.  They are great to have in the freezer for a quick meal or snack.  He loves the convenience of frozen meals, especially since I work at night a lot and he is on his own for dinner.  And as a lazy vegetarian (He gets such inspiration from John McDevitt's Blog.) these are right up his alley.  I don't have to worry about what he will make for dinner with these available.  So, hopefully they will arrive on shelves in my neighborhood soon!

On to today's giveaway!  Follow the prompts in the widget below to win a Tofurky prize pack filled with yummy Tofurky products and coupons.  Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

42 comments:

Erica Rose said...

I've been keeping an eye out for them at WF, too. Nothing yet, but I'm super excited to try them asap!

Donna Ralston said...

I love everyone I've tried. I do love the kielbasa on the grill!

Out in Them Sticks said...

My favorite tofurkey products has to be the beer brats. :)

Out in Them Sticks said...

*product* ugh.

Cadry said...

The peppered deli slices are probably my favorite Tofurky product.

Liza said...

I've been looking for these! I love the peppered deli slices, too.

Allicia said...

I love the tofurkey roast

Aimee Douglass said...

The Italian sausage, although I have the new andouille in my fridge just waiting to be used.

Beedi said...

I really like the smoked deli slices!

Crystal said...

I <3 tofurky pizzas!

Em said...

These sound perfect for my boyfriend's lunch! We eat food cooked from scratch for dinner but lunches are a little more easy going and he loves the tofurky pizzas.

sonja said...

the tofurkey cheese pizza

Joni Marie Newman said...

I love those too!

palindrome said...

I love the deli slices - just the plain turkey ones!

Leah said...

I love everything tofurky, the pizzas, the slices, can't wait to try their new pockets and quiches!

Embley Veronica said...

My favorite is the full-on holiday tofurkey dinner. I miss the "drumsticks" they originally came with, though!

Anonymous said...

My favorite product is the tofurkey roast.
KathyD

Dana Vickerson said...

i like tofurkey sandwich slices!

Terri Cole said...

I like the smoked 'turkey' deli slices. Hubs and I recently had the roast dinner package and it was pretty tasty as well.

gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com

Josh said...

I love the lunchmeats (the roast beef was really good in a reuben). The new "artisan" sausages are pretty tasty as well...they're like a better-executed Field Roast sausage (no giant chunks or crumbly "meat" parts).

Lyndsay O. said...

I haven't tried the hot pockets yet, but I love the Tofurky sausages (all kinds), so I'm sure I would love them. Thanks for the chance to win!

Lizzie Bordello said...

My absolute favorite is the deli slices that come in the blue package...oven roasted, I think they are? So freakin' good.

Karen said...

These look delicious, can't wait to try these! My favorite Tofurky product so far are their brats..so yummy.

Annie said...

These look great...I hope they come to my area soon! My favorite is the Italian sausage--

Nan said...

Tofurky is essential in our frig and freezer! Just made a Tofurky pepperoni, onion, pepper and olive pizza. The Tofurky is a fooler....tastes like pepperoni! Great job.

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the kielbasa

kelly g. said...

The pizzas, no question!

jacqui said...

Not a lot of the Tofurkey line in my area. I do like the kielbasa, though! I wish there were more choices around here. Small towns... what's a veggie gal to do?

Kelly said...

I love Tofurky's beer brats unabashedly!

Anonymous said...

I like their tempeh bacon!

Courtne

Tamara said...

Their brats rock!

Sherry said...

We like the beer brats, too, cooked in sauerkraut.

luminousvegans said...

I used to love hot pockets and since you say that the pizza one tastes like it, I really wanna try it! Thanks for the review!

Heather B said...

Tempeh Bacon. So very good on salads!

~ Cee ~ said...

Definitely the Tofurky® Feast! What is a holiday without it? We tend to do our own marinade to feel like we're doing *something* cooking-wise, and we make a lot of extra sides and desserts, because it's really all about those in our house, but we love our Tofurky! ~Cee~

Sarah said...

My fav is the Tofurky Roast - I can eat a whole one by myself w/in 24 hours. LOVE.

I also love the peppered slices and the thanksgiving-y slices with cranberries. So much awesome.

Jared said...

These new Tofurky products look so awesome!

Eva said...

I like the beer brats! But haven't gotten around to trying many other tofurky products..

Anonymous said...

I love the tofurky roast, the gravy is especially delicious!

bryanxvx said...

Italian sausage

Jessica said...

i like the "deli meat" sandwich slices

Eeee said...

My favorite tofurky product would have to be one of the deli slices flavors (not the Italian nor the peppered flavor though). I have only bought them a very few times since they seem so expensive. My college budget and I would love to win this give-away <33 As well as my taste-buds!

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All recipes written by me, Joni Marie Newman, unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to refer to or link back to any of my recipes, but please ask for permission, and remember to give credit when reprinting recipes in their entirety. I do provide links to affiliate programs (such as Amazon) in which I receive a small commission for items purchased. I do not provide paid reviews. All reviews done on products or books are of my own unsolicited opinion. On occasion I may receive a book or product to review. I will note when this is the case, but rest assured, it will not affect the authenticity of my review. Thanks!--Joni