New: The Reformulated Daiya Cutting Board Shreds are Good!

NEW FORMULA DAIYA CUTTING BOARD SHREDS (VEGAN CHEESE) REVIEW

Daiya Farmhouse block cheddar has always tasted good to me, but their shreds left something to be desired. In a pinch they were not horrible, but definitely not my favorite. I mainly used them in quesadillas as a binder and a little ooey gooey goodness, but they had a bit of a strange flavor and got a bit gummy or sticky rather than melty.

Now the company has a new formula for their shreds, and they are really good and much more "authentic" compared to dairy cheese. They melt incredibly well, have good stretch, and great flavor. I only think they are great melted or cooked, however. They are not disgusting eaten cold, but they are worlds better when melted.

Nutritionally they really aren't what I consider a health food and only offer trace nutrients, but they are not too high in fat and contain no cholesterol since they're vegan. The sodium is a bit high, but most cheeses are high in sodium, so you'd be getting that anyway in most cases.

The price is comparable to other vegan cheese shreds. They come in an 8 ounce resealable bag. For someone like me who doesn't always go through a ton of vegan cheese shreds, the shreds can be frozen and still maintain great flavor, meltiness, and stretchiness when cooked. Sometimes if I don't freeze them they develop mold after about two weeks in the fridge, so I'd say once open in the fridge, a safe shelf life is 7-10 days.

I've tried the pepperjack, mozzarella, and cheddar varieties. I prefer the Farmhouse Cheddar block to the shreds, but I would use the shreds if I couldn't get the Farmhouse block. My favorite of the three varieties I've tried is the pepperjack flavor.

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Here are a few pictures from a cheese quesadilla and a grilled cheese sandwich I made with the mozzarella and pepperjack Daiya shreds:

Here's what the Daiya site has to say regarding the Pepperjack Cutting Board Shreds
The perfect pepperjack balances the rich, smooth depth of Monterey Jack with the vivid highlights of chile peppers and herbs. Introducing Cutting Board Pepperjack Style Shreds. Enjoy the artisan cheezy goodness anywhere you want a flavor boost, from dairy-free nachos to a lively breakfast casserole.
80 calories per serving / 0g trans fat per serving / 0mg cholesterol per serving

Ingredients for the pepperjack variety:
Filtered water, tapioca starch, coconut oil, non-GMO expeller pressed: canola and/or safflower oil, vegan natural flavors, potato protein isolate, sea salt, tricalcium phosphate, lactic acid(vegan), whole algal flour, konjac gum, xantham gum, red bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, yeast extract, inactive yeast.
[Other varieties have similar ingredients; they are dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and peanut/tree nut free according to the Daiya website.]

Daiya also makes other products from cheezcakes to salad dressings to pizzas and more - and I believe all of them are vegan. Find out more info about their products, recipes, and more at the Daiya website.

* Some links in this post are affiliate links.
This means if you click any of the links and then make a purchase,
there is no extra cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission.

Earth Grown Vegan Meatless Meatballs Reviews from Aldi: Classic and Zesty Italian

Each pack of Aldi's meatless meatballs cost less than $4, compared to other vegan meatballs which cost usually at least $1 more when they're not on sale. These bags come in a 16 ounce size versus the typical 12 ounces or so of more expensive brands, so you're getting more volume as well.

They are a bit smaller than some brands. Gardein's vegan meatballs are pretty big, so these are about half their size if memory serves me correctly. However, Nate's are pretty small and these are right around that size.

The "zesty" variety reminds me of little meatballs my Grandmom used to get at the authentic Italian grocer when I was little. I used to love them! Of course, my memory might be a bit off since that was over 25 years ago. Compared to other vegan meatball brands I've tried, they remind me of Nate’s as far as flavor and size, and I really like Nate's.

Aldi's vegan meatballs overall are a bit softer than I expected but not too soft and definitely not mushy at all. I baked mine at 400 degrees F rather than 375 and added an extra minute or two. They crisped way better that way. I haven't tried frying these yet. I find if I cook them directly in sauce they turn out slightly mushy and I prefer a crisper and firmer [plant-based] meatball.

Although both varieties were really good, I definitely prefer the zesty. It has a bit more flavor and I've become almost obsessed with them. They're really good and you should try them! I can't say for sure if they would "fool" a meat eater, but I do think many people, no matter what their diet or lifestyle choice, would enjoy these. I would say these are a great option for any vegan or vegetarian or those who love Meatless Mondays or are trying to decrease their meat consumption.

It's definitely nice to see more vegan items on the market these days, especially from a discount grocer. Aldi has lots of vegan items now, which is exciting! Check out their page: aldi.us/en/grocery-home/aldi-brands/earth-grown.

(Note: I haven't typed out the ingredients yet but may add that soon.)

Tofurky Ham & Cheese Style Pocket Review

I recently tried the Tofurky Ham & Cheese Pocket which is, of course, vegan. When I was younger I used to be obsessed with Hot Pockets, so I’m very glad to see a similar type product that is vegan. How does this one measure up?

THE CRUST

The crust looks really hearty and flavorful but isn’t anything magnificent, in my opinion. It’s actually a bit dry and bland, unfortunately. Perhaps Tofurky is trying to make a healthier “pocket” but it could use a little grease or something!

Also, it’s a bit too much of the bread and not enough filling. Now, I love love love bread, but for something like this there needs to be the proper balance of bread to filling. It’s not overwhelming, but I just feel the breading is a bit too much; maybe they need to add a tiny amount more of the filling inside for a better balance.

THE FILLING

The filling inside the pocket is really good! It’s perfectly juicy and flavorful enough that I don’t mind too much the lackluster outside bread part.

The cheese is really savory and good, no strange flavor and no aftertaste. Just the rich, cheesy flavor of comfort food! It’s not a strange sticky mess or the texture of glue, and it’s not runny liquid as some vegan cheese I’ve experienced. The “ham” bits are little slices that have a nice springy, meaty texture but not tough or hard to chew. They have a great flavor that the cheese complements well.

THE PRICE

At upwards of $4 for one pocket, the price is quite high. For a non-GMO vegan frozen convenience food that’s a healthier alternative to the more popular frozen pocket food, it is fairly reasonable but still a bit pricey.

OVERALL

While the vegan Tofurky Ham & Cheese Pocket is really tasty and satisfying, it could use a few improvements. I will definitely purchase this item again. It has 230 calories in one pocket and is high in protein and calcium with other nutrients. It’s a bit high in sodium as with most frozen convenience foods. There is no cholesterol in this item.

Because of the price and highly processed list of ingredients (ingredients provided under the pictures below), it is nice to have only as an occasional treat. I think even non-vegans would enjoy this item.

Tofurky also make pockets in a Pepperoni Pizza Style and a Turk’y, Broccoli & Cheddar version.

INGREDIENTS

Ham & Cheese: Crust: (Whole wheat flour, water, wheat flour enriched unbleached (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), organic cane sugar, non-GMO canola oil, dough conditioner (wheat starch, garlic powder), salt, yeast, ascorbic acid)

Filling: Water, Tofurky Ham (water, vital wheat gluten, organic tofu [filtered water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride], expeller pressed non-GMO canola oil, vegan natural flavors, potassium chloride, oat fiber, sea salt, carrageenan, wheat starch, granulated garlic, organic cane sugar, konjac, lycopene [from tomatoes], dextrose, purple carrot juice, vegetable glycerin, maltodextrin, spices, xanthan gum, natural smoke flavor), Vegan Cheddar Cheese (water, arrowroot flour, expeller pressed non-GMO canola oil, non-GMO coconut oil, pea protein, sea salt, vegan natural flavors, potassium chloride, gum arabic, nutritional yeast, lactic acid, konjac, vegetable glycerin, titanium dioxide [a naturally occurring mineral], xanthan gum, lycopene [from tomatoes], purple carrot juice, citric acid, riboflavin), rice starch, vegan natural flavors, citric acid, black pepper, natural smoke flavor, xanthan gum, maltodextrin)

Topping: Yellow cornmeal, paprika

Ab Roller Wheel by B-Max Sports (Review)

I’ve been wanting to get an ab roller for a number of years but never got around to it. I received this one at a discounted price to try it out. I like that it comes with a small foam matt for your knees. It’s also very easy to assemble, durable, and built well. It’s a heavy plastic with thick, padded handles.

I did have to look at a few videos on YouTube to see proper form and usage.

Works not only abs and core, but also arms, legs, and other areas depending on how you use it. Not too much time needs to be devoted to this so it’s nice to have such a thorough workout in such a short time. It does take some time to get the hang of it and use properly, at least in my experience.

It’s not the easiest exercise equipment I’ve used. I’d say it’s not for the very weak or novice users. It does take some time to get used to it, so be prepared for a slight learning curve and adjustment. My advice is to watch lots of videos and practice daily in front of a mirror. If it’s not used correctly it can be almost a wasted workout and you can even risk injury. As with any exercise equipment or routine, use common sense and discuss with a professional if necessary.