Gardein Vegan Riblet - Review

I don't do a lot of reviews.  Peoples tastes are so different that what might be good for me may be nasty for you.  That being said, this item was SO GOOD that I just had to tell the world (or at least everyone that happens to read or stumble upon this blog)

I've had never bought this item before, but I had tried the riblets form morning star farms back in the day.  I wasn't a huge fan although my boys enjoyed them on occasion.  I was looking for something to go with cole slaw that darling husband was craving, and I work late on Tuesday nights so I didn't have the time or energy to  do a lot of cooking.  Then I spotted these little babies in Whole Foods freezer.  What the heck, I'll give them a try.

I got home from work and instantly put the ingredients in the ice cream machine for strawberry ice cream, then started to frost a cake (it was my husbands birthday, but he had had his big birthday meal on Sunday night) I had made that morning.  I asked my son to please prepare the riblets while I finished what I was doing.  He had roasted potatoes before I got home.  In no time we had riblet sandwiches topped with coleslaw and roasted potatoes on our plates.

First bite - OMGoodness, this is delicious! I look to my sons to see what they were thinking.  It's unanimous - Gardein Riblets are indeed DELICIOUS!  Awesome texture, great tasting sauce, just the right size for a good size sandwich and pairs perfectly with homemade coleslaw.  Although not a weekly purchase we will buy these on occasion to keep in the freezer for nights like Tuesday when you want something yummy, but just don't feel like cooking for whatever reason. 

Is MimicCreme worth the expense?

A while back I decided to try the MimicCreme brand non dairy cream substitute. I tried the non-sweetened version because I always use non-sweetened non-dairy milks. I was a little excited as I thought about all the uses I could find for this product. Ultimately that was not to be the case. It was not at all pleasing. It has a gritty weird texture and very unpleasant taste. I think I ended up using less than half of the container and throwing the rest away. Something I absolutely hate doing but couldn't bare to use it and ruin a perfectly good recipe. Fast forward a year or so and I am shopping at my local health food store. They have the small containers of MimicCreme Coffee Creamers on sale. I love cream in my coffee and currently use a tablespoon of soy creamer for that rich indulgence. The ingredients listed on the label are almonds and cashews and only 10 calories per serving, soy creamer has 15. You certainly can't go wrong there. Maybe I was too hasty in judging it disgusting the first time I tried one of the products or just maybe the coffee creamer is better than the cream version. What ever the case I bought it on sale and waited till morning to try some in my coffee. Well it is done. I tried it. I ended up drinking half of my coffee and throwing the rest away. It is nasty. It is gritty and lumpy just like the first time even though I shook the bloody heck out of it and the flavor is bland and unpleasant. When you leave your coffee sitting untouched for a period of time you can actually see the cream in it because it sort of separates. Besides being visually unappetizing it has a bad texture and taste. I don't know how they can claim these products are anything at all like real cream. I can only speak for the varieties I have tried of course, but I won't be trying the others. In this vegan's honest opinion this product is not worth any price let alone the high price it actually costs.

Jokerz vs. Snickers and Mahalo vs Almond Joy!

Jokerz

Mahalo

Having recently read a description of Go Max Go's vegan candy bars and after recently having an insane craving for a Snickers bar, I decided that I must try a Jokerz bar. I have never been a big candy person and eating even a piece of a candy bar can satisfy my desire for one for months. Keeping this in mind, understand that as a teenager, I LOVED Snickers bars. I remember eating one once and thinking, how can anything possibly taste this delicious!? I also love coconut and almonds so the Mahalo bar sounded appealing as well.

The Jokerz bar was my first choice for taste testing. Upon opening the wrapper, I thought that perhaps somebody may have misrepresented the candy bar as a snickers alternative. It does look slighlty different. First bite. HEAVEN. Just what I remembered. It may have even been better than I remembered. I have not had an actual snickers bar in years and I have been told that my food memory stinks...but this candy bar ROCKED. I am not advocating candy bars as a healthy snack in any way. Candy is candy. Yes, this one is made from healthier and cruelty free ingredients but it is still candy. But for a once in a blue moon treat of an old childhood favorite, or something to put in a Christmas stocking, an Easter basket..or heck, even a valentines day package, it fits like a sumptuous vegan glove. ..so to speak, ; )

The Almond Joy version, Mahalo, was my second choice. It was also delicious. It was slightly sweeter than I remember an Almond Joy being. I actually didn't have any desire to finish the entire candy bar in one sitting. A piece here and a piece there was more than enough. I think that was because of the richness and sweetness of the coconut. Making it a great candy bar to share with a friend. I think I am candied out so I don't think I will be trying the other bars any time soon. Based on the two out of four being delicious, I am sure the others will be equally as wonderful.

My overall opinion of Go Max Go! candy bars is that they are wonderful replicas of childhood favorites. That perhaps are even better than their non-vegan counterparts. I think as a once in a while treat or for a special occasion they can be a convenient, cruelty-free indulgence.