Sol Cuisine - Crispy Chik'n - Plant Based Bites

pic from site - not my image

Last night I was craving something to eat, but I didn't want to cook something too time-consuming. 

Since I like trying out new things, I have the habit of going to the store with a list but then seeing something that interests me... and into the cart it goes. I wouldn't necessarily call it impulse-buying completely since I do read and review the item to see if it's something that I will like. (Yeah, I don't put EVERYTHING in my cart that catches my eye.)

Saffron Road Crunchy Chickpeas - Honey Roasted

Every Thursday, a number of my friends and I get together just to be social. It started off as a Stephen King marathon of sorts since a lot of his work was coming out as movies and mini-series, but then we started also watching other horror movies from our childhood to now.

And sometimes we just drank.

ZAZUBEAN - Pomegranate & Hazelnut with Coconut Sugar

One day after work on my way to my friend's house for a weekly friend get together, I stopped by a store for some wine (like you do), and as an impulse buy, I got a chocolate bar that looked promising. (To be fair and totally honest, the pomegranate caught my eye first... and then there was the coconut aspect. It being chocolate was just a bonus at that point.)

The front label also says that it's chocolate with coconut milk which sounds extra yummy and promising.

Opening the bar makes me think of when Charlie opened his Wonka bar and found his Golden Ticket... but I wasn't expecting anything but chocolate in this case.

Removing the bar from the foil wrapper, the chocolate is sectioned in small rectangles like a Hershey bar. Right away, I can smell the fruit mixed with the chocolate which is happy-making on its own. Breaking off a section, I can see the hazelnuts mixed into the chocolate, and as I chew it, everything blends well together. I get a little bit of everything - nothing overpowers the taste. I can't taste any of the coconut, but that's most likely because it wasn't an ingredient per se - the sugar and milk mixed together with everything else results in a great final chocolate bar. I think the only obvious way I could taste the coconut would be if there were shredded bits in it, but I feel the milk at least helped with the smooth and creamy texture.taste.

Tasty tasty chocolate of the Underworld!

The bar is 3oz and 55% cacao. One serving is half a bar (or 1.5oz) and is 240 calories.

In checking out the website, they have other chocolate bars with fun-sounding names that I'm curious to try. But first, I need to finish this bar.

https://www.zazubean.com/coconut-sugar-chocolate
https://www.zazubean.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Shiitake Mushroom Harvest Chips - BBQ Flavor

I have had mushroom chips before, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if they were these.

I'd first heard about them in conversation with some friends, and then I had them later at a Halloween party.

So as you can tell, my knowledge of this topic is vast.

When I open the bag, I don't really smell anything - no mushroom or BBQ - nothing.

The chips themselves look like mushroom caps, but the stems are still there so from the drying out/baking process (not sure how they're prepped)...

[reads back of package]

Oh! "We lightly cook our BBQ flavored Shiitake Mushroom Chips using a vacuum frying process which uses a lower temperature to preserve the natural flavor and provide a crunchy texture making them ready for a snack or salad topper."

Guess that answers that then.

They feel like they're coated in some kind of seasoning, but the touch isn't too dusty or leave any mess. I don't really taste any BBQ flavor, but there is a slight sodium content - not a lot, but enough to taste.

They are quite crunchy, and for someone who likes mushrooms, they are quite tasty. I can't imagine adding them to a salad unless I crumpled them up a bit, but overall I like them a lot. I just wish they came in a bigger bag.

Speaking of the bag...

The bag is 1.7oz with 170 calories per serving. (A serving is half a cup which leaves two servings per bag.) That's why there need to be bigger bags dammit.

There it is. I've finished the whole bag. Two whole servings to myself. Sheesh!

https://paradisegreenfood.com/products/bbq-shiitake-mushroom-50g
https://paradisegreenfood.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Torie & Howard Chewie Fruities

While at Whole Foods one day, I started to crave something sweet. Normally I lean toward sour gummies or mochi or maybe even something from a bakery, but being at Whole Foods - I had to make do.

So in the candy aisle, I found some fruit chews that piqued some interest. And now... in no particular order...

Meyer Lemon & Raspberry

I didn't really start appreciating lemon until I was older... at least double-digits. The most lemon I ever had at the time was either lemonade or lemon on my fish for dinner. In elementary/junior high, I had Lemonheads (aka SUGAR) and then later on lemon pastries and assorted desserts.

My appreciation for lemon treats only grew from there.

And from there we go here, and right off the bat, the candies (all flavors) remind me of Starburst or Mamba. (I was more of a Starburst kid than Mamba, but if you put a Mamba candy in front of me, I wouldn't say no.)

Unwrapping one, the Meyer lemon scent was strong (not too strong but strong enough to make me smile), and it was a genuine lemon smell - all naturally sweet and lovely.

With the package being yellow, and my mind focusing on the "lemon" part, I had thought the chews themselves would be yellow, but they had a pinky hue to them - which makes sense since they have raspberry in them, too.

The flavor is not overly sweet - just sweet enough. And they are a little hard to chew at first but start to soften after a while.

Blood Orange & Honey

I can't remember the first time I had a blood orange, but I do remember thinking they looked really cool when I saw one cut open and immediately wanted to try it. They taste MUCH different than regular oranges and have since embraced them in desserts, drinks, and other assorted consumable treats.

To be honest, I had only intended on getting one pack of chews, but then when I saw "blood orange" - I wanted that one, too, so I ended up getting all three since... well... why not?

This flavor really had no scent at all - at least to me.

These chews were light orange in color.

The flavor was noticeably orange, and I could taste the honey which was lovely.

And yes - they were also hard to chew but softened quickly.

Pomegranate & Nectarine

This was the main flavor I wanted to get. I love practically everything pomegranate - ever since I heard the mythology store of Persephone and Hades... and then got to have one? Yes, the fruit is a lot of work, but I still love the fruit and the flavor.

The color was oddly similar to the blood orange chew which I thought off since pomegranates are a deep red, and even though the blood orange fruit is technically a dark, reddish-orange, it was still technically orange.

And the smell? I smelled mostly nectarine and nothing really of the pomegranate - which was a little depressing.

The flavor was good though - I definitely could taste both flavors, one not really overpowering the other.

*******

A serving size is one whole package -which is 2.1oz (59.5g)... and 238 calories.

These chews were never really my cup of tea type of candies - but they were good. They do have a sour pack I would like to try so we'll see about those, but these chews will do good in a pinch if you're just looking to sate a slight sweet craving.

http://www.torieandhoward.com/
http://www.torieandhoward.com/categories/chews.html

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

T-POPS - Tokyo Style Popcorn

If you know me, you know I love an Asian market. Whenever I see one while running errands or find on Yelp by accident, I try to make a note for later to go there and check out what they have.

On the way home from work one day, I was running some errands, and in the shopping plaza I was at, there was an Asian market - so I went in.

Usually, the method to my madness while shopping (unless I'm pressed for time or know for a fact I'm there for something specific), I walk the store - taking note of the things that catch my interest, and then if enough things interest me, I'll go back up front for a basket or cart and do some shopping.

So now... in no particular order...

Earthy & Aromatic Nori (Toasted Seaweed) [120 calories]

It smells like nori - a little salty but not overly-seasoned.

The popcorn itself looks like regular salted popcorn (no butter), and it feels like it may have been dusted with something. lighted dusted with minced seaweed and has the usual feel of salted popcorn.

The taste is great. I love my popcorn salted but not overly so, and this is perfect.

Savory & Rich Tarako (Salted Cod Roe) [120 calories]

I can't really place the smell. It's not unpleasant, but it is a little confusing.

It looks like regular popcorn to me, but the taste? It's much saltier than the nori popcorn.

Saltier than nori and even though my PMS would love this salt, me as a person enjoys less salt.

Sweet & Creamy Matcha (Green Tea) [140 calories]

The smell is not sweet, but it has that matcha scent (combined with the popcorn itself, the matcha scent is slightly masked).

The look reminds me of Fiddle Faddle or Crunch n Munch - as if it were toffee coated, but I don't smell any sweetness at all.

But it tastes sweet. I'm trying to find the matcha flavor but can't find it. If anything, it tastes perhaps of a matcha latte - like matcha mixed with milk Good but I taste sweeter than plain matcha

Light & Toasty Sesame (Nori & Salt) [110 calories]

This one smells really light, and the popcorn looks like popcorn.

The flavor was most likely popped using sesame oil due to the name, and I really like that flavor. (I should try popping popcorn with sesame oil next time.) I get maybe a whisper of the nori which is fine, but it doesn't stand out. The flavor is light, not overpowered with any seasoning.

I really like it.

Spicy & Aromatic Curry (Mixed Spices & Herbs) [110 calories]

HELLOOOOOO CURRY!

Okay, I have tried a variety of curry food items, and sometimes the curry can get a little heavy-handed. With this flavor, it again looks like regular popcorn, no seasoning visibly present. It definitely smells of curry, but when you eat it? The taste is not overpowering and very tasty

*******

Each bag is 21 grams, and a serving size is one whole bag.

My favorites from this batch were the Toasted Sesame and Nori. The others were okay, but they don't stand out to me like the two I mentioned. I need to go back and get more at some point. And also to see if they came out with any other flavors.

https://www.takaokayausa.com/collections
https://www.takaokayausa.com/products/t-pops-nori-popcorn
https://www.takaokayausa.com/products/t-pops-tarako
https://www.takaokayausa.com/products/t-pops-matcha
https://www.takaokayausa.com/products/t-pops-sesame
https://www.takaokayausa.com/products/t-pops-curry

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

PS... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

dang Toasted Coconut Chips - Savory Bacon

Okay. I found another coconut chip in my stash so hey - why not talk about it now?

First off - BACON!

I often joke being Filipino that pork is one of my basic food groups, but yeah - I love pork. Oddly enough I don't eat it as much as I used to, but I still partake once in a while.

Is it just me or does that sound similar to "I only drink socially"?

Anyway, back to these bacon coconut chips.

Once I opened the bag, I smell bacon right away. No coconut. Just bacon.

The coconut slivers look toasted - they have a light brown hue. And there's no powder on them.

Tasting one chip, I can taste a little bit of bacon, but this snack is vegan. So let me explain.

The ingredients are coconut, Bacon Seasoning, and Coconut Oil. The "Bacon Seasoning" is comprised of: Cane Sugar, Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Chili Powder, Pepper, Bacon Flavor.

What the frak is "Bacon Flavor"? I can understand calling something "Bacon Seasoning" and then listing all the spices that make up that seasoning. That's like with Pumpkin Spice or Chai Spice, but bacon flavor in bacon seasoning?

Anyway, moving on.

The bag is 2.82oz and lists one serving as an ounce - leaving three servings per bag.

Overall, this treat wasn't my favorite. As much as I love bacon, I would prefer bacon-flavored treats -vegan or otherwise - to actually taste like bacon. And these tasted like barbecue chips to me, and if I wanted those, I'd just buy those chips.

https://dangfoods.com/
https://dangfoods.com/collections/dang-toasted-coconut-chips

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Hungry Buddha Coconut Chips

I will be perfectly honest - as much of a lover of coconut I am, I'm not really a coconut chip eater. Well... at least not solo. If it's in a trail mix or something, I'll partake - but this snack is not something that comes to mind when I feeling a bit peckish.

But when I saw the following two items, I immediately became intrigued so I picked them up to try later.

Disclaimer: I'm not a spicy person by any means. It's only been until my later years that I will randomly not only crave spicy food but tolerate it, but it's completely random. I can't have had - say a ghost pepper and be okay with it only to go to a restaurant down the road and order a ghost pepper dish there. Again - my body is random so I have to always do the meek taste test and if it's okay (aka I don't die or hack up a lung), then I can eat the rest of whatever else was offered to me.

Wild Wasabi

Smells okay. Granted the only time I've ever truly "smelled" wasabi was when I put too much in my soy sauce while eating sushi and almost snarfed it up. (I'm pretty sure in this context you can guess what I mean by "snarf" - and no, not the creature from Thundercats - but even if you're not exactly right with what I mean, I'm pretty sure you'd be close enough.)

Back to the smell - it smells okay, but I can't smell coconut. I do smell a little... something? - but not coconut or wasabi.

The coconut chip feels and looks toasted, the color a light brown hue. There's no seasoning dust or anything on it - just the coconut itself.

Ahhh... there it is. It's baked in. How? I have no idea, but it's really in there. It tastes like the coconut was dusted with wasabi paste or powder. The wasabi isn't overwhelming - only giving a hint of spice and that's it. There's a bit of a salty taste to it but again, not a lot - only a hint.

I really like these.

Smokin' Sriracha

Where I couldn't smell anything from the Wasabi bag, I definitely smell sriracha from this bag. No coconut - just sriracha.

They (of course) feel toasted. However, they look very much like a barbecue potato chip - slightly orange-red.

And the taste - THE TASTE?

I immediately thought "barbecue potato chip." The flavor is just as subtle as the wasabi - there but not overpowering. In the beginning, I wasn't feeling any heat. I tried a few more - still nothing. Then I grabbed a small handful, and that's when I started to feel the heat. But it's not too much. It's just enough.

These bags are 40g each and are 250 calories per serving - one serving being the whole bag.

I like these - I REALLY like these. I would say of the two, the wasabi was my favorite. Thank goodness they come in such small portions or I may make myself sick eating too much of them.

https://www.buddhabrandscompany.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae