Vegan Buffalo ArtiHearts & Plant Based Veggie Chips

I've teased a few of you about the mini haul I was able to get this passed weekend but I almost forgot about 2 items I got prior to that.  These Spicy Artichokes AKA Monterey Farms ArtiHearts Buffalo Flavor showed off the vegan "V" on the back of the package.  So I knew I had to try them at least once.  I found these at the Erie Giant Eagle a few weeks ago!  Tonight I put them in a Sun Dried Tomato Wrap and what I couldn't fit in the wrap I ate as-is and dipped in salsa.  Both were tasty but I will say due to their size they were a bit difficult to eat in the wrap.  I think they would be ideal for stand alone dipping or even thrown in a salad!

Next up are Brad's Veggie Chips CHEDDAR.  Again, they feature the "V" we tend to look for on the packaging.  They are also Raw, Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, etc.

These are NOT a new product but rather an updated, re-packaged product.

I'm almost finished with these and wanted to share them with you before I move on to other foods and snacks.  It's been a while since I had Brad's.  Mostly because when I do find them they are really pricey.  But the last time I went to the Whole Foods Market they were on sale for at least 2 bucks off so I was surely tempted.

Have you seen the flavored Artichoke Heart yet?  Have you tried them?  What did you think?

Oddz & Endz Prior to Christmas

I have to say that we have been pretty spoiled the last month or so in the snow belt!  NO SNOW!  That, however, is supposed to change today, tho.  This first photo was taken last week during one of my lunches.  It was a lovely day!  We were near 70 degrees some of the days!  Woot!

My father works for a company that deals with snacks and beverage companies and he gets free samples a lot.  He recently introduced me to Core Organics and I have to say they are AWESOME!  I have liked every flavor I have tried so far!  YUMMO!  They say VEGAN right on the bottle, too!

A few finds over at The Raw Food World for my last shipment I received were Chocolate Snakaroons and Lemon Snakaroons from Laughing Giraffe.

I also got some Chocolate Kale Chips, Sesame Dijon Zuke Chips, and Tomatoe Pesto Chips!  Woot!

I stocked up for a few breakfasts to keep at work with some Superfood Cereal Cups.  I needed to grab some more UNsalted Sun Dried Tomatoes to add to my pantry as well as 3 pounds of Raw Cashews!  One thing to highlight is my NEW FAVORITE...Salt and Vinegar Almonds!  YUMM!  Sometimes I crave vinegar...I know that is weird but I do...and already tried these almonds and they are AWESOME!

Some of the foods I have been making at home prior to the holidays was a vegan taco meat made out of chopped cauliflower, walnuts, and Coconut Aminos!  LOVED IT!

And this Hemp Seed & Hazel Nut Sour Cream!  Not bad!

Many more posts coming VERY SOON!

Vanilla Cacao Power Nuggets

Just a quick post today to show these little gems of a snack.  These are full of chocolatey goodness with notes of vanilla, highlighting various coconut products, as well as using the secret weapon of Apricot Kernel Butter.  Check out this recipe!

1/2 C Apricot Kernel Butter
1/4 C Cacao Powder
1/8 C Coconut Nectar
1 T Coconut Flour
1/2 T Coconut Sugar
1/2 tea Organic Vanilla

1 tea Garden of Life's Vanilla Flavored Protein

Pinch of Sea Salt

I stirred everything together, made the little balls, and set them in the frig for about 3 hours (which ended up being there over night after that, too!) and there you have it!  YUM!

First Raw Food World Shipment!

Just a quick blog post today but I do have more on tap!  I was so excited because my first big order from The Raw Food World arrived today! 

And boy-oh-boy was it like Christmas for me!!! 

I got these two raw food books that I cannot wait to jump into!


Then I got a slew of Kale Chips, raw crackers, flavored nuts, raw bread, Kelp Noodles, dried and flavored veggie chips...

I also got some snacks like raw cookies, for example and some nut butters such as Pili Nut Butter, Cashew Butter, Tahini, Hazelnut Cacao, etc.

I was able to locate some breakfast items as well like some grains and a Chai Breakfast that has up to 10 breakfast in the package!

This is a FIRST for me on almost ALL of these products and I'm very excited to try them!  I hope to review everything I got, too!  So stay tuned for that!

I shared almost 1 of everything with my 2 co-workers who are not raw, vegan, or even vegetarian!  They enjoyed almost everything.

Within this order I placed - I also stocked up on some nuts such as raw Cashews and raw Hazelnuts.  I gave some of those to my mother in law because those are her favorite NUT. 

I was lucky enough to get my hands on some dried fruits I am not able to locate in my area such as JuJubes, sweet cherries...and for my dad...Pineapple!!!!  YUM! 

There are some odds and ends throughout these photos so feel free to make comments on anything you see :)

And finally...the ultimate excitement of this shipment...The Berry Breeze!!!!  I've been wanting one of these for a while.  It goes in your refrigerator and keeps produce up to 5 times longer!!!  In addition it helps keep your frig clean, too!  YAY! 

And under the Berry Breeze you will see I bought a Bamboo Plate, too! 

I can't wait to jump right in and try these and write reviews on everything...but...first...I have to clean and stock the shelves!  It makes it FUN tho...when you are excited about stuff!!!! 

Have you tried anything you see here?  Let me know  your feedback!

Thankful ~ Quick Vegan Snacks!

I really enjoy simple snacks.  Especially since going vegan.  I have more of an appreciation for them now than I ever have.  I'm also thankful for my local "Herb Store" where I buy most of my bulk items as well as some snack to have while I'm at work! 

I'm kind of going backwards here - but I REALLY wanted to show you what I did for a quick and easy dessert last night! 

Underneath these cherries?  Raw dates rolled in coconut that I smushed down into a 'crust-like' base.  I then used some canned cherries that happened to be vegan that I found at a discount store a while back.  I would have used fresh but they are not readily available in my area at the moment.  I have shredded coconut on hand so I sprinkled that on top as well.  This was VERY satisfying and VERY MUCH a treat!  I only did a "mini pie"...I used a dish that we have on hand for dips/dressing/condiments.

In case you cannot picture what I am talking about with the dates rolled in coconuts...here's a photo!  I ate two small 'rolls' yesterday with my lunch, too!

Another thing I am thankful for is dried apricots!  When I was 3 years old my FAVORITE foods were dried apricots, lima beans, and sprouts!  My mom should have KNOWN I would grow up to be a vegetarian with a menu like that, eh!?  These are just a few things I have been thankful for this week!

Apple Cinnamon Flax Crackers

Hi there!  TGIF!  It's been a WEEK let me tell you!  But I am so happy I reached one of my mini goals this week and that was to do more with my dehydrator.  Yesterday I posted about some super awesome Protein Bars I made using the Garden Of Life Super Greens.  Today I have another recipe and idea for you using the Garden Of Life's Perfect Food Raw APPLE Flavor - Super Greens - YAY!  I made Apple Cinnamon Flax Crackers!


Here's what I used to make these Flax Crackers:

1/2 C Flax Seeds (Soaked)
1/2 C Water (for Soaking)
1 Scoop of the Perfect Foods Apple (see link above)
1/4 t Cinnamon

As you can see in the first photo that's what it looked like WET and going into the dehydrator.  I let these go over night and in the morning they were just the right texture.  Completely Dry, too!  The 2nd photo you will see what they look like as crackers all broke apart. 

I will say that these were quite Apple-Like.  The Powder itself has that nice flavor but also a sweetness, too!  It goes GREAT with cinnamon.  I will have more Cracker Ideas in the very near future.  If you have any flavor combos you are interested in please let me know!  In the meantime...check our Garden Of Life's Perfect Food Line!  Impressive!

Catching Up From Last Week

Well, hello there!  I really don't mean to NOT post last week!  Life seemed to have gotten in the way!  But I still have a lot to share with you since I did take pics and notes the whole time I was NOT blogging! 

Needless to say this is going to be a long post and a mish mash of different things that happened last week.  Hope you don't mind!

First off...leftovers!  I made this dish with Couscous, Peas, leftover Tempeh, and some seasonings.  No real recipe for this but an idea, rather.

As for this next photo - it's a picture of the Cashew Tomatillo Sauce or Dip I made last week!  Yes...I had bought some Tomatillos at our Farmers market and needed to use them. 

2/3 C (or more) of Cashews
About 7 to 8 Tomatillos
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Small Onion (I used a Stuttgarter Onion)*
1/2 tea Cumin
1 C Almond Milk

This turned out pretty tasty!  It had a nice kick to it from the Garlic and Tomatillos as well as the onion but it was also creamy and scoopable!

A little more about the Stuttgarter Onion I mentioned above...I got that from a local farmer as well.  It has a good, pungent flavor.  They are among the "Best Keepers" when in comes to onions which is nice.  They are smaller than Yellow Onions you would buy in the store and are more punchy and less sweet but still very flavorful.

Here's another photo of this dip I made with the Cashews and Tomatillos!  It's on a Flax Cracker.  I've kind of been on a Flax Cracker and Chia Cracker kick lately.  I finished up my Italian Zest ones from Foods Alive and now I am craving more!  I think I am going to try and make my own, soon, too!  I really LOVE Foods Alive Products and hope to place an order soon!  They have some really awesome products available!  I LOVE their Oils, Flax Crackers, Dressings, and their Maca Powder as well as their Nutritional Yeast!

I have so much to share with you and will be posting all this week - sometimes multiple posts in a day so please check back!  I also have a lot of new-to-me products I want to blog about, too, with more on the way!

Well, I did end up doing some roasted (Pan Fried) Chickpeas a while back as a side dish.  All I really did was use some of my Wildtree Garlic Dipping Grapeseed Oil and at the very end throw in just a pinch of the Rancher Steak Rub which is basically Pepper, Garlic, and Salt.  They were pretty good.  Quick and Easy, too!


I have been finding these neat little Vegan Facts online and on instagram and thought I would post a few from time to time.  Just as a spot check and friendly reminder for some, basically.  Plus...it gives me a reminder as well about certain foods I haven't had in a while. 

I usually eat a lot of different foods but I have REALLY been stepping it up with some old favorites as well as some new-to-me foods and have been incorporating more produce that I haven't tinkered with too much in the past.  When I worked at a Grocery Store 17+ years ago I used to challenge myself to pick up at least one new-to-me-produce item each week.  It was so fun and educational.

Speaking of trying new things...last week I made some Vegan Oatmeal Spelt Pancakes.  My mother thought this photo looked gross but the taste was pretty good, actually.  The reason I wanted to try these were to use and incorporate both Steel Cut Oats  as well as some Spelt Flour into a breakfast-type food.  I also wanted to push myself to try and tackle more breakfast foods - as you can see from my previous posts.

Here's the recipe for this one...

3/4 C Almond Milk
2 tea Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tea Grapeseed Oil (for oiling pan)
1/2 C Steel Cut Oats
1/2 C Spelt Flour
1 tea Baking Soda
pinch of salt if desired

I also drizzled Wholesome Sweeteners Maple Flavored Agave Syrup over top and it was very tasty!

The weekend of the 28th Hubby's Band played at the Amvets in Titusville, PA.  Here is a photo of him and the boys!  Nicole (Tom's Wife) and I went to watch them and have a few drinks. 

From left: Tom on the Mandolin, Bud on Guitar, Joel on Stand-Up Bass, John on Banjo (Dale's Uncle), and Dale on the end with Guitar.

It was a fun time.  I think Nicole and I will be going to more of their gigs.  We hope to get together for dinners more often, too!  We are talking about maybe even doing a long-weekend trip in the future as well.  We've tossed around the idea of trying to find a used RV or Camper/Van but we are looking for 'quite the deal'.

In other news - in the community where I live there was a recent teen suicide and rumor has it - the boy killed himself because of being bullied.  Bullying is a REAL problem in our society and it really MUST STOP. 

I'm going to try and look into outlets and groups in our area that support Anti-Bullying messages and activities.  I truly believe that Middle/High Schools are really tough place but I also think there is a lot of adult bullying and workplace bullying in our society as well as it all must end.

Catching up with Raw Revolution!

Today is CATCH UP Day!  Well, one of the MANY Catch Up Days, I guess!  First I want to start off with Raw Revolution!  If you have been to my site in the last month or two you may have seen my many posts about the different flavors of Raw Revolution Bars I have had the chance to try!  Well, today I am going to share a few more experiences with you!  These are GREAT Bars!  Raw Rev has LOTS of awesome flavors and I've enjoyed everyone I have tried! 

Chocolate Coconut Bliss - well, of course I LOVE the name!  Anything with BLISS in the name gets extra points with me!  This bar has the following ingredients - Organic Cashews, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Dates, Organic Coconut, Organic Cocoa processed with Alkali, Organic Almonds, Organic Sprouted Flax Seed.  My personal findings were that it had LOTS and LOTS of Coconut in it!  The Crisp and Flavorful Slivers are wonderful!  Naturally sweet and chewy!  The Chocolate is Semi-Dark in appearance and on the tongue and I LOVED that!  The Almonds are HUGE!  And FRESH!  MOVE OVER ALMOND JOYS - this Raw Vegan Bar kicks the other guys butt!  At the end of this lovely edible experience - the chocolate becomes more sweet than dark - probably because of the coconut, dates, and Agave trio...and the sweet, crisp, and creamy aftertaste lingers that tasteful coconut-goodness!

Heavenly Hazelnut Chocolate - This one smells like Hazelnut AND Chocolate - it certainly lives up to its name!  Upon first tastes I could notice the sweet dates and chocolate.  There are many nutty notes playing their tunes, here!  Hazelnut, Almond, Cashew = A NUT Powerhouse!  I can taste each one individually as well as together to create its own flavor.  For some reason I picked up a hint of a coffee taste...maybe because I hear and see a lot of Hazelnut Coffee's and it's one of those flavor association things with me - not sure - regardless my taste buds are delighted with this bar!  The ingredients in this specific bar are: Organic Cashews, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Dates, Organic Cocoa processed with Alkali, Organic Hazelnuts, Organic Sprouted Flax Seed.

Coconut Delight - I have been consuming more and more Coconut Products lately!  I will talk about that in near-future posts!  As for this flavor of the Raw Rev Bars...another winner!  Sweet Coconut and Cashew upfront - then the dates come into play!  It's not a tropical banana/coconut type flavor but more straight-up coconut and cashew and I LOVE IT!  This has a wonderful chew and texture to it!  It's FRESH!  It's a little sticky but not overly-so.  Most importantly...it's SUPER YUMMY!  As for the official ingredients for this bar it has Organic Cashews, Organic Dates, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Coconut, Organic Almonds, Organic Sprouted Flax Seed.  Powerful and fresh ingredients are always appreciated!

And Finally...

Spirulina Dream -  I sure do appreciate Spirulina!  I'm very excited this company uses it in some of their products!  The very first Raw Revolution Bar I tried was this one!  I was lucky enough to have another not too long ago!  This flavor smells SWEET and of GREENS, too!  To the eye - it's very VERY green - dark and rich in color with specks of nuts.  It's slight oily on the surface.  It has a very nice chewiness to it.  It's surprisingly sweet, satisfying and delightful!  Ingredients include: Organic Cashews, Organic Dates, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Almonds, Organic Spirulina Powder, Organic Sprouted Flax Seed.

So...YES...I am a FAN of Raw Revolution!  I think as a special treat these are wonderful!  Of course I wouldn't have one everyday but it's a nice treat or snack on-the-go!  The flavors are great!  Have you tried any of them yet?  If so which ones!?  What were your thoughts?

I will have at least two more posts today...stay tuned! 

Weekend Recap - Ponderings & Photographs

This past weekend was my husband's birthday!  Our birthdays are 6 days apart!  So this next weekend is mine!  With everything that has been going on with his sinus issues and many near and dear friends and family members of mine and their health issues it makes me thankful the only issue I have is a 'bum ankle/foot/arch".  It really pushes me to try better and work harder in daily life...to stay positive, to continue learning, try and stay as healthy as possible, and be grateful for everyone in my life while they are still here.  I don't take any of that for granted.

I'm thankful I have my digestion issues under control and I am very happy with my diet and lifestyle changes.  Now that I know my discomfort in my leg/foot was an arch issue I am now working toward "fixing" the problem or at least living with it and working around it.  I've been feeling consistently 90 to 95% better!  With that in mind and moving forward - this week I hope to increase my physical activity - slowly and gently.

The weather this past weekend was very nice!  It even got up to 64 yesterday!  But tomorrow we could get more rain and snow!  I seriously cannot wait until spring and summer!  Most of the photographs from this weekend are of the Dogs!  Suzie has always LOVED her picture taken!  She's always been a ham! 

Towards the end of last week - she was 'fired up' when I got home...more than usual!  She would run around the house and it was a wonderful sight to see!

Here is this weekend's photo of Riley!  He's been receiving a lot of attention on Instagram.  It's amazing the communities and sub-communities that are on social networking sites!  It's refreshing and fascinating to me!  Corgi's are one of the sub-communities I have found to be in the mix with.  There are a lot of great Corgi and Corgi-Mixes on there!  Chihuahua's are another - which of course the BABY OF THE FAMILY - will have some photo's in this post, too!

 In other Riley news...his ears are starting to bother him again, which isn't a surprise - every other month or so they tend to - so I will start in with some of his ear solution again this evening.  The last medicated tube our one vet gave us seems to work better than the others and in less time!

Once again we found some great deals on Dog Sweaters at BigLots this past weekend!  They were $4 or less so we grabbed a few for Paco!  Someone told me he "looked very dapper" in this one!

That put a smile on my face!  Dapper!

Paco has gotten to really like his sweaters!  He's not fond of the Snuggie, tho, but these type of sweaters...he LOVES.  In these photos you will be able to see parts of "Daddy" in them.  Pardon the "ashtrays" in this background...no...they are NOT mine...I do NOT Smoke!  Just HAD to add that disclaimer!

This was just 'by chance' lighting!  No filter or anything.  I LOVE the little collar but it won't stay up. 

I also have been 'washing' Paco's eyes, too, I think between his tears and Riley's ears it's due to weather changes a little, too!

This is one of the longer sweaters Paco has now!  Even tho the 'body' fits on the other ones they aren't as long!  But he still likes them!

We have multiple nick-names for all of our furkids.  One of the many for Paco is "Chi Monkey"...well, because he's a Chi (Chihuahua) and because he's a little monkey - he runs, jump, hops, and climbs EVERY WHERE!

So when we saw this sweater we KNEW we HAD to get it for him!  Of course it doesn't hurt it has Syracuse Orange colors in it!  You can see it even better in this next photo, tho!

I totally LOVE this little Monkey!  It's adorable! 

I do have a lot on tap for this week!  It's Irish Foods Week, for one!  Plus I have LOTS of new products to share with you!  I'm so excited!  I have more giveaways this week, too!

My husband's Grandmother gave me a Waffle Iron and I hope to post some Vegan Waffle's SOON as well!

One thing I want to mention today, is one of the many Raw Revolution Bars I have been chomping lately!  Today I want to share with you the Almond Butter Cup Flavor! 

Organic Almonds, Organic Dates, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Chocolate Chunks (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic Sprouted Flax Seed, Organic Sea Salt. Contains Tree Nuts, Chocolate Chunks made in a facility that handles milk. PEANUT-Free
NUTRITION FACTS: Serving Size 1 bar 1.8oz (51 g) Amount Per Serving: Calories 230, Calories from fat 120, Total Fat 14g (22%DV), Saturated Fat 2g (10%DV), Trans Fat 0g (0%DV), Cholesterol 0mg (0%DV), Sodium 10mg (1%DV), Total Carbohydrates 23g (8%DV), Dietary Fiber 3g (13%DV), Sugars 15g, Protein 7g, Vitamin A 2%, Vitamin C 6%, Calcium 6%, Iron 15%, DV=% Daily Value.

Check this out!  This bar packs a lot of great stuff in a small bar, doesn't it!?  When I first bit into the bar I LOVED that I could taste the Vanilla and Almond Flavor right away!  It seems the older I get the more I enjoy that little bit of Vanilla Flavor in things.  The BIG chunks of 'chocolate' are awesome!  They are randomly placed throughout the bar and are not over-done but certainly fits the bill with those who may have a sweet tooth!  I love the nuttiness and the chewiness is great, too, the texture is perfect!  The Dates give it that wonderful sweetness and it's gently salted.  The flavor ratio of sweet, fruity, salty, chewy, nutty couldn't have been more perfect!  This is a terrific bar!

I have LOTS more on tap this week and I do hope you come back and visit.  In the meantime...I would LOVE to hear about your weekend!  Drop me a comment or two!

Fearless Friday & a CONTEST!!

I have a CONTEST TODAY!

I'll give you a hint...it's YUMMY!  And it's from my friends at Fearless Chocolate!

WHAT?

OH Yes!!!!

But first I have a few other things to tell you!

Yesterday I blogged a little bit about NO MEAT MARCH and I mentioned to the organizers about my blog post!

This morning in my inbox was their weekly newsletter going out to everyone participating and they mentioned me and my blog!  YAY!  Thanks so much, guys!

I'm so excited to be featured and I welcome anyone visiting from NO MEAT MARCH!

Let me know if you are participating and what you are doing to participate!

I'm looking forward to the weekend!  It's been a real busy work week but I have to say My Blissful Journey has been my escape!  I'm very thankful for this online place I call home - especially in times like these!

So...on to Fearless Chocolate on this Fearless Friday, eh!?  I can't say enough about this product!  I absolutely LOVE them!  Right off the bat...I LOVED the packaging!  It's so much fun!  Eye-Catching!  Earthy!  Their packaging is printed on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper!  They are Organic, Vegan, Direct Trade, and more!  Their direct trade is from family-owned farms in the Rainforests of Bahia, Brazil.Yesterday I tried my very first Fearless Chocolate Bar.  It was the Coconut Flakes one.

As for the taste...it's 70% Cacao, and yes, it tastes like a 'dark chocolate'.  This flavor tastes like a darker tasting chocolate with a tinge of sweetness!  The Sleek Chocolate on the outside with random coconut flakes mixed in with the solid "chocolate" on the inside, too!  The coconut gives it a coconut-lemony type taste to it!  This has SUPER flavor and texture with a delicate crispy crunch of the coconut flakes!

This is SERIOUSLY intense and I just LOVE it!  I also LOVE the "Missing Bite"...I'm a very visual person so I found this clever and nifty.

Now...it's time for a GIVEAWAY!  Fearless Chocolate and My Blissful Journey are giving away a Coconut Flakes Flavored Bar RIGHT HERE ON MY SITE!  Do you want to win?  Here's what you must do:

* Follow My Blog
* Leave Me a Comment

* Follow Fearless Chocolate on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BeingFearless

* Like Fearless Chocolate on Facebook  www.facebook.com/FearlessChocolate

* And Follow then on Instagram @FearlessChocolate

I will choose one person to receive this Coconut Flake Bar NEXT WEEK but don't wait to enter!  U.S. Residents only.

I'll leave you with a photo today - UNexpected Winter...just when I thought it was spring!  Sigh...Have a great weekend!  I hope you will enter to win that Fearless Chocolate Bar!  Thanks for visiting!

Sunday Snacks and a Little Bliss

My online Yoga and Vegetarian Friends (among others) that know my name ask if it's my REAL name.  Why...YES...Yes, it IS.  My REAL Married Last Name is...BLISS.  I like to play on words when I can and I was able to with this website "My BLISSful Journey".  So when I saw the company Bites of Bliss I knew I HAD to look into them!  After corresponding with Rhonda over at Bites of Bliss I knew she was a lively soul!  She's very nice!  She sent me a few samples to try and I randomly chose the Goji Berry to try first!

Here is a little bit from their website that sums up this Blissful Product!

Bites of Bliss® Superfood Bites are certified organic, certified gluten-free, certified kosher, raw, vegan, dairy-free, soy-free and have no agave or added sugars. Each flavor has its own unique quality and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Bites of Bliss® can be eaten in the morning for breakfast, before exercise to provide the body with energy, after exercise to replenish nutrients, as a meal replacement, or after a meal as a delicious dessert. They also make a great addition to kid's lunchboxes.

After REALLY looking over the website (which I LOVE by the way because of all the awesome info) I also found a bit more regarding the Goji Berry Flavor specifically...

Goji Berry
Rhonda knew she wanted a fruity flavor to balance out the other two flavors. Goji Berries are similar to a cross between a cranberry and a raisin. They start off tangy and then taste mildly sweet. She would usually take goji berries in a small baggie with her to the movies to munch on instead of popcorn so it was something that was already in her pantry. In considering taste and health benefits, goji berries were the first thing that came to mind. Because they are so high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, among many other nutrients, it seemed to be the perfect choice. Mixing in the white chia seeds creates a little crunch that balances out the creaminess……….it’s pure bliss!

I'm not going to lie...I'm totally excited about all of the nutritional value these "lil-guys" pack!  It's really amazing! 

In addition I found the Dates and the Goji Berry Flavors EXPLODE in your mouth right away!  Right from the start!  It had a nice overall "Berry Bite".  The Walnuts, Chia Seeds, and Hemp Seeds give it a gently crunchy and crispy texture.  The lingering fruity-flavor is the most memorable part.  It's a pure delight, really! 

I found these to be a nice healthy, quick snack to take the edge off while on the go or in the workplace!  Also a very nice afternoon pick me up.  If you are looking for a little something for your sweet tooth or for a dessert...these certainly fit the bill, too!

Fantastic!

In other news, TOMORROW, is the beginning of a new week...that means a new World Foods Theme!  This next week I will be doing Foods from Algeria!  I'm excited!!!!  I hope you will come back and check it out!

Organic Onion Garlic Flax Crackers From Foods Alive

These little crispy creations were my go-to-snack all week...well...at least half of the week...until I ate them all!  They are Organic Onion Garlic Flax Crackers from Foods Alive and I am in total LOVE with them and the company!

A few things I want to point out!  These are USDA Organic, high in protein and fiber as well as Omega 3, 6, and 9's, they are Gluten Free, 90% Raw, Vegan, and Kosher!

They are made up of Golden Flaxseed, Tomato Powder, Garlic Granules, Minced Onion, and Himalayan Mineral Salt.  All ingredients are labeled organic except for the salt and are certified!

As I continue to look at the back of the bag - I see that they are also high in potassium, Vitamin A, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B 6, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Folate, and Magnesium and Mangaese.

These are highly aromatic and flavored on the tongue - just want I like!  I quickly became addicted to these - but in a good way!  Healthy Snacking!  Yay!  Not only are they good for snacking as-is but you can use them as scoops with dips, on salads, in soups, as bread, and much more!  I crunched up a few and added them to my Cauliflower Soup I wrote about earlier this week!  Excellent!

I cannot express how much I LOVE Garlic...and I'm a really big fan of Onion, too, so when I saw these in my box...I'm not going to lie...my heart skipped a beat!  These are MAJORLY tasty!  Very memorable!  Awesomely good and good FOR YOU!  If you like Garlic and/or Onion...these are DANDY!  I highly recommend them! 

Raw Food Wednesday - Audrey's Got My Back on Snacks!

It's Raw Food Wednesday here on my blog and I thought I would feature a new(er) find - and by that I mean - a "New-To-Me" find!

Audrey's Pleasure Food & Raw Vegan Food Bites!

I found them a while back on VeganEssentials.com and I placed an order!

I ended up buying the "pizza" flavored ones as well as the "chik'n" ones.  I think I may have clicked on the wrong one because I'm not much for 'chicken' flavored anything even if it's vegan!  That flavored wasn't bad but it wasn't my favorite either.  The Pizza Ones - kicked BUTT tho!  I'm pasting the info below on the product for those of you interested in learning more!

I do really like this product and I do want to try the other two flavors!

Product Descriptions & Nutritional Info:
Amazingly unique, you've never tried anything like these delicious raw food bites before – trust us on this one! We've tried many products that claim to taste like cheese, pizza, etc. that have been flat on flavor, but these are so incredible they must be tried to be believed. Flavors include Four Season (pizza flavor), Vegan Chik (spicy chicken flavor), Indian Summer (a rich coconut curry flavor), and Royal Cheez (possibly the closest thing to a real cheese taste we've ever tried!). Each 3 oz. package is $6.39.

Royal Cheez ingredients - Macadamia nuts, cashews, bell peppers, lime, sea salt

Vegan Chick ingredients - Cashews, coconut, tomatoes, onion, garlic, spices, sea salt

Four Season ingredients - Cashews, tomato, raw organic agave nectar, garlic, spices, sea salt

Indian Summer ingredients - Cashews, coconut, onions, garlic, curry, spices, sea salt

Nutritional information:
Serving size - 1.5 oz. (43g)
Servings per container - 2
Calories per serving - 160 for Indian Summer and Four Season / 220 for Royal Cheez / 250 for Vegan Chick
Total fat - 11g (2g saturated) for Four Season and Royal Cheez / 12g (6g saturated) for Indian Summer / 25g (7g saturated) for Vegan Chick
Sodium - 220 for Royal Cheez / 250 for Vegan Chick / 300 for Indian Summer / 330 for Four Season
Total carbohydrate - 8g (6g fiber, 1g sugar) for Royal Cheez / 10g (5g fiber, 3g sugars) for Indian Summer and Four Season / 12g (7g fiber, 3g sugars) for Vegan Chick
Protein - 3g for Indian Summer / 4g for Four Season and Royal Cheez / 7g for Vegan Chick

I do really love their products and I want to point this lil gem out, too!

California Sushi Chips!  RAW and VEGAN.  They were strangely addictive but in a good way!

A unique raw treat that's unlike anything you've tried before! These tasty chips blend nori and Audrey's incredible raw "cheese" to make a snack chip that's full of nutrition and cheesy flavor. A perfect treat for those wanting try the delicious flavor of sea veggies! Resealable 2 oz. snack container is $5.79.

Ingredients: Organic raw nori, macadamia nuts, cashews, red pepper, lime, sea salt

Let me know if you participate in Raw Food Wednesdays!

Also linking to:
Tuesday Friend Connect

Vibrant Vegan eBook - 20 Amazing Raw Vegan Kale Chips Recipes

I don't usually purchase cookbooks (I borrow a lot of them) and I don't think I have ever actually BOUGHT an eBook...UNTIL TODAY.

I found this little gem!

And you know how I have been searching and searching for more ways and flavors of Kale Chips - so - I figured I would buy it!  It was a little over $6 with the tax.  

This really is THE book to get on KALE and KALE CHIPS!  I'm very surprised just how much info is included in it!  It's wonderful!

I am excited to try some if not all of them!  Plus - once I get used to more flavor combos - I'm going to create my own combinations with Wildtree blends and report back!

I'm so happy I purchased this eBook!

If you would like more info on this eBook or to buy it - check out the link HERE.

Alive & Radiant Kale Krunch

These are one of the other Kale Chips I have tried recently.  I like them all for different reasons but with this one I really like how much of the 'batter' they put on them to really kick up the flavor on them!

As you can see they are Raw, GF, and Vegan.  They sell for around the same price as the others I have seen...but if you are in a pinch or want to splurge - have at it!

Food Fight Grocery out of Portland is where I bought these from - online.  But they say they are the best selling kale chip and I believe them!  There are three different kinds and here they are with their ingredients!

Ingredients (Quite Cheezy): Kale*, Cashew*, Red Bell Pepper, Lemon Juice*, Nutritional Yeast, Himalayan Crystal Salts. *Organic
Ingredients (Cheezy Chipotle): Kale*, Red Bell Pepper, Cashews*, Sesame Seeds*, Lemon Juice*, Nutritional Yeast, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Coconut Palm Sugar*, Paprika*, Chipotle Peppers*, Smoked Salt*.  *Organic
Ingredients (Southwest Ranch): Kale*, Cashew*, Lemon Juice*, Nutritional Yeast, Chickpea Miso*, Apple Cider Vinegar*, Habanero*, Garlic*, Spices* and Himalayan Crystal Salt. *Organic

I did the Quite Cheesy ones and LOVED them!  They are wonderful!

I wish I could buy these in bulk and for cheap.  Awesome flavor and texture! Total YUMSVILLE!

Cheesy Crunch Pacific Northwest Kale Chips

I seriously can't get enough Kale Chips lately!  I make them in my dehydrator and have bought three different kinds, lately, too!

This is the one I am chomping on right now.  It's Cheesy Crunch Flavor from Pacific Northwest Kale Chips!  

These are All Natural, Gluten Free, Vegan, and RAW!  

They come in a 2-ounce bag which - while standing straight up - is about the height of my arm from my elbow to my wrist!  Just to give you a visual!  

This product is JAM PACKED with Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutrients!  Vitamin K, A, C, B6, W, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Iron, Potassium, Zinc, Calcium, and more!

They smell like a nacho cheese flavor but they aren't spicy on the tongue!  They are gently flavored.  Another Kale Chip from another company I recently tried had a thicker 'batter' on the kale chips than this one does but they are both good.  These are addicting but in a good way!  YUM!

They are a little pricey - but than again - I think all packaged Kale Chips are - but if you can't make them yourself or want to treat yourself to some tasty Kale Chips these are FANTASTIC!

Coconut Cream Pie & Key Lime Pie

 Today I was snack-E after my lunch...which consisted of "Sante Fe" Style Rice and Grains!  I walked over to my local herb store and KNEW they would have at least a few Larabar's to choose from!

These were the two I found and nibbled on.  I've had them before but it's been a GOOD-LONG-While!

I really like them because they are Vegan AND Raw! 

I have a bunch of other "Grocery-Store" findings to add SOON and I hope to get-a-cookin' again tonight!