Grilling with Lightlife and Stuffed Chili Bacon Cheese Dog Recipe!

Lightlife has always been one of my favorite companies for their vegan stuff. I have always loved their tempeh and was excited when they rolled our their tempeh bacon, which tastes absolutely amazing. They have been adding some awesome new plant-based products to their line, but I'm still so hooked on their vegan hot dogs, Smart Dogs.

Lightlife's Smart Dogs come in two sizes, their regular (7g protein) size or their jumbo (14g protein) size. These awesome veggie hot dogs are Non-GMO Project Verified, in addition to being vegan they are also Kosher, and they are a great price, usually retailing at 3 to 4 bucks at most stores.

I have been using these Smart Dogs for grilling for years now, so I wanted to share a recipe that was really fun and not just "throw the veggie dog on the grill", although that's fun too! Here I decided to stuff them with cheese using a method I thought up, that ended up working pretty perfectly. Also, some sides when grilling with these awesome Smart Dogs are grilled vegetables, like corn on the cob; that is what I enjoyed on the side with my chili bacon cheese dogs. Lightlife Smart Dogs are the perfect addition (or star, in my opinion) to any vegan cookout. Let's get to this crazy-delicious recipe!

Stuffed Chili Bacon Cheese Dogs

makes 5 servings

What you will need:

-1 package Lightlife jumbo Smart Dogs

-1 package Lightlife tempeh bacon

-about 5 vegan cheddar cheese pieces, cut into "matchsticks"

-1 cup prepared vegan chili 

-your favorite condiments or additional toppings (like ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, relish, etc.)

 -a hard plastic straw for stuffing them with cheese (a hard plastic or stainless steel smoothie straw will work great!)

-5 hot dog buns

What to do:

Carefully light and prep your grill using all the proper safety precautions for grill use. Take each Smart Dog and gently push the straw through the middle, about halfway, twist then remove. Do the same to the other side of the veggie dog. You will now have a small well; push the vegan cheese sticks into it (use the straw to help push them in if you are using softer cheese instead of hard cheese - hard cheese works best). When your grill is ready for food, place the stuffed Smart Dogs directly on the grill. Place the tempeh bacon on the top basket that you warm buns, if you don't have that, place on a spot on the grill that isn't directly near the flame and cook for less time. Grill veggie dogs and tempeh bacon for 2-4 minutes on each side, or adjust to your liking/ grill type. In a small saucepan, warm up your prepared chili then transfer to a bowl. Now it is time to construct your chili bacon cheese dogs! Place your hot dog in a bun and top with chili, then take some tempeh bacon and crumble it on top. Add additional toppings, if desired. Do the same for all five stuffed chili bacon cheese dogs.

What I love most about Lightlife Smart Dogs is that they taste just like classic, juicy hot dogs, but without the animal products or cholesterol. They are perfect for tailgating, camping, grilling, or any other recipe that calls for hot dogs.

These came out amazing! They were easy because the melted cheese is already inside the veggie dogs and it also gave you just enough cheese amount in each bite

Mouthwatering! You can follow Lightlife on social. They are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest and they are always posting delicious pictures!

Big shout out to Lightlife for sending me a portable grill that doubles as a cooler, grilling tools, condiments and for sponsoring this post. You rock!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off - hope your day is relaxing like a cookout day!

This blog post was sponsored by Lightlife Foods.

Awesome Vegan Meals by Luvo!

When the company Luvo contacted me to try out some of their vegan frozen meals, I was really excited about it, but was super impressed with how they arrived to me. Before we talk about these wonderful vegan products, let me tell you first about how amazing it was that this giant box of frozen meals traveled from the other side of the country, from the west coast all the way to me on the east coast, and when I opened the box they were still frozen! The dry ice was still intact, in fact we did a science experiment using it! So I thought that was really impressive and I wanted to give a shout out to Luvo for those amazing packaging skills.

This company does healthy and quick meals made from wholesome and real ingredients. They are not a full vegan company, although they have these amazing vegan meals, they also offer some that do include animal products, which is their only downside, in my humble opinion. Obviously I want every company that offers vegan products to be 100% vegan, but I respect that so many companies are offering an array of plant-based and vegan meals and are doing such a splendid job at it, like Luvo is.

Here's the scoop on what I tried from Luvo and what I think about these frozen meals:

Let me just start by saying that these four products are vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free, and I absolutely love that! Each meal is a fantastic offering of each food group and includes a lot of different components and flavors.

Hawaiian Un-Fried Rice: this meal has rice, shiitake mushrooms, pineapple and cashews, which are some of my favorite things melded together in one delicious plant powered bowl, but the best part is how authentic it tasted. A very enjoyable frozen meal for sure that is unlike any others.

Great Karma Coconut Curry: this bowl is a combination of jasmine rice, butternut squash and garbanzo beans along with the tempting flavors of coconut and curry making it just super yummy and perfect for any day of the week. This one you don't have to be in the mood for; I would eat this all the time and might not ever get tired of it.

So Cal Kale & Bean: this bowl is packed with red rice, broccoli and white beans. It tastes super fresh and clean while still remaining absolutely delicious. This one will be my go-to for after a workout for sure because I felt powerful after I consumed it.

Mighty Masala & Greens: brown rice, green garbanzos, cabbage and kale compose this stupendous vegan bowl and these are all my faves for so many reasons; the flavor combined with the nutritional aspect make this one my top choice.

All of these great Luvo meals are packed with whole grains, fresh quality ingredients, fiber, protein, and are super healthy while being delicious at the same time. Big thank you to Luvo for generously sending me this package - not only did I love your vegan products, but you also made me a huge fan of your company. Please keep including more vegan meals to your line, they are fantastic!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off - eat your beans and greens!

3 FABULOUS Protein Shake & Smoothie Recipes for Our Fit Fam!

I've done fabulous Postum recipes for cocktails, desserts and dessert-like beverages, even savory recipes too, but it occurred to me that all of those recipes were very rich and some even included ice cream or alcohol - what about recipes using Postum for the health conscious? And let's face it, we are ALL health conscious every now and again, especially when we are trying to cut back a little or get in shape before a big event.

So I wanted to do some smoothies and protein shake type of recipes that would be great to enjoy before or after workouts, as meal replacements, or as healthy snacks for when you are trying to eat a bit more on the clean side - but of course, in true Dirty Vegan style, they are fun and delicious too!

All recipes make 1 large shake or 2 small ones.

Double Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Shake

Double Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Shake 
(tastes like the decadent dessert!)

What you will need:

-2 teaspoons Postum Cocoa Blend
-6 ounces boiling water
-6 ounces chocolate almond milk
-1/2 cup frozen strawberries
-1 serving/scoop chocolate protein shake powder
-ice (optional)

What you will need to do:

Prepare Postum by mixing it with boiling water; set aside and allow to cool a bit. In a blender add prepared Postum and the remaining ingredients; blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Banana Split Protein Shake
(tastes just like a banana split - maybe even better!)

What you will need:

-2 teaspoons Postum Cocoa
-6 ounces boiling water
-6 ounces vanilla soy milk
-3 ripe strawberries
-1/2 ripe banana
-1/8 cup frozen pineapple
-1 serving/scoop chocolate protein shake powder
-2 tablespoons walnuts (optional)
-ice (optional)

What you will need to do:

Prepare Postum by mixing it with boiling water; set aside and allow to cool a bit. In a blender add prepared Postum and the remaining ingredients; blend until smooth. Enjoy!


Carrot Cake with Coffee Smoothie
(tastes like you are drinking carrot cake with a cup of coffee!)

-2 teaspoons Postum Natural Coffee Flavor
-6 ounces boiling water
-6 ounces vanilla almond milk
-1/2 ripe banana
-1/2- 1 large carrot
-2 tablespoons walnuts or pecans, optional
-ice (optional)

What you will need to do:

Prepare Postum by mixing it with boiling water; set aside and allow to cool a bit. In a blender add prepared Postum and the remaining ingredients; blend until smooth. Enjoy!

These drinks totally taste like desserts in a cup, without adding any additional sugar, other than what is already in the fruit or the vegan milks. If you want to cut down on the sugar even further, you can always opt for protein powders sweetened with stevia or other sugar-free sweeteners instead. These pre- or post workout beverages are so easy to make and customize. Try using different fruits or nuts and even nut butters to create your own! Be sure to share pictures of your creations with us on social media! You can find Me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook AND you can also find Postum on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off, smiles from my kitchen to yours!

This blog post was sponsored by Postum.

Healthier Takes On Classic Snacks & Apps For National Hummus Day! Everyday I'm Hummus'n!

Tomorrow (May 13th) is National Hummus Day, hooray! I'm celebrating along with Sabra and most of the nation because hummus has saved my vegan butt. I love hummus as it is, right out of the container, but I have particularly enjoyed using it to replace other ingredients in recipes to make dishes healthier but actually add more flavor than ever before. I have done this with so many types of dishes, but to celebrate National Hummus Day, I'd like to share some quick and easy appetizer and snack ideas. These are super simple to whip together, so you can grab some hummus and party along with me! Obviously, my go-to hummus brand is Sabra because they are the best at doing hummus and many other delicious products.

Healthy Hummus Queso Dip

I have always loved cheesy queso dip but I don't like the feeling after eating too much... and let's face it, that dip is addicting. I won't ever stop making vegan queso, but for those times when I really do need to scale back on the fat and cals for a few (and need the nutritional boost that adding Sabra provides), I do my queso with hummus and I do it like this:

• 1 (10-ounce) container of Sabra Hummus (any flavor but I like Classic or Garlic for queso)
• 1/2 cup- 1 cup Sabra Salsa (I like using their Restaurant Style in Medium spicy)

Just mix in a bowl - that's it! You can warm it up a little if you like, but I never do. I think the best part of this dip is the refreshing quality it has and it is perfect for summer entertaining.

Creamy Hummus Guacamole Dip

I love creamy guac but usually when you make it creamy, you add sour cream. Well I thought, why not add some more protein and nutrition to an already nutritious ingredient (avocado guacamole)?

• 1 (10-ounce) container of Sabra Hummus (any flavor, but I like using Classic for this)
• 1 (8-ounce) container of Sabra Guacamole

Mix together and serve with chips! It doesn't get much easier (or more delicious) to serve and enjoy snacks or appetizers on National Hummus Day!

Tortilla Taco Pinwheel Bites

Sabra came out with this new flavor of hummus, Taco Inspired Hummus with pico de gallo and it is amazing! My mind was racing with ideas for recipes to make using this hummus just after I took one taste of this stuff! I wanted to make a quick snack using it and pinwheels came to mind. I have served this hors d'oeuvre so many times due to the fact that it is so easy to put together but really impressive to serve to guests,

• 4 flour tortillas
• 1 cup of Sabra Hummus in Taco Inspired flavor
• 1/4 cup shredded lettuce/ fresh greens
• 2 tablespoons salsa
• 4 slices veggie deli style"turkey"

Lay 4 flour tortillas flat and spread each evenly with hummus, sprinkle on olives, lettice and salsa, then place a deli slice on top. Roll each tortilla up tightly, then slice into "wheels", 4- 6 wheels per tortilla, depending on how large you want them. I prefer to make them smaller because when you entertain you don't want guests feeling like they have too big a mouth-full of food as they are chatting and drinking cocktails, so bite-size works awesome.

With these simple recipes, you can see why hummus has become the "unofficial meal" - fresh, filling but also good for you! What I like about the unofficial meal is that it takes the formality out of eating and makes getting together with family or friends fun and entertaining, but you are munching on a food that isn't just "empty" calories like other snacks can be - it really is a good meal. The unofficial meal; I love that.

Stay tuned this month for more hummus recipes from me! I have some recipes that you wouldn't imagine could be made so flavorful but also much healthier for you because of the addition of Sabra hummus.

Everyday I'm Hummus'n

This blog post was sponsored by Sabra.

This Vegan Protein Shake IS GOOOOD!!!

So I got these cool vegan products in the mail from Elite Lifestyle Cuisine and I have to tell you about their vegan protein shake, which is amazing.

First of all, it is only 133 calories and 5g carbs per serving, which is awesome because depending on if I want to make it as a snack or meal replacement, I am adding either water or soy milk with banana, so this protein is perfect for my needs, whichever I'm choosing at the moment.

Super simple to use: just one scoop to 8 ounces of water (or vegan milk) and the scoop is included.

Impressive Amino Acid Profile here. I also love that the protein comes from pea, rice and pumpkin, which opens up this product to those who have soy allergies or sensitivity. Plus I like the taste, since the protein powder is a mixture of pea, rice and pumpkin protein, it is smooth and balanced and you don't get that funny aftertaste that can happen with other proteins that are just one main protein. Plus I really love balance. I'm not a fan of too much of one protein or thing in the diet, so the variety in this protein powder is really perfect actually.

I took a picture of this because when I opened up the container, the scoop was covered in powder and reminded me of a chocolate marshmallow or a marshmallow in cocoa powder and I giggled. Oh, the little things in life. Also, when you open this protein it smells SO FREAKING DELICIOUS! Smells like chocolate brownie or cake mix! I'm planning on using this in recipes too, like protein balls - how exciting!

The prepared protein shake is such a treat too! Amazing flavor and so versatile. I've already made it with banana, with spinach, with vanilla soy milk - all the different ways, it is super yummy! Probably one of my favorite protein shakes right now and I'm definitely enjoying this brand.

ELC also sent me their vegan multivitamin that is in a vegetarian capsule. 

Impressive nutritional breakdown for sure.

The capsule makes it easier to drink down than my regular multivitamin which is actually really difficult to take, but the ELC vitamin is required to be taken as 4 capsules per day and do that twice per day if you are in poor health. I'm more of a fan of a one-and-done vitamin, so I'm not sure if this is a product I'd try again. I felt the same taking it as when I'm taking other multivitamins or when I'm not taking one regularly. I would say it is worth a try if you are one that needs the ease of a vitamin that goes down super effortlessly, also if you are one who likes to break up your vitamin taking to spread it out throughout the day. I would love to do it that way if I had time, but with this product, I can see myself taking them all at once so I don't forget later because of how super busy my schedule is.

This protein powder is the winner, hands down, and I would definitely get this protein again and again. I love that it is 100% vegan, soy-free for those who care about that, gluten-free, sweetened with Stevia (awesome because I typically add sweetened vegan milk and ripe bananas) and non-GMO. There are protein powders on the market right now (I won't name names but I think you might know) that are awesome nutritionally and protein-wise, but are GMO or non-confirmed GMO-free, so the fact that ELC vegan protein powders are non-GMO is so important to me. This protein is also a whopping 21 grams of protein per serving, so you really can't ask for anything better than this stuff. I think the price is resonable and affordable, especially for those of you who are used to buying supplements and aware of their cost.

Loving this vegan chocolate protein, for reals. Big thank you to the folks at ELC for thinking of me and sending me your wonderful vegan products to try! 

And for now, The Dirty Vegan is signing off - I hope you enjoy lots of health food that tastes like junk-food today too! Muah!

Testing Exciting New Vegan Products: Enjoy Life Foods!

This is such an exciting time for vegan food and I'm so grateful that companies send me care packages to try out the latest products. There are so many amazing new food items just recently released or that will be available very soon, and I am over-the-moon happy about this!

The latest Enjoy Life vegan stuff! Yay!!!

I wanted to talk about the latest three delicious and gluten-free Enjoy Life products added to their line of wonderful vegan offerings and allergy-friendly foods.

The red bag is the Dark Chocolate Regular Size Morsels, which I thought they always had but maybe these are new because they are 69% cacao. Anyways, these are for baking and other recipes but are so good straight from the bag! What?? I didn't eat the whole entire bag before getting a chance to use them for a recipe post. What? There's a recipe using these scrumptious chocolate morsels coming soon...maybe.

Then there's the brand new protein bites, ProBurst Bites that I'm most excited about! They are nut-free, made with sunseed butter (sunflower seed butter), they are completely natural, they pack a 6g of protein punch, but most importantly...they taste more like a dessert than a snack. I was expecting these to taste like the protein balls that I sometimes eat (you know when I'm in workout mode, occasionally) but they actually taste like the best chocolate truffles I've ever eaten! You get 5 servings per (resealable) bag, however that's 3 bites per serving and they are so rich and decadent that I can easily eat one or two and be satisfied. These are a great value and nutritional, but yummy, offering.

And last but certainly not least, the Muffin Mix with Ancient Grains. My favorite aspect of this muffin mix is that the mix has 5g of protein per serving developed with probiotics. I absolutely love when something like muffin mix isn't void of nutritional value. These muffins are coming in at only 170 calories each prepared muffin, and you can make about 10- 12 muffins per box, so if I am in workout mode (haha, yeah right) I won't feel guilty at all eating them...all...eating all the muffins. Damn, they are tasty muffins - don't judge me.

Big thank you to Enjoy Life Foods for sending these new products over to me to try. I am a big fan of this company and they really continue to make vegans lives so much easier with their delish and revolutionary products. Bravo!

Which of the latest Enjoy Life products are you most exciting to try out? 

Baby It's Cold Outside...Beefless and Tomato Stew

Brrrr! It. Is. Cold. Outside.

When the meteorologist said that the wind chill was 1 degree, I didn't believe her. It was just in the 40's a few days ago. But yes, I report that when the wind blew today, it was mighty chilly...right to the bones.

What do you need to soothe your soul (and stomach!) after a long, winter day? Oh, just this super comforting but also simple and easy stew. Trust me, after you try this dish, you will be wondering how you got by with this recipe in your life. Especially on these uber-cool January nights.

Cozy up with this 'Beefless and Tomato Stew' Recipe

What you'll need:

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1.5 cups butternut squash, cubed

2 packages Gardein Beefless Tips

1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes

1 cup vegetable broth or stock

3 garlic gloves, minced

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

2 tbsp dried parsley

What you'll need to do:

So easy...put all of the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 1 hour. Stir occasionally.

You can serve this delicious stew over brown rice or with hearty bread; your choice. I served mine over brown rice and it was a fantastic dinnertime experience. Enjoy! And stay warm as well.

I'm in the Vegan Jerky of the Month Club!

As promised in my FakeMeats.com post, I'm sharing the juicy meaty details of my Jerky of the Month Club package. I hurried to my mailbox and clutched the little brown box, stamped with the FakeMeats.com logo, with champion-football-player-like speed and dexterity, and rushed inside to tear it open. As I opened my precious package, I suddenly heard music from the heavens - just kidding. What I did notice was a box runneth over with vegan jerky; my taste buds began to water and my mind flooded with sweet childhood memories of eating jerky with my little brother. It is true; I thought it was just an urban myth. Vegan jerky indeed exists and you can get it in a neat little variety package every month from FakeMeats.com, as a Jerky of the Month club member. For just $15.00 per month, all of your jerky dreams can finally come true! Your package may just look something like this...

Ain't she a beauty?

The first jerky that I tried was Stonewall's Jerquee in Original Wild flavor. They looked like little nuggets of deliciousness. The first bite felt just a tad bit spongy, but then the wicked flavorful and spicy taste totally redeemed any textural concerns. I want this flavor in my life every single day. Enough said. Or is it? This 1.5 ounce serving is 14 grams of protein! What a delightful way to get your protein boost. Now, enough has been said. Love it.

The next jerky that I tried was by Vegan Dream in Teriyaki flavor. I wasn't crazy about the packaging, but the flavor was great and the texture was very much like the jerky that I remember. This is the jerky that you can take with you hiking, snack on during a sports game, munch on while sitting by a campfire, or any time that you have a few minutes to chew. This is not really an on-the-go jerky.You have to have time to chew and enjoy this. Also, not great for sharing unless you have a pair of culinary scissors with you. That is fine; more for me!

I'll tell you what is good for getting a protein fix when you're in a rush, Primal Strips. They are easy to eat, taste delicious, come in a lot of great flavors, and pack a big protein punch for a small amount of calories, 10 grams to be exact. I tried these in flavors Hot & Spicy and Texas BBQ. Hot & Spicy had a really great flavor but wasn't overly hot. It also had a Slim Jim quality to it, in texture and flavor. Texas BBQ was pleasantly smoky and reminded me of camping. The flavors were having a party in my mouth! These are great to take camping, hiking, to the office for an easy to scarf down snack, or pretty much to enjoy anywhere at anytime. These were great!

I saved the superstar for last. Louisville Vegan Jerky in Bourbon Smoked Black Pepper Jerky flavor. This jerky comes in a clever resealable package, has a complex and mighty-yummy flavor, and the texture was awesome. This is a cross between the Vegan Dream and the Hot & Spicy Primal Strip, in regards to texture. As far as flavor goes, it tasted like a typical jerky should taste. It was convenient to eat and share, came in a package that allows you to save some for later (yeah right, if you can resist eating the entire bag), and has a whopping 12- 15 grams of protein per bag! Yummy in my vegan tummy!

I am super excited to receive next's month Jerky of the Month Club shipment from my friends at FakeMeats.com! I wonder what jerky variety I will get! I will be sure to share that with you when it arrives! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Vegan nom noms from this vegan Jerk!

Read THIS Before Buying Your Next Batch of Protein Powder!

When I first tried protein powder by Naturade, I tried their Pea Protein, Vegan Formula in Vanilla flavor. I was overjoyed to find this in my local natural foods store because it has 20 grams of plant based protein, potassium, and some fiber. Basically all I would need to boost my protein intake or help my body out when I have a french fries only day. But then again, on those days I am still supplementing with vitamins, omegas, etc. Well, it wasn't until I tried Naturade's VeganSmart All-In-One Nutritional Shake that I thought of their Pea Protein powder as great and all, but more like VeganSmart's annoying (but still loved) little brother.

Naturade was nice enough to send me some VeganSmart to try. And as a technicality, I must disclose that I am only paid in VeganSmart sample packets, and no other green stuff. As you can see from my picture, the packaging is a lot more hip looking than their Pea Protein packets. You can get VeganSmart in Vanilla, Chocolate, and Chai flavors. In my opinion, Naturade is like the better version of Vega protein powder, and I'm not just saying that because Vega hasn't sent me any samples, I say that because VeganSmart is cheaper to buy, and it tastes better than Vega.

Now let's take a look at the scientific stuff. As you can see from this picture of the Supplement Facts in Naturade VeganSmart, this can be a vegan's most valuable insurance policy. With a healthy vegan diet and drinking one of these babies everyday, how can anyone say that they are deficient in anything as result of a vegan diet (unless there is seriously something medically wrong with them, like they can't absorb nutrients correctly)? Not only are you getting 20 grams of plant based protein in each shake that you make with each packet, the protein that you are getting is complete (Pea, Hemp, Chia, Potato, and Chlorella). And 20 grams of protein in your daily diet that comes from something other than soy, will shut your friends and relatives up won't it? Yeah, if you are vegan you know exactly what I mean. Other than protein, this is an all-in-one nutritional shake, including good stuff like a whole food complex (yes, with real food), fiber and omega blend, probiotic blend, and digestive enzyme blend. Looks like I only have to drink this and take my daily vitamin rather than supplementing to achieve a superior level of healthy everyday. VeganSmart has everything that I would want and more! This is what I want to have tons of in an apocalyptic situation. These shakes taste great too! They are decent on their own, but I recommend vegan milk and/ or fruits and ice. I have created a yummy recipe for you to try with Naturade. I call this peanut butter and jelly tasting shake the Purple Protein Monster!

Add 1 packet/ serving of Vanilla VeganSmart in blender with 9 ounces of almond milk, 1 cup of blueberries, 1 cup of strawberries, 1 cup of ice, and 1 tbsp peanut butter. Blend all ingredients for at least 30 seconds.

Enjoy!

Naturade's VeganSmart tastes delicious, is packed with lots of protein, 22 vitamins and minerals, and lots of other really great stuff! I loved the taste, but I also loved the way it made me feel. My body started feeling better than it had before I drank the protein shake. I also felt a gentle energy boost. This protein is terrific for breakfast to replenish your body after the fast of the night, or ideal after a workout for recovery. And you gotta love how this product is nearly half the price of those other vegan protein powders and has the same all-in-one nutrition that us vegans desire. Hey, anything that provides me a healthy cushion so that I can still enjoy my vegan pancakes and french fries, is alright in my book!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Hats off to Purple Protein Monsters and Pea Protein!

A Website Full of Vegan Meats & a Taco Recipe!

Recently I came across a website called FakeMeats.com and needless to say, I was intrigued. FakeMeats.com is everything that it's name suggests and so much more. Pretty much anything fake meaty can be found on this website. You will find items like vegan meats of pretty much any kind and also condiments, meal starter kits, broths, and other fake meaty spices! You can also grab a gift basket, sign up for a subscription service or meal pack, and so many other fun foodie things! And currently, they are including a recipe card with each order. Seems like they always have cool promotions going on. This website is pretty incredible.

Upon receiving my package from FakeMeats.com (and after doing a little happy dance), I noticed a nice spicy smell. The box alone had me in a spice trance. It was the Tikka Masala seasoning packet; talk about stimulating the sense of smell! So what I have here from my Fake Meats package is:

Easy Indian Authentic Tikka Masala packet that makes an authentic Indian dish when added to a few other simple ingredients like vegan protein, tomatoes, and oil. This packet smells so amazing and I cannot wait to make this dish and post the recipe on here soon!

Edward & Sons Not-Beef rich and savory broth and seasoning cubes, which make an absolutely beautiful broth and are extremely convenient and easy to use. These taste great added to soups and any recipe that calls for broth or meaty flavor. Definitely a must have; I love this product.

Seitenbacher Vegetable Broth and Seasoning packet is also another vegan broth that adds a beautiful color and flavor to any vegan dish. You can use this in soups, stews, and boiled meals and it truly adds a special something.

Great Life by Lucinda Garden Veg Veggie Burger Mix that makes veggie burger patties simply by adding hot water and cooking! Voila! I will be posting a separate post and recipe using this soon.

BeefNot fortified chunks that are dehydrated and you rehydrate them and use them in any meal the same way you would use any other vegan protein. These are really neat for a lot of reasons, but a big reason is that they can hang out on your shelf until you are ready to use them and have a much longer shelf life than refrigerated vegan meats. BeefNot also has a whopping 25 grams of protein per serving, and the servings are only 140 calories each! That is just amazing! The entire 1 pound dry bag makes 3.4 pounds when rehydrated! At first I was scared to try these because they look and smell kind of like dog food that someone would give to their dog if they didn't like them. It was weird at first, not gonna lie, but after I rehydrated and cooked these fake beefy morsels, I got a run for my money! These were absolutely amazing (as you can tell from the before and after picture below) and were awesome in my vegan taco recipe that I'm sharing with you right now.

Before: Kibble-resembling BeefNot. After: Hot and steamy BeefNot!

Butler Soy Curls were the last item in my FakeMeats.com package. Soy Curls are dehydrated vegan "chicken" that are so simple to use and taste absolutely delicious! This versatile product takes just 10 minutes of soaking in warm water, then drain and use in anything and everything! I will be posting some recipes using these in the future, so stay tuned!

Vegan BeefNot Tacos Recipe!

What you will need:

12 taco shells

2 cups of BeefNot chunks

2 cups of water

2 tbsp canola oil

1 packet of taco seasoning

4 cups of greens

2 tomatoes, diced

1 can of beets, drained, rinsed, and matchstick chopped

5 slices vegan cheese, chopped into small chunks

1/2 cup taco sauce

What you will need to do:

Place taco shells on a cookie sheet and bake on 325 degrees for 7 minutes. Put BeefNot and water in a bowl and microwave for 5 minutes, then drain. Heat oil in skillet on medium heat then brown BeefNot. Add taco seasoning and finish cooking according to taco seasoning packet instructions. Finally, fill taco shells with BeefNot and remaining ingredients. Enjoy!

Look at how amazing this BeefNot turns out! Who would have known?

Taco Night!

And if all this wasn't too good to be true, FakeMeats.com also has a jerky of the month club! You read that correctly. Vegan jerky of the month club! And guess what, I'll be trying it out! Each jerky of the month package that I receive, I will be posting and sharing my reviews with you! So check back here for that. Be sure to check out FakeMeats.com, browse their comprehensive variety of vegan meats and other items, and get your jerky on!

By the way...

This is Steven and Kim, the owners of FakeMeats.com. This is a small, family owned and operated business. So not only can you get groovy vegan goods, but you can also support small business, which I love. Us little guys have to stick together! To learn more about Steven and Kim, check out their About Us section on their website.

BREAKING NEWS: Candy Bars Disguised as Protein Bars!

In my time, I have tried many protein bars. Most of them boast that they taste dessert-like or that they taste incredible and they usually taste like cardboard. I can say with all honesty, that NuGo Dark bars are the superstars of protein and nutrition bars, hands down. NuGo Nutrition makes a ton of bars with lots of organic and/or vegan options, but the NuGo Dark bars are definitely my faves; they taste just like candy bars! And they have a couple new flavors, so I'd like to tell you about them.

I've always loved the Mocha Chocolate and Chocolate Chocolate Chip flavors, but recently they sent me a couple new ones, including their two newest Darks, Peanut Butter Cup and Chocolate Pretzel.

YUM!

Upon opening the new ones, I thought to myself, "Okay, they look the same as the others. Crisps covered in dark chocolate. What's the big deal?", but then once I tried the Peanut Butter Cup and the Chocolate Pretzel bars, I was impressed!

DELICIOUS!

NuGo Dark bars have always been an exceptional protein bar (NEVER having the nasty protein bar aftertaste, you know the one) but these two new flavors are amazing! I really liked the Mint Chocolate Chip, but to be honest, I could live without it. My faves are the four others.

SWEET!

These bars are crispy, protein packed (10 grams of protein per bar!), real dark chocolate (that melts so deliciously in your mouth!) dipped, nutrition bars, that taste more like a dessert than a recovery supplement. Eating these after a workout is the best treat ever! I love that eating one of these when a sweet tooth craving strikes, not only satisfies that craving, but also is a way to not cheat on a healthy eating plan, while curbing that hunger at the same time. These bars have a lot of health benefits in addition to a protein boost. In each bar you are getting antioxidants; I absolutely love a "candy bar" that delivers a nutritional advantage as well. I have to mention that these bars are a great compliment to a nice cup of hot or ice coffee. A NuGo bar PLUS a vanilla iced coffee with extra soy milk EQUALS my weakness!

NOM, NOM, NOM!

You can find these bars at Whole Foods Markets, other health food stores, or on their website. To find a participating retailer that carries these delicious NuGo Nutrition products, check out their store locator. 

GET IN MY BELLY!

I really adore these bars and I'm happy to be able to share the good news with you. Hopefully you'll get to try them, if you haven't already, especially their newest flavors! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Here's to chocolaty deliciousness!

CHOCOLATE!

Beans are the New Trail Mix!

Move over Trail Mix, there's a new healthy snack in town!

Gone are the days of boring snacking. No beans about it, I am glad that I got my hands on some goodies from The Good Bean! So here is the scoop, The Good Bean makes all natural, roasted chickpea snacks in a whole bunch of delicious flavors. Flavors like, Sea Salt, Cracked Pepper, Smoky Chili & Lime, Sweet Cinnamon, Mosquite BBQ, Thai Coconut Lemongrass, and Chocolate! Basically, any flavor that you fancy. Why snack on these chickpeas when you can get potato chips in lots of flavors, you ask? Well because just one serving of The Good Bean roasted chickpeas has as much protein as almonds, as much fiber as two cups of broccoli, and as much folate as three cups of spinach (hello prego mamas)! For just those reasons alone, makes these tiny crunch-machines superior snacks, but there is more.

Taste The Good Bean rainbow!

Not only are these portable and great for lunchboxes, briefcases, gym bags, lockers, desks, camping or hiking backpacks, you name it, the flavors are outrageous! Each flavor has a unique taste and texture also. Depending on your mood, you have flavors that range from simple to sweet to savory to complex. The Sea Salt has a smooth coating and is crunchy and smooth. Sea Salt is great for snackers who typically go for the plain or classic flavors but love the major crunch factor. For the sweet tooth there are flavors like Chocolate or Sweet Cinnamon. They remind me of healthy, candied nuts with huge flavor; what a smart way to snack when you are craving dessert. When you want savory and spicy you can choose Smoky Chili & Lime and Mosquite BBQ which are better than any potato chip that I have ever had. And as for the most complex of The Good Bean flavors, the Thai Coconut Lemongrass literally tastes like I'm eating at a Thai restaurant! It actually almost reminded me of Penang Curry Tofu!

Another great thing about these roasted chickpeas is that your jaw has to do a lot of work to eat these! You can't possibly overeat these and even if you did it is healthier than scarfing down chips. Usually with snacks I can easily eat much more than the recommended serving size, however with The Good Bean I am completely satisfied after my one ounce serving, not to mention my jaw is completely tired! These are also great for people looking to lose weight or maintain their weight and have a snack obsession like I do!

The Good Bean roasted chickpeas come in two bag sizes, a single serving bag to take on the go and a larger bag with a resealable zipper. And although snacking right from the bag is great, you can also enjoy these as salad toppers instead of croutons, in soups, mixed into vegan yogurt, over vegan ice cream (especially the chocolate - yum!), to make your own snack mixes with, or any other way that you can think of! These would also be fabulous to put in pretty dishes or bowls to offer guests during cocktail parties. These are absolutely scrumptious and are now my new go-to snack!

You can find The Good Bean at Whole Foods and other markets using their store locator or you can simply shop right on their website. The Good Bean offers FREE SHIPPING for orders amounting to $35 or more! That is easy to do when you stock up for school lunches, camping trips, road trips, college dorms or care packages, etc. 

I am so psyched about this great product and excited to make this a regular part of our family's snacking! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I hope you have a crunchy, crispy, flavorful day!

NEW Soy Curls and Yummy "Chicken" Pot Pie Recipe!

Imagine this. Imagine a vegan protein that needed no refrigeration. No need to keep it cold and it has a very generous shelf life, unlike tofu and other vegan refrigerated or frozen products. Now imagine, you can take this vegan protein anywhere. It is compact. It can travel with you and it is even great for camping. You can make elaborate meals with it or just cook up a quick snack or "chicken" salad. You can stock your pantry with it and it is easy. I bet you wish that this product existed. Now imagine that it does exist. Imagine that I tell you it exists, it is here, and it is available to us vegan folk.

I kid you not! I recently got my paws on some Soy Curls and Chik-Style Seasoning from Butler Foods and let me tell you, this is HUGE for us plant-based eaters. Now let's talk about this crazy-awesome new product, shall we?

Soy Curls are a textured vegan protein made from non-GMO whole soy bean. There are no additives and no other ingredients, just one simple and pure ingredient. Each serving has 10 whopping grams of protein and 15% of your daily value of iron. Each package re-hydrates to 1.5 lbs! Yes, that is 1.5 lbs of vegan protein for your recipe. These can easily be transformed to anything you'd like, but closely resemble vegan "chicken". Butler Foods also offers that nifty Chik-Style Seasoning that is pictured above and adds a "chicken" flavor to your curls, making for a lot of interesting vegan dishes. The picture above is a closeup of the Soy Curls in the package before anything has been done to them. In a moment, I am about to soak these protein-packed morsels for 10 minutes in warm water, drain, and transform them in a recipe that I created. Let's get to it...

Look at those chunks of Soy Curls!

What I made here is a lovely "chicken" pot pie using Soy Curls and Chik-Style Seasoning. Before I share this delectable recipe with you, I would like to say that this is the first in my recipe series using Butler Foods. I plan on trying some of their own signature recipes, which include BBQ Soy Curls, Curried Rice (I cannot wait to try this one!), Chik-Style Salad and Spread, and others. You can find these Butler recipes on their website and I will also be sharing them here as I make them. I will also be creating more recipes using these Soy Curls. I actually cannot believe that we lived without these for so long! We are also camping this year and Soy Curls will be in our camping bag for sure! I cannot believe how truly easy these would be to prepare while camping. All you have to do is warm a little water in a small pot on the fire or camping stove, soak the curls for 10 minutes, drain the water out of the pot, and your vegan protein is ready to use in whichever way that you choose.

Warm Up with My 'Soy Curls Chik-Style Pot Pie' Recipe

What you will need:

4 cups whole wheat flour
4 tsp fine sea salt
1 & 2/3 cups canola oil
6 tbsp cold water
3 tbsp vegan butter (and some extra for greasing)
1 can corn, drained and rinsed
1 can green beans, drained and rinsed
1 & 1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup unsweetened and unflavored vegan milk
1/2 package Butler Soy Curls, soaked for 10 min in warm water and drained
2 tbsp Butler Chik-Style Seasoning
1 tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp black pepper

What you will need to do:

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 glass baking or casserole dish. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt then add canola oil and mix. Add as little or as much of the cold water until you achieve dough consistency. Take half of the dough and to use for the bottom crust, and set the other half aside. Evenly distribute dough on bottom of baking dish and push it up the sides. Bake crust in oven for 20 minutes. In a sauce pan, melt vegan butter and cook corn, green beans, and peas for about 10 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently. Stir in flour and stir constantly for 1 minute. Stir in broth and vegan milk and cook on medium heat until bubbly, stirring frequently. Add in your soaked and drained Soy Curls, Chik Seasoning, salt, and pepper, stir and remove from heat. Add mixture to your baking dish and top with remaining half of dough. Bake for 35- 45 minutes. Let pot pie sit for a few moments to set and enjoy!

The Soy Curls transformed into a plump "chicken"-like strip. The curls were so tasty and the Chik-Style Seasoning gave the pot pie such a delicious and authentic flavor. The 2 tbsp of seasoning went a long way as well. What a delicious find! I am so glad that I found out about Butler Foods! 

YUM!