We recently inherited a bunch of frozen appetizer-type foods from our family trip over the Memorial Day weekend. One of these items were the Vegetable Potstickers from Whole Foods. We usually get our Chinese food from a great local place that doesn't use any nasty oils and uses organic ingredients, but I figured I'd give these potstickers a try. They were just sitting in our freezer, so why not? Here's why not: They're disgusting. So, so bad. They're bland and mushy, bordering on slimy. For the record, I followed the directions on the package strictly, and the potstickers still came out this way. My kids ...continue reading

As you guys know, I'm a Late July fan. At Expo, they were debuting their new Mini-Cookies, which come in Milk and White chocolate.* I tried both, and while I wasn't wowed by the Milk chocolate version, the White chocolate cookies were amazing. They're a little different than the full-sized cookies from the company, so you should give the Minis a shot regardless of whether or not you like the larger ones. These cookies would also be a perfect addition to kids' lunches. They're a new product, and the Late July blog says they'll be rolling out in stores during the next few weeks. So, if you'd like to buy these ...continue reading

I know I've mentioned Late July crackers quite a few times before, but I've been on a new kick: their saltines are heavenly. I grew up loving Nabisco's Premium saltines, which were delicious but full of nasty oils (the ingredient list includes soybean oil and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil). The Late July version isn't quite as crisp and crumbly, but they use palm oil instead. Late July's saltines are kind of like their Classic Rich crackers in texture, but they're all saltine in taste. And it's the flavor of these little salt wonders that I've been loving so much lately. My only complaint is that these ...continue reading

As you may know by now, I love my maté. I've been drinking Guayaki and Pixie maté for a few years now, and it's made me a happy camper. So, despite my dislike of mass-emailed press releases, when I got a press release about Guayaki's new San Mateo maté, I actually read it. I was intrigued enough by the canned PR copy that I went ahead and requested samples from the company. Here's what the press release had to say about the San Mateo maté: Guayaki’s new San Mateo blend is crafted in the Brazilian style by using an air dried, smoke-free drying process that yields a bright and lively herbal flavor and a ...continue reading

A few weeks ago I received some samples from Guayaki in the mail, mainly because I wanted to try their new San Mateo maté (more on that later). Also included in the package were a smattering of various maté tea bags. Along with their chai and green tea maté was a tea bag of their Maté Chocolatté. I followed the package directions of pouring "hot but not boiling" water over the bag, let it steep for about ten minutes, and... I wasn't wowed. You might remember my review of Pixie Maté's tea bags from last year, and I was expecting a similar taste from Guayaki's product. But where the Pixie chocolate ...continue reading

Have I mentioned before that I have a killer sweet tooth? It's not that I need dessert frequently, and in fact I generally eschew sweets after meals. My particular brand of sweet tooth hits rarely, but it hits hard. As a result, I love candy. Candy is super-sweet, and my favorites have always involved chocolate in some form. My love of candy hasn't translated well to an organic lifestyle, however. A stroll through the candy section at Whole Foods or other markets may yield such treats as peanut butter cups and cookies, but what I've always craved is an honest-to-goodness candy bar. I grew up loving Snickers, Milky ...continue reading

I've been fighting a systemic yeast (candida) overgrowth since July 2007. I won't bore you with the details except that my diet is very restricted, to put it mildly. For example, I cannot eat any distilled vinegar since it feeds yeast. You'd be surprised how many products contain vinegar. A few examples: my favorite Newman's Own salad dressing, simple oil & vinegar dressings at restaurants, and yellow mustard. Lately, I'm used to my diet and pretty thankful for everything I can eat, but I still miss the little things sometimes, even good ole American condiments like yellow mustard. Last week my husband and ...continue reading

If you scan the product reviews under "Food & Beverages" here on The Scoop, you will see that I'm a tea fanatic. My husband can verify that when we walk down the tea aisle at Whole Foods, I almost always find a new tea that I must try. I bat my eyelashes at Johnny and ask, "Hey, may I try this tea? Please? I need a variety of strong 'morning teas.'" Or, "I need another calming tea for nighttime." He probably thinks I'm out of my ever living mind because currently, I could open my own little tea shop in our house. To my credit, I walked past Organic India Tulsi teas at least 2-3 times before begging of ...continue reading

I've always heard about how sprouting grains is supposed to be better for you, but it hasn't been until lately that I've actually implemented the practice. Frankly, sprouting nuts and grains is a pain in the ass. Okay, it's not that hard, but I'm incredibly forgetful. I've forgotten several batches of almonds or grains soaking in the corners of my kitchen counter, only to be discovered days later looking like a science experiment. It's unpleasant, and try as I might, I just can't seem to remember when I have something soaking in my kitchen. So why do I keep trying? Well, soaking grains has many health benefits. I ...continue reading

As you already know, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the US. I'll be taking the day off tomorrow (as will Jenni), so here are some recipes, tips, and thoughts about Turkey Day from all over the internets. Grist urges you to have an "organic, local, free-range" Thanksgiving. Most of us already know this stuff, but it never hurts to reiterate the need to think about where our food comes from, especially when we're talking about a day that focuses entirely around consuming large quantities of food. LINK Planet Green: Adopt a turkey for $20. A vegetarian blogger talks about the merits of "adopting" a turkey at ...continue reading

When I feel sick, a natural cure works best for my body in most cases. Several years ago I discovered Traditional Medicinals tea, and they've been a staple in my pantry ever since. In particular, Organic Ginger tea is my remedy of choice for an upset stomach. Whether it be indigestion, motion sickness, nausea, or worse, you name it, ginger tea heals. I brew it at home and bring tea bags & a travel mug along on road trips. A bumpy, winding road or a questionable dish might require digestive aid! Traditional Medicinals uses the highest quality ginger in their tea: it's organic as well as a ...continue reading

Exactly a week ago I reviewed Terra Nostra's Pocket Chocolates. My review was mixed, though overall it was pretty good. But this past week I was fortunate enough to try another Terra Nostra product, one that changed my chocolate buying habits forever: Terra Nostra's Ricemilk Choco™ Bar. Unless this product's packaging proclaimed its vegan-ness, you would never, ever know it. The texture is so rich and creamy, and the flavor is PERFECT. Both Ted and I, who usually have differing preferences when it comes to chocolate bars, absolutely love this bar. We adore it. From the moment we took our first bite and stared at ...continue reading

Exactly a week ago I reviewed Terra Nostra's Pocket Chocolates. My review was mixed, though overall it was pretty good. But this past week I was fortunate enough to try another Terra Nostra product, one that changed my chocolate buying habits forever: Terra Nostra's Ricemilk Choco™ Bar. Unless this product's packaging proclaimed its vegan-ness, you would never, ever know it. The texture is so rich and creamy, and the flavor is PERFECT. Both Ted and I, who usually have differing preferences when it comes to chocolate bars, absolutely love this bar. We adore it. From the moment we took our first bite and stared at ...continue reading

Like Kerry, I, too, am very passionate about Guayakí loose-leaf maté.  Specifically, I'm obsessed with Guayakí's Dark Roast Java Maté.  I make this smoky brew in our coffee pot every morning.  It is my first task of the day; well, after feeding the cats.  Harley and Milo seem to believe they rank higher than maté, but I'm undecided.  I pour the healthy caffeine into a favorite non-sustainable mug, stir in a packet of stevia, and the first sip is Heaven, pure bliss.  I cradle the refilled mug with affection well into the late morning, even until the maté turns cold.  I ...continue reading