Category: Reviews

When it comes to eating healthy, it would seem as though the standard whole grains, fruits, and veggies just won’t cut it anymore. Everything from yogurts to crackers have added antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, mineral- You name it, you’ll find it in there. Unfortunately, much of these “enhancements” are merely gimmicks, enticing consumers to buy otherwise nutritionally questionable foods. Just think of Coke Plus, which is purely chemicals and water, but wait! It’s good for you because it has vitamins, right?

So it’s with great reluctance that I pick up such items off the shelves. While I’d love to believe that such additions really do improve the quality of the foods and offer substantial health benefits, it’s even rarer that you can find such a product that doesn’t suffer in the taste department as a result. Taking a chance on Nutritious Living cereals, I was thrilled to discover that it was in fact possible to get the best of both worlds.

Antioxidant Indulgence, a medley of dark brown cereal flakes, freeze-dried strawberries, and whole goji berries, it certainly sounded promising. Right out of the box, it smelled sweet and chocolaty; enticing for someone who prefers sweeter cereals like me. Providing a serious crunch, the thick, sturdy flakes delivered a surprisingly good chocolate flavor, not the least bit artificial or overwhelming like so many other “chocolate” cereals. Alternating between bites of chewy, tart goji berries, the light, crisp strawberries, and these fantastic flakes, this cereal really does have everything I could ask for in a breakfast or snack. Sweet yet hearty and satisfying, with a wholesome wheat flavor supporting it all, I would recommend it to absolutely anyone who eats cereal!

For those looking for a purely nutritious, no-frills option, the Omega-3 Harmony may just be the cereal for you. Although it smelled strangely of pumpkin at first, the similarly thick but less sweet flakes are very simple wheat and flax seed creations. That filling cereal base became monotonous and forgettable as I worked my way to the bottom of the bowl, but mix-ins are what this variety is all about. Whole walnuts add another dimension to the crunchy bite, and plump, plentiful cranberries that are as big as ripe grapes are scattered throughout adding tart bursts of flavor. It may not be something to write home about, but if you’re looking for a solid breakfast that won’t leave you dragging mid morning, this one will keep you well-nourished and satisfied.

With an eye on both health and palate, these are two cereals that should be pantry staples for anyone else trying to eat well while being mindful of their well being.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

As if I wasn’t already smitten with this machine after the first few tests, then I’m completely, unabashedly head-over-heels for it now.  Soups and smoothies have been churning out of that thing endlessly and effortlessly, but moreover, I’ve finally been able to unleash its full potential.  That’s right- There’s still a whole other world of tasks that the VitaMix can perform, and I couldn’t wait to see if it would be up to the challenges. Arming the base with a shiny new dry blade and carafe, it was time to see what this baby was really capable of.

Something I’ve secretly lusted after for the longest time is a grain mill. Sadly, the expense, bulk, and somewhat limited functionality ensured that such a gadget would never be a part of my life. Now, I have another [much happier] reason to take it off of my list; The VitaMix can grind just about anything down to a fine powder in seconds flat.

It sounded too good to be true, and initially my skepticism prevented me from trying it out. Pouring in those hard red winter wheat berries felt about as comfortable as loading up my old blender with a cupful of nails. I didn’t want to ruin my brand new toy! Fingers and toes crossed that all would go as planned, I flipped the switch…

And right before my eyes, those uninviting kernels dissolved into a soft, familiar flour. The flavor was another thing though- So much fresher and heartier than any whole wheat flour I’ve encountered so far, I now understand the benefit of grinding it at home.

Here’s where things get even crazier: Back into the VitaMix my fresh flour went, along with water, salt, and all of the usual suspects for making a basic dough, and with a few flicks of the switch and pauses to scrape down the sides with a spatula, it all came together smoothly, with no hand-kneading. This is one feature that I was honestly prepared to dislike, seeing as I love to knead bread by hand and figured that this would only make for more dishes to wash in the end. The mighty VitaMix definitely proved me wrong though, and whipped together this dough like a charm. Again, it cleans itself with just a squirt of soap, a few cups of warm water, and two minutes on high speed. What’s not to like?

With my hassle-free dough, simple pastries seemed to be in order, so out came the rolling pin. Cut into circles, rolled thinly, and stuffed with more remnants languishing in the fridge, it was definitely a win-win situation. In case you want to make similar empanadas, or turnovers, or whatever you want to call them, just remember to mark which pastries have which filling. My key is as follows: One steam vent was cut into those with “nutella,” two for peanut butter, and those containing strawberry jam got three slashes.

I was about ready to call it a day at that point, but inspiration struck and I realized that with this powerful tool, I could finally conquer one culinary goal that has been on my to-do list for as long as I can remember. Without a second thought, I went full-speed ahead into the process of creating homemade pasta.

A handful of spinach turned my batch a lurid shade of green, and of course, the VitaMix had no trouble pureeing the leaves even though I decided to add them at the last minute, right on top of my nearly-mixed pasta dough.

The extra moisture from the greenery necessitated a bit more flour than originally called for, but I could hardly call this process the least bit difficult. Much to my delight, I was rolling in rustic fettuccine in no time.

So really, do you need any more reasons to dump your old food processor and just get a VitaMix already?!

Whining and shuddering as it laboriously smashed coffee beans into only slightly smaller pieces, I could tell that my trusty food processor was finally on its last legs. After all of the abuse I’ve put it through over the years, I’m impressed that it’s lasted this long, but it has suddenly become abundantly clear that the motor is no longer as quick or powerful, and those blades are about as dull as an old war documentary. After ten minutes of fruitless spinning, my beans were still so coarse that they stop up the filter in my coffee machine, but what could be done? This machine had given its all.

Sure, I drooled over new models, dreamed of upgrading and putting this old food processor out to pasture, but I wasn’t sure which would be my absolute best option. One name in particular caught my attention though, and that was the VitaMix. Everywhere I looked, this was the brand that professionals and home cooks alike seemed to be raving about. Somewhat pricey, but supposedly worth the investment, I wrote down the name and kept it under consideration… When out of the blue, I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing the one, the only, the VitaMix! I couldn’t wait another second to send out an enthusiastic “YES!” in response.

Pulling the lovely blender out of the box, I already had a number of ideas for testing it out, but when I read the instruction manual and handy recipe book, that list increased exponentially. Little did I know how truly versatile this thing was!

The first thing I bookmarked in that cookbook was the simple recipe for rice milk. I was thrilled to see that they have instructions to make a number of non-dairy milks, and many vegan or easily veganizable recipes as well. The rice version simply sounded the quickest and easiest, plus I had everything on hand already. 1/2 cup of rice, 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of agave and a small splash of vanilla go into the massive carafe, and two minutes later, all that remains is a perfectly smooth, creamy white liquid. This is something that my old food processor could never do, even in its prime. No trace of the original grains remained, no straining required, and the resulting rice milk was so impressive, I think I may quit buying non-dairy milk altogether. Just think of the money and packaging this could save!

Seeing how well the VitaMix performed making rice milk, I was excited to think that maybe I could finally jump on the bandwagon and try making green smoothies. Fearful of getting mouthfuls of leafy grit in the past, green smoothies were never on the menu for me, no matter how good the recipes sounded. A simple mixture of bananas, spinach, and rice milk sounded like a good way to ease into it, and boy was it! Again, a perfectly smooth amalgamation awaited me when I pulled off the carafe’s lid. I’m already plotting millions of green smoothie combos for quick breakfasts and snacks now!

One feature that I just had to see to believe was that the VitaMix has the ability to actually cook food. Literally, heat the contents of the blender to the point of steaming! So I tossed in all the ingredients for a Moroccan chickpea soup, set it on high for about seven minutes, and voila- Perfectly blended, creamy… and piping hot! This proves that it takes just as much time, if not less, to cook a great meal from scratch versus heating up something frozen. I will definitely be taking advantage of this fantastic feature a lot during these cold days!

Finally, to really put this thing through its paces, I absolutely needed to see how it would make nut butter. And not just any nut butter- Oh no, I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to try making nutella again. While it was very good the first time, it was definitely chunkier than the real thing, and not nearly as creamy. Testing out a new recipe at the same time, I ended up with the most incredible homemade chocolate hazelnut spread I’ve ever tasted, with absolutely zero effort. This time around, not only did the VitaMix make a huge difference, but I also decided to use a mixture of nuts to give the spread a greater depth of flavor.  In case you’re curious, my formula was…

1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2/3 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
1 Cup Toasted Hazelnuts
1/4 Cup Toasted Cashew Pieces
3/4 Cup Toasted Almonds
3 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar, Packed
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Salt

Simply heat the non-dairy milk without bringing it to a boil, and pour it over the chocolate chips. Let it sit for a few minutes to melt, and then stir thoroughly to combine.

Meanwhile, in the Vitamix, throw in all of the nuts, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Let it run for about two minutes on high, using the tamper to continue pushing the nuts into the blade. Once smooth, pour in the chocolate mixture, and let it continue to run until combined. Done! (Just note that does become thicker once chilled.)

I hate to sound so much like an infomercial, but I must admit that I’m seriously smitten with this machine! The only thing that could make it any better would be if it could clean itself, right? Well… It does! I was highly impressed that it could “become its own dish washer” with just a few cups of water, a drop of dish soup, and two minutes on high speed. Rinse the carafe out and you’re good to go.

Now, I just need to get the dry blade so I can grind my own grains…!

Waking up to see large white flakes floating past my window, I quickly kicked off my sheets and rocketed out of bed. Snow, at last! The first snow of the year is always a big deal to me, and rarely do I miss the chance to get out there and have some fun in it. Although now it’s more about photography than making snowmen, it’s still exciting to see those pristine mounds of snow blanket the earth again.

Once upon a time, after a playing in the freezing flakes for an hour or two, the highlight of the experience would truly be coming back inside and sitting down to a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Gripping the cup tightly to warm my little fingers, I would wait for it to be cool enough to drink, admiring the sweet little marbits the whole time. Honestly, the marbits were the best part, often scooped up with a spoon before any of the liquid had been consumed. Nowadays, my tastes have become at least slightly more refined, and those gelatin-filled dried marshmallows are permanently off the menu.

That doesn’t mean that I didn’t settle in with a hot cup of cocoa, though. This time around, I had a decidedly more adult option: Brewed Chocolate, a slightly caffeinated drink created by Cabaret.

Mixing a mere teaspoon of the syrup into a half cup of hot water, I had my doubts at first. The brew was pale and translucent, much like tea, and I was dubious that something so delicate could really carry a flavor as powerful as chocolate. Notes of roasted nuts and coffee wafted from the cup, somehow reminding me of the smell of brown rice syrup. Nonetheless, the first sip proved that my concern was for naught- Very delicately favored, but pleasantly sweet, it didn’t immediately strike me as chocolate, but eventually a cocoa undertone came through, raising up the flavor a couple of notches.

This is one drink meant to be slowly savored to get the full effect and really appreciate the complex taste, and I happen to love that. Far more sophisticated than just plain old cocoa, you may even choose a cup of this over your second (or third, or fourth) midday coffee. Surprisingly satisfying, it’s somehow much more filling than you would expect for something composed primarily of hot water to be, too.

Whether you’re looking for a lift or just a way to warm up, this is one variation on hot chocolate that everyone should try at least once. Now, I can only imagine how wonderful the syrup might be as an ingredient in baked goods…!

[Written for Go Dairy Free]