Category: Reviews

Way Better Whey

Some animal products can lurk just beyond detection on ingredient labels, hidden in plain sight. Adopting new names like false identities, they masquerade as benign, unremarkable ingredients, only called out by an allergen statement in small print like an afterthought. There are certain euphemisms you learn early on; even a child could tell you that “beef” means cow, and “pork” means pig. Beyond that, things get a little bit hazy. Whey is a particularly problematic ingredient, so far removed from the milk it came from that it can legally be labeled as lactose-free. Make no mistake, conventional whey is still 100% dairy-based and absolutely not vegan. However, in this golden age of plant-based alternatives, I’d like to think that those tides are turning.

California Performance Co. is on the cutting edge of food technology, working to redefine the entire concept of whey. V-Whey is the world’s first animal-free whey protein, made with Perfect Day to make a DNA-identical protein, bearing all the same nutrients, minus the cow. That’s why you’ll still see dairy as a potential allergen on the label. This dairy, however, is all vegan.

What are the benefits of V-Whey?

  • Anyone who has difficulty digesting other plant proteins like soy, wheat or, pea should take comfort knowing that whey is typically better tolerated by those with sensitive stomachs.
  • It’s a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. These are the building blocks for creating muscle, creating new immune cells, healing wounds, growing strong hair and healthy skin, and so much more.
  • Cruelty-free, sustainable, and better for the environment, this one goes well beyond personal health. Even if you’re not vegan, everyone should be concerned about the impact that feedlots have on soil erosion, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and beyond.

V-Whey by California Performance Co. comes in three favors: Vanilla Sundae, Chocolate Brownie, and Mixed Berry. You have a classic neopolitan array of dessert-inspired tastes to quell cravings with 0 grams of added sugar. They’re sweetened with stevia to prevent blood sugar spikes, keep calories low, and still taste like a treat.

Most importantly, this is something you’ll WANT to drink. 23 grams of protein per serving are great, but useless if you can’t choke them down. It’s not a struggle with the silky-smooth consistency of V-Whey, mixing easily with water, non-dairy milk, or juice without a machine.

Vanilla Sundae lives up to the promise such a decadent title implies. Even when blended with just water alone, it tastes undeniably creamy, smooth, and sweet as dessert. It straddles the line between cake batter and frosting, which makes it a perfect ice cream alternative if you simply add ice. Cravings don’t stand a chance against this mix, which is ideal for adding into other recipes for its easily paired, agreeable flavor profile.

Mixed Berry underwent a startling transformation the second liquid hit. That stark white powder instantly blossomed into a florescent neon pink, stunningly rich in color as it poured from the shaker. Each sip was equally striking, starting with fresh strawberry notes in the lead, then morphing into a candy-like sweetness, and rounded out by a subtly tart, tangy finish. Genuine floral notes of whole fruit punctuated the experience for a fully immersive drinking experience.

Chocolate Brownie was my personal favorite of the bunch. It’s dark and deep, subtly bitter like a good bar of 80% cacao, tempered with just enough sweetness to soften the hard edges. Such incredible creaminess brings to mind truffles, ganache, and chocolate fondue, all melting together in one luxurious drink. This one is clearly designed with chocolate lovers in mind, doing proper justice to the world’s favorite aphrodisiac.

How else can you use V-Whey?

  • Smoothies and smoothie bowls
  • Hot oatmeal or overnight oats
  • Homemade protein bars
  • Add a scoop to pancake or waffle batter
  • Replace some of the flour in muffins or cookies
  • Mix with nut butter and spread on toast

Forget the gritty, chalky health tonics of yesteryear and welcome to the future. This is way better than conventional whey.

This post was made possible as a collaboration with California Performance Co. My opinions can not be bought and all content is original. This page may contain affiliate links; thank you for supporting my blog!

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments

Tapping into Tepache

When it comes to probiotics, it’s easy to go with your gut. There’s no need to take supplements to reap the benefits of all that good bacteria when there are hundreds of delicious options that pack an even bigger punch. Long touted as a healthier alternative to soda, kombucha has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity, raising the profile of many other natural probiotic beverages along with it. Kefir, apple cider vinegar, yogurt drinks, and even straight pickle or kimchi juice are on tap all around the world, crossing cultural boundaries and blending with modern tastes. Despite that, there’s one contender that has remained largely unknown… Until now.

What is tepache?

Tepache is the Mexican equivalent that predates colonial times. Fermented pineapple is the base, lending a sweet and tangy flavor without any added sugar. The best example I can think of is Big Easy Tepache for the time-honored techniques that deliver a refreshing experience bolstered with serious gut health benefits.

Like juice-based agua frescas, the flavors are limitless when it comes to tepache. The Original, a pure, clean study of pineapple vitality is a good place to start, demonstrating how versatile that gently effervescent base can be. Cocktails or mocktails come alive, quite literally, with billions of natural non-dairy probiotic cultures sparkling in the sun. Mango Mandarin, Strawberry Hibiscus, and Prickly Pear Lime add splashes of color to the tropical lineup in totally crushable cans.

Is tepache sweet?

If you crave bubbles with a bit of sweetness like me, you’ll want to stock your fridge for summer. Tepache has typical soft drinks beat by a mile; does your cola come with 7 grams of fiber and just 45 calories a pop? No, I didn’t think so.

Beyond the convenient aluminum can, tepache is also a prime source of recipe inspiration.

Just for starters, you could…

  • Blend it into fruit smoothies and acai bowls
  • Use it as marinade for tofu, tempeh, or seitan
  • Mix it into dressings for salads
  • Simmer baked beans for your next sensational BBQ side
  • Soak overnight oats or chia pudding

Don’t worry if you’ve been turned off by the harsh acidity of other similar probiotic drinks. Big Easy Tepache is certified toddler tested and approved, according to the founders’ own tiny Chief Taste Tester. Take it easy; tepache is for everyone.

This post was made possible as a collaboration with Moms Meet and Big Easy Bucha. My opinions can not be bought and all content is original. This page may contain affiliate links; thank you for supporting my blog!

Hannah (BitterSweet)Leave a comment

Cakes of Biblical Proportions

Some cookbooks are more aspirational than inspirational. You know the sort; heavy, hard covers with glossy photos splashed across the pages. If not for the text, they could qualify as art projects, printed and bound for posterity. Laid out deliberately in plain view for guests to notice, appreciating your good taste, such things are pure beauty have plenty of value all the same.There’s a place on every well-appointed bookshelf for recipes dedicated to 10 minute meals and entirely unobtainable food porn.

On rare occasion, if you’re lucky, you’ll come across a cookbook that fits both descriptions. Filled with lofty pastry goals that look like the stuff of sweet dreams, yet written in such a way that you could genuinely recreate these edible sculptures in real life, Sara Kidd bridges that gap with her groundbreaking release of The Vegan Cake Bible.

Deserving of culinary worship, these are not your mom’s bake sale tray bakes. We’re talking Caramel Swirl Bundt with Nougatine, Almond Sponge with Caramelized Apple & Ginger Meringue Buttercream, Vanilla Malt Marshmallow Birthday Cake, and beyond. By including a full breakdown of each individual component, you can easily mix and match to create the unique combination you’re truly craving.

Roast Carrot Cardamom Cake

It’s not just a set of instructions, but a full education that could rival the popular virtual pastry courses offered by highly esteemed culinary schools. We’re talking about the nitty gritty behind food science, shedding light on why ingredients interact the way they do, creating unique textures and flavors to better harness that power. Sara won’t leave you hanging when it’s time to stack things up, with tips and tricks to build sound foundations for towering cakes, no matter how tall. Naturally, plenty of time is given to decorating skills that go beyond a basic piping bag, creating treats as beautiful as they are delicious. There’s even a chapter about transporting your cakes when it’s party time!

As a certified Old Vegan™, I wish I had such a complete guide when I was blindly mashing bananas into everything, hoping and praying the results would be reasonably edible. Never could I have even imagined these feats of cake mastery, made accessible to anyone bold enough to call themselves a Baker. Though initially daunting, I promise, these luscious, layered creations are within your reach.

What’s even more incredible is the unbelievable number of gluten-free options all throughout these colorful pages. Her Gluten-free Vegan Lemon Cake with Lemon Curd and American Buttercream is a case in point, which she generously granted me permission to reprint here. However, I don’t think my little recipe card could do it proper justice; there’s so much more description within her original post, that I must implore you to make that one extra click to get all the info.

While you’re over there, don’t miss Sara’s full archive of sweet recipes, videos, and even baking classes for hands-on experiences with the master herself. Anyone even remotely interested in sweets will relish such an indispensable resource. Treat yourself, or someone you love, to the gift of truly incredible vegan cakes today.

Hannah (BitterSweet)2 Comments

One Reuben to Rule Them All

Who the heck is Reuben, and how did he ever think to invent such a meaty masterpiece? Of course, like any good origin story, this one is full of controversy, hotly contested to this day. The two leading theories attribute the deli staple to restaurants in Omaha and New York, right around the same time in the early 1900s. Each one came about by making thrifty use of leftovers to satisfy a deep, gnawing hunger. Perhaps there’s a kernel of truth in both of these claims, but the world will never know for sure.

Urban legends and lore aside, there’s no questioning the fact that it’s a timeless classic that transcends all tastes. While often associated with Jewish delicatessens, the archetypal sandwich couldn’t be farther from kosher certification, as it flagrantly combines meat and dairy in one mouthful. Today, we have the technology to right this wrong. Abundant vegan alternatives make this classic easily accessible to everyone. In fact, I discovered no less than five wholly unique, completely plant-based Reuben renditions right here in Austin, TX. Each one takes a different approach to accomplish the same goal, demonstrating culinary creativity without making concessions for flavor.

I wouldn’t hesitate to order any and all of these sandwiches in a heartbeat. Each one fulfills a different craving, from reasonably wholesome to downright decadent.

Counter Culture puts a healthier spin on this otherwise gut-busting sandwich, employing whole foods that remain true to their earthy roots. Soft marbled rye flecked with caraway seeds cradles thick planks of marinated locally made tempeh, slathered with super gooey cheese sauce and a notably tomato-forward dressing. Crunchy red onion adds welcome textural contrast, cutting the subtly bitter edge of the fermented beans nicely. The sauerkraut is so soft that it seems to melt into the filling, blended with a few cucumber pickles for an extra fresh flavor.

Wheatsville is natural foods co-op, not a sit-down restaurant, but their made-to-order deli sandwiches put many proper eateries to shame. Although best known for their tofu po’boys, the vegan Reuben sandwich deserves just as much praise. Composed of bright pink corned seitan, sliced dairy-free Gouda cheese, thousand island dressing, and old fashioned sauerkraut, it’s a straightforward homage to tradition. I’ve seen confused patrons take their sandwiches back to the counter, uncertain if they actually ordered the vegan version or not. It’s a perfectly balanced savory composition that’s delicious and hits all the right notes.

Bouldin Creek Cafe is another beloved establishment that couldn’t care less about passing trends, big name brands, or hyper-realistic mock meats. They do things their own way, from scratch, which means their Ruby Reuben is unapologetically made with bright red beets. In this sporadic lunch special, golden grilled rye bread stuffed with tender shredded beets and kale-cabbage kraut, while melted Follow Your Heart cheese slices act as the edible glue, sealing the deal. The subtly smoky Russian dressing creates an even greater depth of flavor, creating a prize-worthy Reuben like no other.

Rebel Cheese really puts their protein front and center, getting right down to the meat of the matter. Their “Gentle Reuben” stacks up with a tidy pile of thinly sliced meatless corned beef as the star of the show. For a shop best known for their homemade cheeses, I do wish it had more of a goo-factor, but that does make it a bit less messy to eat. The layer of sauerkraut is certainly not skimpy, lending a pleasantly salty, tangy character to every bite.

Brunch Bird lays claim to the one Reuben that could rule them all. I’ve seen grown men cry as they sink their teeth into this monstrous meal. The meatless corned beef is unassailable, thinly sliced and super smoky, piled up in tender shreds underneath a tangy blankets of sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, and melted cheese. It’s hard to hold if you don’t want to wear it, but worth the struggle. This is the sandwich that could win over staunch meat eaters without a fight.

Whether you go old school or nouveau, there’s no denying the appeal of a properly stacked Reuben. The interplay between umami, salty, sour, and subtly sweet flavors is what made it a top-seller for over a hundred years. In the next century, perhaps the Reuben revolution will make meat obsolete, once and for all. Which version are you picking up first?

Hannah (BitterSweet)10 Comments

DO Try This At Home

Home cooking has taken on greater importance over the past few years. Rising interest in food overall had already tipped the scales in favor of more homemade meals, and then the pandemic hit, making it a beacon of hope amid dwindling choices. For those with demanding schedules, tight budgets, tricky dietary restrictions, or limited experience, the shift has been anything but palatable.

Go ahead, take it easy. Laura Theodore is revitalizing comfort food as we know it, giving everyone the tools to create healthy, hearty, home cooked meals on their own terms. That means accessible ingredients, user-friendly instructions, and even low-impact clean up when it’s all said and done. If you’re craving a bite of nostalgia with better nutrition, Easy Vegan Home Cooking has exactly what you need.

BBQ Tempeh Triangles (p. 136)

Everything prepared in your own kitchen qualifies as “home cooking,” but there’s deeper meaning to the concept than such a basic definition can allow. Traditionally, the term implies comfort food, something made with intention, love, and care. It’s not fancy, and sometimes even downright ugly, but each bite feeds more than just the basic need for fuel. Takeout can never rise to such heights.


Laura’s Blueberry-Banana Smoothie (p. 41)

Easy Vegan Home Cooking includes over 125 cozy, comforting recipes that transform minimal ingredients into deeply satisfying meals. Bucking the conventional notion that soulful, crave-worthy cooking needs to make nutritional compromises, these dishes are notably low in added oil, salt, and sugar. Removing such cheap crutches lets fresh flavors do the talking instead.

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Butternut Squash Soup (p. 76)

You’ve gotta taste it to believe it. That’s why I’m excited to share this giveaway for a copy of Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Laura Theodore! To enter, let me know in the comment section below what “home cooking” means to you, and what your most essential home cooked meal is. Don’t forget to come back and register your entry in the giveaway widget, along with additional opportunities to win.

Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Laura Theodore

Hannah (BitterSweet)19 Comments

Kitchen Confidant

Don’t just veg out; veg UP your meals with Kitchen Pantry.

The only thing better than having a personal chef is having a personal sous chef. When someone else handles the arduous, repetitive, and time-consuming prep work, you’re free to simply create whenever inspiration (or hunger) strikes. That’s where Kitchen Pantry comes in, doing all the shopping, chopping, slicing, and dicing for you. Order raw, fresh ingredients that are ready to cook or eat right away, without any of the typical hassle. Pick from a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, sweet and savory, plus some kitchen staples and fully cooked snacks to satisfy the most urgent cravings.

Sometimes the ease of using such conveniences is the difference between eating a healthy dinner or resorting to a bag of potato chips. It’s one thing to buy four pounds of onions to make French onion soup, and another thing entirely to actually break them down, through tired, tear-filled eyes. There’s no shame in doing what it takes to get healthy food on the table.

It’s also a boon to those who have disabilities that would otherwise prevent them from cooking. Being able to nourish yourself should be a right, not a privilege. Having more options allows greater accessibility for everyone.

Let’s not forget how it helps prevent food waste, too! Cooking for one can be a barrier to investing in fresh produce. Buying a jumbo head of broccoli can be a daunting commitment when you only want a few florets. When you buy only what you need, you get exactly that, and nothing that you don’t. Plus, with all the prep work done for you, there are no unwanted peels, cores, stems, or seeds to contend with.

Make home cooking faster than ordering takeout by starting with perfectly diced mirepoix that’s ready when you are. No measuring needed for those who prefer to rely on instinct rather than written recipes, without any risk of going too far astray.

If you’re more of an all-day grazer, you’ve got lots of crudites and snackable options at your disposal, too. If you want more than immaculate cuts of carrots or cucumbers for dipping into your favorite creamy hummus, here’s another quick fix: Take two seconds to toss together a package of diced tomatoes and tri-color bell peppers, plus a spoonful of minced serranos and garlic. Top with scallions, and just like that, you’ve got instant salsa fresca, fresher and more flavorful that anything you’d find at the grocery store.

Don’t think that the snack selection ends with fresh produce. Kitchen Pantry really strives to fill your whole kitchen with quick, healthy, universally appealing options. Featuring local brands and their less common flavors that may not be widely available, this carefully curated selection is a great way to discover more small businesses. From gourmet popcorn to award-winning olive oil, small-batch tea blends to cocktail mixers, you can easily cut down trips to the store thanks to this expansive assortment.

Unlike other meal delivery solutions, there are no hidden fees and no subscription required for Kitchen Pantry. Additionally, the packaging is fully recyclable, with plans of switching to compostable materials with future funding. What you see is truly what you get: Produce is kept fresh by removing excess oxygen and overnight shipping, not with preservatives or any additives (like salt, acids, or chemicals.)

Kitchen Pantry partners with UPS to reach most of Texas, with plans to drastically expand distribution in response to growing demand. If you’re within range, jump in and start building your cart now. No one has ever regretted getting more fresh, healthy food in their lives.

This post was made possible as a collaboration with Kitchen Pantry. My opinions can not be bought and all content is original. This page may contain affiliate links; thank you for supporting my blog!

Hannah (BitterSweet)3 Comments