Flipping the pages of my calendar over and watching the days fly by, I can’t help but notice that the changing seasons have affected my appetite. These cold days certainly evoke cravings for warmer, heartier dishes than I desired only a few months ago. However, I find myself not only in need of additional warmth and comfort food, but more sweets. For some reason, fall and winter just scream “baking, desserts, sugar!” in my mind, so I’ve been thinking about the sweeter side of the season, and especially chocolate even more than usual lately. Good thing I found Verē Chocolate, a high-end brand with an impressive line of vegan offerings.

Talk about heaven; with a box full of quality chocolate in endless forms and flavors sitting before me, the hardest part of this review was deciding on what to try first! Trying to exercise some amount of restraint, I decided to start with the basics and sample their 75% cacao chocolate bars. Not only does each of these fantastic flavors come in standard 3-ounce bars, but also 10 gram sample sizes. Should portion control be a concern, then the mini batons are an excellent choice, giving you a satisfying taste without the potential to overindulge.

To get a good baseline on the flavor profile of this chocolate, the Ultimo Dark bar made of pure cacao, sugar, and little else was the obvious initial pick. Solid and snappy, this very smooth chocolate is incredibly rich and intense. More bitter than sweet, it’s definitely a “mature” chocolate. The slightly burnt, woodsy notes make it somewhat sharp in flavor, but it is still has a well-rounded and powerful taste. Though it is something that could only be eaten in small doses, I bet it would add some incredible contrast to sweet baked goods as well.

What really sets Verē apart from other chocolate makers is their willingness to try out more adventurous flavors. One of these highly unusual pairings is found in their Anise and Espresso bar; two completely different tastes that I would have never thought to put together. I was very curious about what the results might be. The smell of warm, roasted espresso beans hit me first, followed by the taste of an intense cup of mocha. However, as the piece finishes dissolving the aftertaste of spicy anise brings a finale with a kick. Somewhat gritty from whole ground beans, this may be more of an acquired taste… But even as a self-professed anise detractor, I found this flavor grew on me, and the bar was gone before I knew it.

However, anise isn’t their spiciest offering. For all you chili-lovers and hot-heads out there, the Cayenne and Cacao Nib bar is the one for you. Immediately after taking a bite, the heat hits your tongue with jarring impact, so be careful not to bite off more than you can chew! The explosive spice is nicely tempered by the intense dark chocolate, but nothing could take away from that fire. Crunchy cacao nibs keep the texture exciting enough to match the flavor, making for one unique chocolate experience. If you’re bored of the same old chocolate, this bar will shake things up and get you out of that rut for sure.

Bringing some whimsy back into the picture, this Banana and Macadamia Nut bar is unlike any I’ve tried before. Lighter and sweeter than the previous offerings, this tropical delight is sure to please those seeking a more candy-like treat. Although the banana flavor is very faint and somewhat difficult to detect, the essence still adds a certain something to the overall flavor profile. A scant handful of mac nuts give you an occasional morsel to crunch on, but I wouldn’t say that this one is particularly mind-blowing.

My favorite of this whole assortment was the Raspberry and Lemon bar. While it wasn’t lemony, perse, there was an additional acidic kick to it that heightened the bitterness of the chocolate. Tart pieces of raspberries dotted the whole piece, adding color and interest, and a slight chewiness too. This isn’t your standard sweet, easy to eat chocolate- it’s much more intense than what you might find in the candy aisle of your average grocery store. Anything with raspberry will get my vote, but the smoothly melting dark chocolate really made this an incredible combination.

If you’re looking for something a bit less bracing than pure, powerful, dark chocolate, I would highly recommend Verē’s clusters. I had the good luck of sampling both the almond and coconut clusters, and both of their featured ingredients were impeccably fresh and flavorful. The chocolate seems like more of an afterthought in these, allowing the nuts to shine through and steal the spotlight. Each thin disk is pleasingly crunchy, crisp, and refreshingly uncomplicated.

Speaking of simple, their line of wafers provides a number of flavor sensations while appeasing your inner chocoholic. Ranging from cacoa nibs to pink peppercorns, espresso beans to tamari almonds, there’s something here that everyone can enjoy. Snappy and smooth-melting, the chocolate supports whatever topping may adorn it, and those add-ons are naturally as fresh as can be. My only criticism is that I wish they were more plentiful and evenly distributed, but I’ll still happily eat every last one without complaint.

Looking for a gourmet, vegan gift to give this holiday season? Verē has you covered, providing a number of specially arranged gift boxes that will accommodate your dietary needs, and give you a good sampling of a number of different chocolates. They even have a page listing all of their vegan items to make things easy.

Since many chocolatiers don’t bother to limit the dairy, I was excited that this gourmet name would care enough to do so, and I think that this decision has definitely paid off.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

Here we are, half way through October, and there’s no denying it anymore; fall is here to stay. Chilled air fills the house and meets us when we wake up, our feet meeting cold tiles when we step out of bed. Darkness settles in early these days, and the leaves have begun their metamorphosis into colorful splotches on their branches, preparing for their final descent. It’s also begun to change many foodies’ palates, causing many to seek out warmer, heartier dishes to stave off the growing cold. For me, at least, there’s only one dish I want on these autumnal mornings, and that’s hot cereal. I’m not terribly picky; contented with any sort of warm grain with a hint of sweetness to start the day, but it’s not always a cinch to cook them all quickly. Luckily, I’ve already found that these things can still be convenience food, and now there are even more options to choose from. Amy’s has joined the ring and brought four of their own creations, all found in the freezer, ready to heat and eat.

I must admit that I had never eaten Cream of Rice before, writing it off as “baby food” and steering clear in favor of other cereals. However, I was happily surprised to find that it was quite pleasant, fitting the bill for a warm, comforting breakfast food. Creamy but still slightly gritty, it’s inoffensive and easy to eat. Made of brown rice and lightly sweetened with agave, it’s a good choice for the young and all, except I would prefer to spice mine up a bit next time. My sweet tooth demanded an extra drizzle of maple syrup over the top and the last few slices of apricot for the season to liven it up, but it does make an excellent blank canvas for any flavors you want to add.

Considering the ease of whipping up Rolled Oats from scratch, this isn’t one I would naturally have gone for, but curiosity drove me to pop this frozen brick into the microwave. Unfortunately, what came out only convinced me that simple oatmeal should never be frozen like this; a dry, crusty skin lay over very thick and borderline gummy oats, making for a textural disaster in the mouth. Although cinnamon is added to this one, I couldn’t taste it and had to add more myself in addition to chopped pecans to salvage the texture a bit. Letting it sit for a few minutes to take the picture, I found that it had congealed into a solid mass by the time I was ready to continue eating… And for some reason, I found my appetite was strangely absent.

Hoping that the Steel-Cut Oats will hold up a bit better, I decided to compare them directly to Trader Joes’. Amy’s creation took second place, as the oats seemed mushier and more like a toothsome porridge than whole oats. The cinnamon was lacking in this one as well, but it had a good level of sweetness, and would still be a good breakfast option for those poor souls who don’t have a local Trader Joe’s store.

Last up was the Multigrain bowl, a mix that included a variety of grains and even some flax seeds. This is probably the dish that I would be most likely to buy again, because it’s a pain to buy lots of individual grains and then figure out how to cool them all together so that none are over- or undercooked. Creamy like the cream of rice, but with a good bit of chew from the assorted grains, I found it incredibly hearty and satisfying. It is also sweetened lightly enough that it could also become a savory breakfast, depending on what you feel like adding to it.

While some may argue that it’s just plain lazy to keep simple frozen cereals on hand, I have to hand it to Amy’s- Any healthy convenience food is a good thing indeed. These would be great for reluctant cooks, younger kids who aren’t keen on stove-top preparation, and people on the go. With a handful of nuts, fruits, or spices thrown in, these bowls are just the right size to fulfill your breakfast needs and keep you going all morning.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

As the morning fades away and races rapidly towards noon, there’s rarely any question in my mind as to what’s for lunch. A creature of habit at the core, I’m almost always drawn to the same tasty, easy, and comforting staple: Hummus. Whether it’s in pita with falafel, spread on toast or bagels, nestled on top of chips or balanced on fresh veggies, it’s all good to me. The sheer volume of hummus that I alone go through in a week is enough to boggle the mind, so I like to think that I know a thing or two about it. Unfortunately, I tend to be very picky as well, and have only found one brand thus far that pleases my palate. Even the recipes I’ve tried at home haven’t quite lived up to that one supermarket commodity, so for ages now it’s been the only hummus in my heart. Always on the lookout for a decent alternative to shake things up a bit, I was excited with the prospect of trying out hummus by Summer Fresh, a label I had never heard of or seen up until now.

Available in a wide variety of flavors, sometimes topped with additional goodies like a drizzle of olive oil, whole chickpeas, or additional spices, or just in a standard package. Although they make convenient little to-go packs, the crackers included aren’t vegan, so just plan to scoop a dollop into some Tupperware if you want to take it to work or school with you. I wish I could have tried every last kind of hummus to get the full spectrum of flavors, but at least I got a taste of what these people could do with the humble chickpea.

While I wouldn’t normally bother with anything sounding as bland as Original flavor, I figured it would give me a good baseline for this hummus at least. Much to my surprise, it was anything but tasteless; a myriad of spices gives it an unexpected complexity, so much so that it’s hard to describe. A hint of lemon brings a nice hit of acid into the picture and all of the ingredients work to best compliment the chickpeas. Perfectly smooth and creamy, not the least bit gritty like most other commercial hummus, I was most impressed by the flawless texture. You really need to taste this for yourself, but believe me, this is not your average “plain” hummus.

Roasted Red Pepper is usually one of my top three favorite varieties, so I had high hopes for this one. Living up to its name, this luscious orangey-red spread boasted a bright, fresh peppery essence, with a detectable note of char, as if the peppers had just come off the fire. This is one that I would buy obsessively if I could find it with ease.

Another classic, Roasted Garlic is popular with many of my friends, so it’s always good to have around for parties. This one that I tried was topped with unadulterated chunks of roasted garlic, olive oil, and herbs, making for an impressive presentation straight out of the container. Intensely flavored with the both sharp and sweet flavors of garlic, fans of the stinking rose would be quite pleased to have this spread in their fridge. Luckily, it’s not over-the-top garlicky, but it definitely makes no bones about expressing its namesake to the fullest.

As an added bonus, I also got to try some of the other spreads made by Summer Fresh. They have a wide range of products, but beware- Many of their pestos contain dairy, and if you venture further through their product line, some of their soups and salads aren’t even vegetarian.

Although I wouldn’t call either of these two spreads “pesto” they are nonetheless labeled as Artichoke Pestoz and Peri Peri Pestoz, respectively. The artichoke version is certainly no looker, a pale greenish yellow shade and a bit lumpy, but the flavor makes up for its cosmetic failings. Singing out with pure artichoke flavor, this veggie is clearly the star of the show here, and it’s not sharing the spotlight with any other lesser ingredients. I think it would be awesome as a dip at a party, perhaps warmed up with a bit of Teese melted over the top. Talk about delicious!

Somewhat intimidated by the dark, fiery red peri peri, I knew that this stuff would be hot before even cracking the lid. When the label itself warns “hot” in no unclear terms, you’ve got to think that this stuff has some serious fire power. Looking much like chili paste with a bit of oil that stubbornly refuses to stay incorporated, just a whiff of this stuff tells volumes of its intensity. Taking the tiniest bite of this on top of a cracker, my mouth was instantly lit on fire, and the heat did not dissipate easily. I would recommend this only for real hot-heads who love serious spice, but it could also be a great ingredient in some hot dishes, where it could be dispersed more evenly to lessen the intensity.

If only I could find this stuff locally, my beloved Tribe hummus might actually have some competition on their hands!

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

After nearly inciting a riot of ravenous vegans last time I posted about making meringue, I’ve tried my hardest to steer clear of the subject, lest I stir that pot again. It kills me that I can’t share the recipe yet, and must wait until it’s published in the next book, but there is good news: You needn’t wait that long to satisfy your meringue cravings! That’s right, the evil genius behind Angel Food is determined to conquer every last impossible baking challenge, and can now help you do the same with their brand new vegan meringue kit.

All you need to provide is the sugar and water, and you’ve got yourself a fluffy mass of sweet bubbles, ready to be baked into classic meringue cookies, pie topping, you name it. Overly excited to just play around with my mix, I wish I had saved some to experiment more with, but I ended up just trying out lots of different flavors. However, I’m betting that it could make one mean meringue frosting for those sick of the standard buttercream, and perhaps even pavlova with a few simple tweaks. No matter what, you can’t really make a bad decision here, since you get four different batches of over 2 dozen cookies by following the instructions on the box.

Whipping up effortlessly into stiff peaks, they looked just like my own meringue, but the similarities ended once they hit the oven. Sinking ever so slightly as the heat bore down, they didn’t look quite the same as how I piped them, and they also developed a crackled look on top. It might have been the sugar that I used that produced that grainy look, as I was too lazy to process my granulated sugar into caster, but I don’t bother to do so for my recipe either. Appearances aside, they tasted as sweet as candy, additively crunchy and with just a pleasant whisper of vanilla. A perfect facsimile by any accounts albeit distinctly more sugary than the version I’m now accustomed to.

My favorite by far though were the chocolate variant I made. Tossing in 2 tablespoons of dutch process cocoa powder instantly turned the cloud-like batter into a medium brown fluff. With just enough chocolate, it’s not overwhelming or unapproachable like some decadent chocolate desserts, but it’s a wonderful treat all the same. Even better yet was when I under baked one sheet of cookies; Hard shells protected an interior of sticky-sweet and gooey chocolate meringue. Although I don’t think they would last long due to moisture issues, I didn’t have enough leftover to find out.

Likewise, the batch flavored with a few teaspoons of matcha were just heavenly. No one else in the family even got a taste of these before I devoured every last morsel!

And of course, with so many raspberries kicking around, I just couldn’t resist making a raspberry version. By grinding down freeze-dried berries into a powder and adding some strained raspberry puree for color, these were practically berry candy, not cookies at all. The same technique could be used for any crunchy dried fruit as well, so that might open up the door to numerous interesting varieties, if you’re as interested in experimenting.

While it says nothing about this on the box, I do have one small word of warning: Be patient, and bake only one sheet of cookies at a time. It might seem like a painfully slow process, but your perseverance will be rewarded, trust me. This is what the bottom sheet will look like otherwise:

The kits should be stocked online at major vegan retailers like Food Fight and Cosmo’s, so if you can hold out just a little bit longer, you can satisfy your meringue needs without any recipe. Until I can get mine in print, I think that these ought to hold you over just fine.

‘Indecisive’ is practically my middle name. Between different types of breads, salad dressings, and even apples, it tends to take me an ungodly amount of time to buy groceries. Now, I’ll have even more to waffle over because the folks at Larabar have created four additional flavors! Adding two bars to both their original and Jocolat lines has brought their count up to 20 total varieties- That’s a lot to pick from even for the decisive! Luckily, I was able to get my hands on all of the newest bars, so there were no tough choices this time around.

Naturally gravitating to the chocolate-y side of the spectrum inherent in the Jocolat line, my first pick was the tempting Chocolate Hazelnut. Although the chocolate flavor turned out to be rather mild and more one-dimensional like cocoa, it still came through, proving to be a good medium between candy and granola bar. The sizable chunks of hazelnut would lead one to assume that they have a prominent flavor, but they were really only present as a nice textural element to me. Soft, chewy, and slightly sweet like their old offerings, this one will certainly fit right into my normal rotation.

Chocolate Cherry sounded pretty decadent, but this snack would certainly not be confused for a truffle or cherry cordial. Tart cherries dominate, almost entirely pushing the chocolate out of the picture. With virtually no sweetness to speak of, those who aren’t quite so sugar-crazed might be happily surprised, but it wasn’t quite my cup of tea.

Astonishingly, it was the non-chocolate varieties that really appealed to me. The Coconut Cream Pie was the unexpected favorite in this batch. Incredibly rich with coconut flavor, I daresay it’s the next best thing to eating the fresh fruit itself. Studded with nuts and coconut flakes and yet so soft that it’s almost like eating raw cookie dough, I couldn’t get enough of these. As a fair-weather coconut enthusiast myself, I’m betting that even those wary of this tropical delight will even enjoy these bars.

The last flavor will undoubtedly find mass appeal as well, especially for those peanut butter lovers out there. Justly named Peanut Butter Cookie, it was just as incredible and nutty as you might hope. Admittedly a bit greasy and crumbly, all textural failings are swiftly forgotten as that intense, unadulterated peanut flavor spreads itself across your palate. Large pieces of peanuts surface every now and then to contribute a satisfying crunch, and trust me, it really does satisfy! Impossibly filling for such a tiny snack, one of the babies can keep you going for hours. Now, if only they came out with a chocolate version for this one…

It might be difficult to pick out only a few flavors from the overwhelming number of Jocolat and Larabars out there, but the good news is, it’s hard to go wrong with whatever you choose!

[Written for Go Dairy Free]