3.31.2010

Food and Cookbook Reviews


This is Kashi's Mushroom Trio and Spinach Pizza - Wood Fired Thin Crust. I had this one night last night for lunch in a hunch. It was really tasty! The mushrooms were yummy, they stood out the most. The cheese was decent, and there was minimal sauce - but it was good. It was crispy also. Here are the nutritional facts - my thoughts on that: I could have eaten the whole pizza for sure. It has a decent amount of sodium - so you have to watch! The protein is good and calories decent. Whenever I have a boxed pizza I wonder how bad real pizzeria pizza is for you.



It has a huge list of ingredients:


Cost: $4.99 - not bad, but a little pricey. What do you think? Have you tried Kashi pizza?

Next up: Vegan Cookies Invade your Cookie Jar - cookbook review

I checked out this cookbook from the library after really wanting some more Girl Scout Samoas and hearing about the Vegan Samoa recipe. For the vegan eater, this cookbook has loads of great recipes. Don't be fooled - they are not healthier than normal cookies, they just do not use dairy products. I think the recipes in there for vegan cookies are fantastic! I think I went in with the impression that the recipes would be somewhat healthy - use agave, flax, whole wheat flour... but for the most part, they do not. The key is that the recipes do not sacrifice taste and this is why!

I tried the Vegan Samoas but cooked them too long. It took alot of work, toasting the coconut, then dipping in chocolate... in the end they were so/so, I have to try them again and cook less for a softer cookie.

Vegan Samoas from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar

2 c unsweetened coconut
1/3 c coconut oil
3/4 c brown sugar
1/3 c milk (non dairy for vegan)
1 T ground flax
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 c flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 c chocolate chips + 2 T coconut oil

Oven to 350. Pour coconut onto a large skillet and toast over medium low heat. Stir and toast until light golden brown about 8-10 minutes, be careful not to burn.

In large mixing bowl combine coconut oil, brown sugar, milk, flax and vanilla till well blended. Sift in flour and baking soda to form a thick batter, then fold in coconut.

Scoop 1 T of dough 2 inches apart on the baking sheets - flatten and work a small hole into the center of each - a straw works well. Bake 8 minutes until edges are golden.

While cookies are cooling, melt chocolate chips with coconut oil, cool 5 minutes to thicken, then dip cookie bottoms in chocolate and drizzle the tops with the rest. Use wax paper for this part! Chill! 2 dozen cookies!


Then I tried the Vegan Brownies and holy cow - these will knock your socks off!
Vegan Brownies from Vegan Cookies Invade your Cookie Jar
3 oz firm silken tofu
1/4 c milk
1/2 c canola oil
1 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 c flour (I used 1/2 whole wheat)
1/2 c cocoa
1 T cornstarch
1/2 tsp baking powder


Oven to 325. Line/spray an 8 x 8 pan. Puree tofu, milk and oil in blender. Transfer to a mixing bowl then use a fork to mix in the sugar and add vanilla. Sift in the flour, cocoa, corn starch & powder. Fold and mix until smooth - transfer to pan. Bake 30-32 minutes.

TOTALLY WORTH IT!! :)

There are a few more that I want to try so stay tuned.

There was a point in my first pregnancy where my workouts switched from morning to afternoon. I needed the extra rest and mornings didn't seem to work out for me - I would not be warmed up, get side stitches and have a bad workout. I'm right in between 23-24 weeks and this is happening now. I have made it to swim only once per week. Getting up is brutal! The workout is great, but the rest of the day I am spent. Yesterday when I woke up to run, I was not feeling it, warming up took forever and it took me over an hour just to do 5.3 miles. I might try doing my workouts during Nick's afternoon nap but there are so many other things I want to do during that time!

10 comments:

  1. That is one long list of ingredients for a pizza. And 1/3 would never be enough for me! Sounds yummy, though.

    As for your workouts, just keep listening to your body and doing what you can. You're doing great!

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  2. I am partial to making my own pizza dough lately (just has whole wheat flour, a little olive oil and salt, and yeast) and top it with my own stuff. I have been making double batches of dough so I have some in the freezer for thawing. I've tried the Kashi pizza and it's ok, but pricey and too many ingredients when I can make my own for much cheaper and much healthier for me!

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  3. My husband and I love the Kashi pizza. We're happy to have found a decently healthy pizza. We pretty much always have a Kashi pizza on hand because it's such a quick and easy meal option! :)

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  4. I have wanted to try the kashi pizza but haven't yet. Still, a long list of ingredients!

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  5. I love seeing the recipes you try. I made your black bean sliders the other day, and still have some to enjoy later in the week. Thanks!

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  6. I have not tried kashi pizza, but I may if I ever need something quick. It does seem a lot healthier than all other frozen pizzas. I love my homemade ones with my ww crust though, yum!

    Oh man, those brownies....

    If you are looking for good healthy recipes you MUST read "Baking with Agave Nectar" by Ania Catalano. I checked it out at my library but I must buy a copy for myself. She uses all kinds of healthy flours (not just ww) and really there isn't much revamping I would do to any of the recipes. I'm not baking treats at all right now, but I would like to have it for special occasions.

    Maybe you need some more b vitamins? B vitamins give you energy and you are so much more active than the typical pregnant woman. I think it would help your energy level.

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  7. I've had the Kashi pizza before -- I think I had a Mediterranean Veggie one -- and I liked it. Target's Archer Farms brand has some good "healthy" frozen pizzas as well. Of coure, I don't scan the ingredients, etc as well as you do!

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  8. i don't know why I wasn't all that impressed with the kashi pizza for the calories...i love their cereal though!!!

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  9. i haven't tried the kashi pizza. i usually don't eat pizza but if we do we make our own now from tj's whole wheat dough.

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  10. just keep listening to your body and doing what you can. You're doing great!
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