Review of Chick-Fil-A's 'Superfood Side'

Before I get started, let me say thanks to those of you who kindly went over and followed The Thinking Spoon at my behest. I really appreciate that! But, after loading a couple of old Bankrupt Vegan posts to the new site, and realizing that I had like 200 more to go, I decided, "Naw. This is crazy." So, I'm going to stick to the Bankrupt Vegan blog. Yay for your bookmarked recipes! You won't have to change them. You'll only have to wait a few days while I fix up all the old recipes with my new watermark and re-post them. I'll try to get at least five per day re-posted, so it shouldn't be too long before all of your favorites are back up. And don't worry if you followed The Thinking Spoon on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I kept all of those accounts and just changed the name back to Bankrupt Vegan. So, there's nothing you need to do except keep on reading along and cooking with me. And again, sincerely, I apologize for this craziness and confusion. Having my photos stolen really did a number on me. So, I'm going to take great care to keep that from happening again.

Now, here's the review...

I was out running errands today and I was starving! The only thing nearby was a Chick-Fil-A, so I thought I could at least get an iced tea and some french fries to keep me from passing out. But, as I was standing in line I noticed a sign for a new "superfood side" featuring kale, broccolini, nuts, and dried cherries. And listed on the menu overhead was a "fruit cup." So, Yay! Food for me!

Image courtesy of Chick-Fil-A.com

PROS

• Thank you, Chick-Fil-A, for offering something green on the menu that doesn't contain meat or dairy! McDonald's has, literally, not one single meat-free salad on the menu. Their fruit tray comes with yogurt in it, and their oatmeal has so much sugar in it, I might as well eat a candy bar. So, it's nice to know that when I really need it, I can turn to you, Chick-Fil-A, for some friggin' kale. (Of, course, I can get an entire bunch of organic kale for 99 cents, so... it's there, but only when I really need it.)
• The taste is nice! I enjoyed it. The slightly sweet dressing puts the whole salad on the sweet side, so it can co-mingle nicely with fruit. In fact, the serving was so small (see 'cons' list) that I dumped my fruit cup into it to bulk it up. And it was great!

CONS

• I was disappointed with how teeny it was. For almost $3, I found this four-bites-at-best serving a little underwhelming. 
• There were also a lot of thick broccolini stems in it. Again, for almost $3.00, I don't want to find a bunch of stems in my salad. I just want the really delicious, tender stuff. 
• The nuts are glazed with some kind of sugary goo. Unnecessary added sugar. Ugh... Nuts taste great all by themselves! According to the Chick-Fil-A nutrition information, this tiny serving contains 11 grams of sugar. How is that even possible??

In conclusion, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it, and would eat it again. It's not something I'm going to make a special trip for, but if I'm out running errands and I get hungry, I know there's something readily available for me that's not total garbage.

Please note that I was not offered a free sample of this item in return for a review. I was genuinely hungry, bought this with my own money, and thought I would tell everyone about it since it's vegan and all. If you've tried it too, let me know what you think in the comments!

Earth Balance Review

I'm going to take a quick detour from my Vegan MoFo theme and do a review of this amazing Earth Balance stuff that I won - yes, WON! - from VeganMoFo.com. So, I'm just putting it out there that I wasn't given this stuff specifically to review, and nobody asked me to review it. I am reviewing it because I thought it would be a nice thing to do since I won it. Did I mention that I won it?! Seriously, though, I only won it because MoFo is a time of magic, when unicorns whinny outside my kitchen window and pixies poop jellybeans into my morning coffee.
I love you, MoFo! Thanks for the giveaway and the awesome prize! And, mucho thanks to Earth Balance for supplying and shipping it - oh, and for inventing it too! I bet I eat my weight every year in organic Earth Balance butter, a substance for which I will always be grateful to you. Love the stuff.

This is my prize. ALL of this! Mine! ALL MINE!!!

Fra-geeeee-laaaaaay.

That top picture,yeah that one with all the goodies, is what came in a rather beat up box to my modest home in Fort Worth, TX, on a hot summer day earlier this week. I was tired from work and grouchy from the heat. Cracking open a homely and unassuming box to find pure treasure inside was such a delight!

Now, on to the reviews...

 Earth Balance Creamy Peanut Butter

It's creamy, sweet (but not too sweet), and easy to spread on toast. What more can I say? Oh yeah, it doesn't separate. You don't have to spend two hours digging into the dry gulch at the bottom of the jug, knocking oil out all over your countertop, trying to get the nuts and the oil to kiss and make up. It's easy-peasy to work with and it's delicious.

Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Squares

Oh my goodness, these are so yummy! They are light and buttery. The "cheese" flavor doesn't come through very strongly on the first bite - it's more of an aftertaste. But I didn't mind. These were really tasty. I had to stop myself from gorging on them. And today, when I got home from work, I was really looking forward to having another handful only to find that my husband and daughter had eaten the whole box! Grrrrrrr.

Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Kettle Chips

I'm gonna be honest. This was my least favorite offering from the box of goodies. The chips themselves are cooked perfectly - flaky and crunchy, and kind of oily, exactly like a good kettle chip should be. But the "cheddar" flavor is a bit off-putting. It's very strong, and it's not at all like traditional cheese. It has that weird whang of Daiya cheddar in it. If you've ever eaten Daiya you probably know what I mean. It's good, but it doesn't taste a thing like cheese. And it leaves an oily aftertaste in your mouth. To the chips' credit, though, I liked them enough to down the whole bag at work today. I let some of my coworkers try them too, to mixed reviews. I think this is a 'like it' or 'hate it' kind of treat. Some liked it, others hated it. My husband was one of the haters, but he also hates Daiya. I don't mind Daiya so much, if it's used on the right dishes. And I didn't mind these so much either, but I don't think I will buy more unless they are on deep clearance.

Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Mac and Cheese

It is absolutely amazing how much this looks like standard Kraft mac and cheese. It's a dead ringer! The flavor is nice, but it isn't going to fool anyone. It's amazing to behold, though - it's the closest I've ever seen to the boxed mac and cheese in vegan form. Like the kettle chips, it has a little whang of that Daiya-type aftertaste, and a slight acidity that I'm unaccustomed to in mac and cheese. But, if you don't go into it expecting it to taste exactly like the mac and cheese of your youth, and just go with it for what it is, you will be pleasantly surprised. My six-year-old daughter, who is a very picky eater, ate 2/3 of the bowl you see in the photo, so that right there is a vote of confidence. I think we will be buying this again, depending on the price. Take my advice and sprinkle a little nooch and freshly-ground black pepper on the top. It cuts the tiny sting of acidity you get (it's almost like a slight vinegar taste) and makes this totally snarf-able. My only complaint is that one box doesn't make very much. That bowl you see in the photo is the entire box! The bowl I used is just a standard-sized rimmed soup bowl that will comfortably hold one regular can of soup. The nutrition label purports to contain two and a half servings, but unless you are feeding tiny gnomes, you're hardly going to get two and a half servings out of it. 

Earth Balance Vegan White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

This box of mac and cheese was a vast improvement over the orange cheddar one. The flavor was much more smooth, less acidic. I really liked it and so did my daughter. This is the flavor we will likely be buying on a regular basis. The nooch and black pepper on top (not pictured) is good on this as well, but not 100% necessary. It tastes good all by itself. Thumbs up! Again, though, it didn't make very much. It's really just one serving unless you're eating it alongside other foods. But who the heck does that?? When I make mac and cheese it's because I'm too lazy to really cook, and the mac and cheese is all I eat. This happens more often than I care to admit... *sigh*

Altogether, my family and I thoroughly enjoyed this sample box of goodies and I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to try all of this wonderful stuff! 

P.S. Earth Balance, I have one request - please offer the white cheddar mac and cheese in a gluten free option and I will be your best customer. Seriously, I will eat it every day! Thanks!

"Plant-Powered 15" Black Bean Soup

The most popular post, of all time, on this blog is the one where I lauded Dreena Burton's fantastic chocolate chip cookies from her cookbook Vive le Vegan! It's the most pinned of all the recipes on this site, and it's the most searched for. And all I can say is... "Thank you, Dreena Burton, for bringing these fantastic cookies into our lives!"

Not only is Dreena a lovely health-conscious mom, and the perfect example of a glowing-from-within vegan, but she's also friendly and sweet. And she has graciously offered to allow me to reprint one of the recipes from her latest cookbook titled Plant-Powered 15.

Plant-Powered 15 is an ebook that features 15 gluten-free, oil-free, and totally-vegan recipes.

"These recipes were selected with a few criteria in mind. To give you recipes that will delight your taste buds, that are not too time consuming or difficult to make, and that are chocked with whole-foods goodness! Yes, these recipes feature whole-foods ingredients: whole grains, whole-grain flours, beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables, natural sweeteners, and no oil. They range from breakfast and baked goods to sauces, soups, burgers, and even a few sweet treats!" 
-- Dreena Burton, Plant-Powered 15

Dreena generously allowed me a peek at the cookbook, and let me tell you, it looks amazing!

Here is a list of the 15 mouth-watering recipes featured in the ebook:
Almond Zen Granola
Pumpkin Seed and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Creamy House Dressing
Green Goddess Dressing
Orange-Miso Dressing
Wonder Spread 
Black Bean Soup with Sweet Potatoes 
Presto Pistachio Pasta
“SweetBalls” 
Umami Sun-Dried Tomato and Almond Burgers 
Sneaky Chickpea Burgers 
Mac-nificent! 
Coconut Pillows 
Sticky Almond Blondies 
Peanut Butter Munchy Squares 

Ever since I watched the The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue, I've been toying around with all of my staple recipes, experimenting with removing as much added oil as possible while keeping a delectable flavor and texture. Thank you, Dreena, for giving me a leg up on going oil-free with this fabulous cookbook!

BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH SWEET POTATOES

"'This soup has an irresistible quality, the flavors are deep and earthy with some sweetness from the potatoes. Don't let the number of ingredients intimidate you - they build layers of flavor, but this soup is not at all difficult to make!'

• 1 - 2 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cups chopped onion (one large onion)
• 1 1/2 cups combination of chopped red and green peppers
• 1 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (generous is good)
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice (rounded)
• 1/4 teaspoon (or less/more, to taste) red pepper flakes
• 4 medium - large cloves garlic, minced or grated
• 4 1/2 - 5 cups black beans (reserve 1 cup; this is three 14 or 15 ounce cans)
• 3 cups water
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 cups cubed (in small chunks, about 1/2") yellow sweet potato (or can substitute white potato)
• Chopped cilantro for serving
• Extra lime wedges for serving
• Chopped avocado tossed with lemon juice and dash of salt, for serving

In a large pot over medium-high heat, add water, onions, red and green peppers, salt and pepper, cumin seeds, oregano, allspice, and red pepper flakes. Let cook for 5-7 minutes until onions and peppers start to soften. Add garlic. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and let cook another few minutes to soften garlic - if sticking/burning, add another splash of water. After a few minutes of cooking, add 3 1/2 cups beans (reserving one cup of beans), water, tomato paste, vinegar, lime juice, and maple syrup (start with 1/2 tsp). Using an immersion blender, puree soup until fairly smooth. Increase heat to bring to boil, add bay leaf and diced sweet potatoes, then once at boil reduce and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add remaining cup of black beans and extra maple syrup if desired (taste test). Stir through, let simmer for another few minutes, then serve, topping with cilantro if desired and with lime wedges. Also delicious to top soup with some chopped seasoned avocado or a simple guacamole.  Serves 4-5 as main course.

Sweet Potato Tip: Sometimes I have leftover sweet potato home fries that have been seasoned with just sea salt. If so, I take a recipe and chopping shortcut and simply add these to my soup during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, just to heat through.

Recipe from 'Plant-Powered 15' by Dreena Burton. For more recipes and information, visit www.plantpoweredkitchen.com. Photo credit: Nicole Axworthy."

WIN A COPY OF PLANT-POWERED 15!

Dreena has offered up a free copy of her new ebook to one lucky winner. Just visit the Rafflecopter widget below and enter to win. Good luck!

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"May I Be Frank" is, Frankly, Amazing

I was recently contacted by an employee of Cinema Libra Studio and asked to review a copy of their film, May I Be Frank. I was vaguely familiar with the title of the film, and the Frank in question, because I'd just seen the documentary Hungry for Change, in which Frank is featured, a couple of weeks ago.
As a result of being moved by Frank (who gives a brief but tearful account of his transformation in May I Be Frank) in Hungry for Change, I fortuitously found a copy of May I Be Frank available to HuluPlus viewers. I don't have cable TV and I am a HuluPlus fanatic! I immediately placed the film in my queue. Then, I kid you not, the very next day I received the email asking me to review it. Looks like it was meant to be, yes?

This morning my husband and I sat down to watch the film, thinking we could take it in 15 to 30 minute snippets throughout the day, watching while we snack during breaks between weekend chores. But it only took about 10 minutes to get us hooked, and we could not stop watching for anything. It was brilliant and fascinating, and the title character, Frank, is instantly recognizable by the viewer as being a reflection of oneself, and society at large. He is brash and funny on the outside, and (like many of us) uses hedonism as a defense against his own self-loathing. Even being a Southern woman, I found that I easily identified with this loudmouth Sicilian guy from Brooklyn. I recognized quickly that there is a "Frank" in all of us - someone who desperately craves healing, who wants to be loved, who wants to find health, happiness, and peace. I am already finding myself asking, "What would my inner Frank say to this?" And I will probably use that as a mantra to combat bad decisions in the future! WWFD?

Frank Ferrante, before his incredible transformation.

The basic premise of the film is that this overweight, ex-junkie with hepC named Frank casually wanders into a raw vegan restaurant in San Francisco called Cafe Gratitude, where he befriends three young guys who work there. These three guys, with the help of the restaurant's owner, challenge Frank to 42 days of their health and spiritual coaching, as well as eating three meals a day at Cafe Gratitude, and drinking a gallon of water a day. He complies, signs a contract, and begins a journey that will change his life forever.

It all starts out with the diet changes, as a viewer might expect. And, at first, I thought it was going to be another one of those "veganism is the only answer" documentaries. Don't get me wrong - I love those documentaries! And I do affirm, after many years of struggle, that veganism is the answer. But, thanks to this film, I now also understand that a healthy, plant-based diet is only the beginning of healing.
Once Frank's body begins to heal itself, his mind and emotions all begin reaching out for help as well. His body, in releasing the toxins gathered and stored through 54 years of abuse, also finds the strength to release its emotional toxins. It is truly, truly inspiring. I couldn't help but question my own psychological baggage while watching Frank set his down, open it up, and sort it all out right in my living room. I was moved to tears more than once. Frank's energy and his emotions become so raw and palpable that you feel like you're right there in the room with him, watching all of this amazing stuff happen to him like a fly on the wall, wanting to speak to him directly, but unable to.

Frank Ferrante today. Happy, healthy, and healed.

I cannot recommend strongly enough that you watch this film. Even if you think you've got it all figured out, there is still something profound to be learned from Frank. His documented journey is having a domino effect with viewers everywhere, I'm certain, as it has with me. Frank changed his life, and now he has inspired me to go even further and deeper into changing mine, creating and revelling in my own transformation.

Thank you, Frank. 

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF!

• Watch the film on HuluPlus, which you can enjoy free for two weeks by clicking THIS LINK.
• Rent or purchase a digital copy of the film from Amazon HERE.
• Purchase a DVD copy of the film from Amazon HERE.
• Purchase a DVD copy of the film directly from the Cinema Libre Studio Store.
• OR you can try to win a copy from ME! Details to follow...

The folks at Cinema Libre Studio have graciously offered up two copies of the May I Be Frank DVD to be given away on Bankrupt Vegan. How fabulous is that? To enter, follow the prompts in the Rafflecopter widget below.

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Review - PureFit Nutrition Bars

I was recently asked by the company that produces PureFit Nutrition Bars to sample and honestly review their product.
Free nutrition bars, you say? I'm listening...
The thing that really drew my interest was the fact that the website promotes these bars as "the all-natural, gluten-free and wheat-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher, high in protein, diabetic-friendly, that tastes great nutrition bar." Wow! That meets all of my ideal criteria in one generously-sized bar! So, I just had to try them.

As I perused the nutritional information for the bars, provided on the PureFit website, I was really elated to find that each individual bar contains 18 grams of protein, but is only between 210-220 calories for the whole thing. You think high protein, you think fatty things like nut butters and the like, which generally means lots of ass-fattening calories. The first ingredient listed in the nutritional information is soy protein isolate, with soy nuts, almonds, and nut butters listed further down the line. They also make the claim, on their website, that all of their soy products are from non-GMO sources. Winning!

So, all of the criteria for a discerning, label-reading vegan are there. The big test remaining, then, was "Does it taste good?"
The answer is an overwhelming, "Yes!" And, trust me, I've tasted enough nutrition bars to know what a good one tastes like. The general consensus on most commercially produced bars is that the chalky texture and the list of creepy chemical ingredients, along with the over-inflated price, are usually enough to keep me and my family away from them. But these bars actually taste good. I have to say, I was honestly surprised by the smooth texture and the flavor. The ingredient list is short, and every item in it is recognizable, which is a wonderful thing in the world of nutrition bars. So, even if they tasted gross, I would have eaten them just for the nutritional value. But they weren't gross at all!

The company sent me one bar in each of the five available flavors: Peanut Butter Crunch, Chocolate Brownie, Almond Crunch, Berry Almond Crunch, and Granola Crunch. I will say that there really isn't much actual "crunch" to the bars with Crunch in the title, but they tasted great so I didn't mind.
I assumed that Almond Crunch and Peanut Butter Crunch would be my favorites, and they were good, but oddly I preferred the Chocolate Brownie and Berry Almond Crunch flavors the most. I say "oddly" because I generally don't like brownie-flavored and berry-flavored bars. If I were shopping for these on my own, I probably would have passed these flavors by, but they were my favorites! So, I'm really happy that I was able to sample them all first, and I didn't miss out on something so yummy.
My least favorite was the Granola Crunch. It wasn't bad, by any means. It was just my personal least favorite of the five flavors. It was more plain-tasting than the others, so if you're looking for something to pair with a sweet coffee, it might be just right!

If you want to try these bars yourself, you can purchase a sample pack at PureFit.com, containing a full size bar in each flavor, for only $9.95. You can also purchase 15-count boxes of each flavor at the PureFit website.

But, between you and me (this is "Bankrupt Vegan," after all), you can get the boxes at a bit of a discount on Amazon.com - here are the links...
PureFit Nutrition Bars - Chocolate Brownie
PureFit Nutrition Bars - Berry Almond Crunch
PureFit Nutrition Bars - Peanut Butter Crunch
PureFit Nutrition Bars - Almond Crunch
(I couldn't find Granola Crunch, so you're on your own with that one. Sorry.)

Give these bars a try. They are really yummy, full of good stuff, and give you a nice little burst of energy, which is really important if - like me - you are chasing a three-year-old around your house all day. I will definitely continue to enjoy these bars and I now rank them among my favorites, which include KIND Barsand, of course, the always fabulous Lara Bars.
And, just so you know, this is an honest review. If the PureFit Bar had sucked, I would have told you so. I'm just Irish like that.

Please CLICK HERE to read my full Disclosure Statement.

Food Should Taste Good, Yes?

A while back I received a very generous package full of vegan chip varieties from Food Should Taste Good. Being a chip hound, I was utterly delighted! How did they know I would tear into that box of chips like a Tasmanian devil on caffeine overload? I can't explain how they had come by such intimate knowledge of my cravings (The Matrix? Big Brother?), but I am so glad they did!

Of all the flavor varieties, I would have to say that the Multigrain was the derby champ. Made with brown rice flour, soy flour and quinoa - and sprinkled throughout with sunflower and flax seeds - it is entirely gluten-free and completely delicious! It was a perfect pairing for homemade hummus.
If you're wanting more of a nacho-type chip, though, look no further than the Yellow Corn. It is the thickest and the strongest, and held up very well to my heavy heaps of Daiya cheddar and taco-flavored soy crumbles. The Blue Corn, while very tasty, crumbled like nitroglycerin-encrusted rose petals under the weight of nacho toppings, and easily broke when dipped into hummus. The Blue Corn chips are best eaten with a light salsa or just plain.
I would love to tell you what I thought of the Jalapeno flavor, but my husband cracked them open and gobbled up the whole bag before I had a chance. When I asked him what he thought of them, he smiled through a mouthful of chips and gave me a hearty thumbs-up. Guess that means they're good!

Likewise, my two-and-a-half year old daughter downed the bag of Sweet Potato chips pretty much all by her little tiny self. Although she did graciously shove one or two of them in my mouth before she polished off the bag. The verdict? Delicious! There isn't much that comes from a sweet potato that I won't eat. I love them. My daughter loves them. My husband loves them. The chips were mildly, but naturally, sweet. They did not require a dip. They are a perfect side to sandwiches and soups. These were a very close second to the Multigrain.
Lastly, we come to the Olive chips. These chips were very tasty, but only if you love olives. I do happen to love olives, so I took to the chips with fervor. But the olive-y taste is strong. They are not just made with olive oil - there are actually three types of real olives right there in the chip. So, just a warning... If you don't like the taste of olives, avoid these. However, if you love the taste of olives, tear these bad boys up. They are really good! And they taste great with hummus, so I highly recommend that pairing.
A special thanks goes out to Food Should Taste Good for sending me this box of delicious yum-yums. My whole family enjoyed them!

•  If you want to try some of these great chips, visit the Food Should Taste Good Special Offers/Coupon page for $1.00 off the flavor of your choice. 
• And visit the Food Should Taste Good Facebook Page to enter a weekly giveaway!

This Guac Rocks!

The powers-that-be over at the Wholly Guacamole company happened upon my Simple Vegan Nachos to Daiya For post and asked me if they could send some products to review. My answer?
"Well, heck yes!"

Listen, I'll admit that maybe it's not really fair for me to accept their guacamole to review because I already know that I love it. I've been eating the organic stuff for years, and I practically pee myself with glee every time I find a coupon for it. It was also one of my daughter's first baby foods! But, I am not the kind of girl who turns down free guacamole, so I let them send it to me anyway. When the package came, I didn't just get one pack of regular ol' guac. Nuh-uh. The box was filled to the brim with all kinds of neat stuff, including salsas and guacamole snack packs! Did you even know that Wholly Guacamole came in snack pack form?? I didn't. And I sure as heck didn't know they made salsa!

Here's the rundown of what I received, and my thoughts on each...

CLASSIC GUACAMOLE
The reason I started eating this particular brand of guacamole in the first place is because of the ingredient list.
Check this out:
Hass Avocados, Jalapeno Puree (white vinegar, jalapeno peppers, salt) Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Granulated Garlic.
That's it! Just normal ingredients, nothing weird, no chemicals. That was the first attraction for me, and then I tasted it... YUM! This is the closest to good, old-fashioned homemade guac I've ever eaten. And, since it uses real ingredients, it's packed with loads of vitamins and minerals. And, yes, it comes in an organic variety too!

SNACK PACKS - SPICY / CLASSIC
The snack packs are fabulous because sometimes I want some guac, but if nobody wants to share a regular-sized pack with me, I'm stuck either eating the whole thing myself (which isn't always a problem, I've been known to do it many times) or trying to store it. And, since the ingredients do not include preservatives, the guac will brown just like the regular stuff will. Now, I recently discovered that if you do not remove the unwanted portion of guac from the plastic bag and just clamp it shut with a clothespin, it will stay nice and green. So, that's one way to do it. But if I want to put it in a sack lunch, I won't have that option. So, here come the snack packs!
If you're counting calories, they're already portioned into 100 calorie packs. Guilt-free and full of vites.

WHOLLY SALSA - MILD / MEDIUM / HOT
Once again, just look at these ingredients:
Tomato, Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Cilantro, Lime Juice, Salt, Garlic, Spice, Garlic Powder
Nothing creepy, no chemicals. I love that! I really wish more companies would take the hint that we don't want foods with an ingredient list that looks like a NASA experiment.
I'm a Texan, and Texans love salsa. Most of us make our own, and I'm no different. But sometimes I need a quick batch for a party, or just a spoonful to ladle onto my tofu scramble. And that's when I turn to the store-bought stuff. I despise picante sauce, so I shy away from anything that looks watery. And, ever since my pregnancy, it is very difficult for me to look at an over-cooked green bell pepper without queasing up a bit. So, anything with little over-cooked gray squares in it, squares that were once green bell peppers, is definitely out! That lowers my choice factor quite a lot. And I have honestly never found a store-bought salsa that just blew me away... until now. This stuff is perfect for me. Yes, it has green bell peppers in it, but they are cut small enough that I don't even notice them and, on top of that, they have not been over-cooked. They're still green! Can you imagine?
The flavor is only very mildly spicy. Even the "medium" salsa was low on the spiciness scale. If you like it spicy, I recommend the hot one. I am not a fan of the spicy, so it was just right for my tastebuds.
I tried it both on Daiya quesadillas, and on plain old baked tortilla chips, and it was excellent. I now officially have a salsa that I can buy at the store and enjoy just as much as the homemade stuff!

Go HERE to register for special offers and giveaways from Wholly Guacamole.
They'll give you a coupon just for signing up!

*Please note that, while I was sent a free sample of the above-reviewed goods, I was not paid in any way, shape or form to do this review. My opinions about this product are honest. I raved about the stuff because it was legitimately tasty. And I am always happy to back a product that I really like.