PART TIME HALF ASSED VEGAN NOTES - A tasty little snack that was just meant to be

I've been to the local Publix grocery store just about every day this week (mainly because I keep refusing to write down a list).  On one visit, I noticed a brand spanking new vegan section for alternatives to deli meat and cheese. (Me *high pitched, eyes wide*: ah-ha! ah-ha!).  While I'm looking forward to trying the vegan meatballs, I'm a little terrified of what they mean by vegan eggs, but maybe I'll buck up and try them in the future.

Tonight back at said grocery store, I had no choice but to stop by the vegan deli section.  I think once I explain, you'll understand why.  Carr's Rosemary crackers were on sale and they must have a white cheese and hard salami in order to enjoy properly. Or do they?  That vegan section might have a tasty plant-based alternative.  See, I had no choice.

To be honest, I was in a bit of a daze.  The sliced "meat" looked like meat, but the packaging didn't say what it was replacing.  It did make suggestions to use it in a Reuben sandwich, so I was thinking it might taste like pastrami, not hard salami.  I figured if I hated it, I'd just go back and get real salami. What's one more visit to Publix?

Once home with my booty, I wasted no time in slicing the plant-based "meat" and "smoked gouda".  The "meat" by itself was perplexing.  I could taste tomato and that was fine, but you really need to create a different category to describe the flavor and texture.

But - and here it's exciting - once you pile the "meat" and "cheese" on the rosemary crackers, suddenly all the flavors and textures meld together like they were soulmates.  It was simply meant to be!

Field Roast Smoked Tomato Deli "meat" with Follow Your Heart Smoked "gouda" on Rosemary crackers
Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

The low down:

Original Field Roast Grain Meat Co. (R) Vegetarian deli slices smoked tomato flavor
with hearty tomatoes, hickory smoked infusions with red wine, old world spices and herbs
Serving size - 3 slices
Calories - 100
Calories from fat - 25
Total fat - 2.5g
Dietary fiber - 2g
Protein - 14g

Follow Your Heart (R) Smoked gouda style slices VEGAN, non-GMO, gluten free, soy free
Serving size - 1 slice
Calories - 60
Total fat - 4.5g
Protein - 0g

Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

I'm not going to analyze the crackers because even if it turns out that they're made with animal products, I will NEVER give them up.  I love CARR's rosemary crackers and that's that.

Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

However, I was still proud of my snack, so I finished it off with Soy Delicious fake ice cream in Vanilla Bean (dairy free) and crushed Oreos (still vegan).

So Delicious Dairy Free FAKE ICE CREAM Vanilla Bean and Milk's Favorite Cookie
Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

This has been a public service announcement of sorts.

Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie

#FakeIceCream
#FollowYourHeart
#VeganCheese
#FieldRoastGrainMeat
#VeganDeliMeat
#Publix

Dinner for One With Bipolar

This is almost identical to the first post I made about EASY af dinners for one.  The difference is the stuffing in the ravioli and dessert.  The key difference is I took a photo this time, so you can see the beautiful ravioli.

Same instructions.  Just boil water and drop in the ravioli, turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

This delicious meal is Trader Joe's Sweet Corn, Burrata and Basil Ravioli.  It's already made!  Find it in the produce section of Trader Joe's.  Just boil it and serve.  If I can do it, ANY-body can do it.  In my 30s, I had to call my aunt to ask her how to boil corn.  Ok?  I'm so very close to useless in the kitchen, but I do love to eat good food.

Trader Joe's Sweet Corn, Burrata and Basil Ravioli
drizzled with Spanish olive oil and Romano Parmesan Cheese
Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

Dessert.  This is a bit of a throwback to an early Part-Time Half-Assed Vegan Notes post about #fakeicecream.  I had SO DELICIOUS Salted Caramel Nut Cluster.  It's creamy, crunchy and sweet.  God, I love it!  Plus, it's nondairy.  The base is cashew milk.  You'd never in a million years guess it wasn't real ice cream.  Available at Publix.

If you have bipolar or another mental health challenge, it doesn't have to stop you from living independently.  There are super easy ways to get nutrition without a whole lot of fuss in the kitchen.

#Foodies
#bipolar
#fakeicecream
#SoDelicious
#traderjoes
#Publix

Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie