Product Review: No Cookie Cookie

“Yes they're chewy, yes they're moist, yes they're delicious. They are baked by my wife and me in our Oakland bakery, it’s the No Cookie, Cookie" greets the owner, Bilal of the vegan cookie that’s satisfying tummies internationally. Bilals' bright smile and charismatic charm pulls in the crowds while his delicious vegan and gluten-free cookies pull our bellies.

The ingenious No Cookie Cookies are prepared at The No Bakery based in Oakland,CA by owner Bilal and his wife. This family owned business started small combining hard work, healthy ingredients, and love to create what has now become one of the most sought after vegan treats in the San Francisco/Bay Area. The creation of this cookie began as a challenge to Mr. Bilal 14 years ago by his vegan friends; who challenged him to create a tasty vegan cookie that could compare in taste to non-vegan cookies. Bilal welcomed the challenge and created his first vegan cookie which proved successful. What began as merely a challenge grew into what we now know as The No Cookie Cookie.

For those of you, like myself looking for a healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without the guilt, dairy, or gluten look no further The No Cookie Cookie is dairy free, wheat free, and free of refined sugars. Their motto: vegan never tasted so good only scratches the surface of how amazing The No Bakery treats are. I love how flavorful, chewy, and moist each cookie is. My favorites are Oatmeal Raisin and Island Coconut. They come in packs of 2 or 4 and are enjoyed best with almond milk, non-dairy ice cream, or simply alone.

Visit them online or at a healthstore near you. The No Cookie Cookie comes in 7 different flavors: Oatmeal Raisin, Carob Mint, Chocolate Chip, Ginger Spice, Peanut Butter, Island Coconut and Lemon Poppy Seed. Oh, I forgot to mention they also have a moist and delicious No Cookie Brownie. Yum!!!

Me and my sweet tooth are feeling right, right about now!

Product Review: Better Bean Co.

Like many vegans, a lot of my protein comes from beans, yet as we all know beans can be time consuming to prepare.  Achieving the perfect texture, flavor, and amount can sometimes be a challenge. Due to the fact that my cooking time for the week is often limited I am always looking for new recipes and ingredients to condense my meal prep time, while maintaining health and wholesomeness.

Better Bean Vegan Breakfast Burrito and Potatoes

For the past year, I have been living in bean heaven since I’ve discovered the Better Bean Company. They have over five different flavors all of which I love for different recipes. Tacos, burritos, 5-layer dips, sprout bowls, and sometimes just by itself (it’s that good). Last, September at the Vegetarian World Festival I had the pleasure of meeting co-owner of the Better Bean Company, Hannah. She was more than happy to share about her amazing, expanding company that is taking over a kitchen near you.

Better Bean Breakfast Burrito (non-vegan)

The Better Bean Company is a father daughter run business based out of Portland, Oregon. They are moving into their fourth year offering five bean varieties to fall in love with. Each variety on the shelf began as an in home favorite for Hannah and her sisters. As a family, they value both health and sustainability; the high sodium content and metallic taste of canned beans just wasn't their thing.

Better Bean and Rice Bowl

Hence, a bean awakening emerged in their household, sparking a new idea within Hannah's father to rethink beans and how they are shared to the masses. For many carnivores beans are often the filler food or side dish that receives little care or attention. Hannah shared how historically beans were deemed as the poor man's food. They were often overlooked by the wealthy. Yet, her father wanted to elevate the bean and reveal all of its flavorful nuances in hopes of making the bean just as sought after as fish, poultry, and meat. Together they realized there was a huge gap in the market for fresh, sustainable, ready to eat beans, thus they made it their mission to birth what we now know as the flavorful, non-gmo Better Bean Co. In addition, just as they rethought beans, they also rethought packaging by making their containers
100% compostable, BPA free, and microwave safe.

Better Bean Grilled Tofu Burrito

Hannah explains the impact Better Beans will have on you and your family:  “we make it easy and tasty for a family to eat meat free. I cannot tell you the number of people I have talked to at farmers markets and consumer events who express to me how hard it is for them to cook beans, but their doctor is telling them they need to eat more..."

Better Bean 5 Layer Dip



I personally, love these beans because they taste fresh, they are easy to prepare, they travel safely without spilling and they are full of flavor. I have gotten so many friends and family members hooked on them. I cannot remember the last time my fridge has been without them. Heck! I am eating them tonight in what I call a wellness bowl: beans, quinoa, avocado, kale, and sprouts. 

Better Bean Wellness Bowl

Get some Better Beans today at your local natural foods market and watch your meals improve, your protein increase, your prep time diminish and your taste buds jump for joy. Also, check them out online at:http://www.betterbeanco.com/

Product Review: Divine Raw Foods

 

Some think that becoming vegan means goodbye to all things sweet and tasty. Yet little do they know there is a new world of taste buds veganism will introduce you to. As I explored my way into the wonderful world of veganism I found myself driven to the familiar foods and tastes I had known as a vegetarian. You know those hard to forget foods like pizza, cookies, and pies. (If you couldn’t tell, I have a serious sweet tooth). I am an all or nothing kind of person. So, when I first decided to try veganism I didn’t take the slow, steady, and safe route. Instead, I went in head first. After completing a 10 day juice cleanse I decided I should go full on raw vegan. I ate all types of amazing, fresh, delicious, and creative foods. I watched videos, read books, took classes and found myself deeply immersed in this new lifestyle.

In addition, there was one man and his gourmet raw food company that made my transition from vegetarian to vegan a much smoother and easier process. His name is Chef Billy Page owner of Divine Raw Foods.

Page transitioned into a raw vegan lifestyle in 2004 after receiving numerous warning signs urging him to improve his health. He immediately recognized the benefit of a raw vegan lifestyle first hand and became compelled to share, teach, and inspire others about the benefits of raw veganism.

I first met Chef Billy at his humble table outside of my Spiritual/Healing Center, serving the most delicious pizza I’ve ever tasted in my life, and yes it was raw. This pizza was layered with raw pesto, fresh, and colorful vegetables all atop a thin chewy crust. It was so amazing. It also came with a fresh side salad with homemade dressing for only $5.  I was  instantly a believer. Raw inexpensive vegan food. I couldn’t ask for more. And what better way to teach and inspire folks, then through the stomach?

An aspect of Divine Raw Foods' mission is to “make healthy food available to the under-served community”.  The company adheres to this mission by making food economically accessible, volunteering at local community gardens, and hosting workshops. Chef Billy began experimenting with various raw vegan recipes and now has a variety of favorites that he sells at various locations throughout the East Bay.

Among my favorites are the fresh, colorful, and chewy pesto pizza.

 The delicately sweetened, melt in your mouth vanilla and/or raw cacao cookies.

 

The decadently rich and creamy Chocolate Coconut Pie

The well seasoned hunk of Neat-loaf.

I love me some raw food now. I cannot get enough. Although not 100% raw vegan, 80% of my diet is and having access to inexpensive, gourmet raw food is a treat. The flavors are so full and tantalizing I never even think about it being raw, instead I just think this is darn good. 

Even during the holidays, I celebrate healthy and raw. I order a Divine Raw holiday meal for two which includes two servings of an entree, a salad, another side and a dessert. Yum! 

Whether you are transitioning into raw veganism or just trying to incorporate more clean eating into your diet these divine meals will have you coming back for more. Check out Divine Raw Foods on facebook and wordpress at: Divinerawfoods.wordpress.com