TASTE TEST

I was at World Market yesterday and got the munchies, so I picked up two bags of Danielle Fruit Chips - mango and pineapple. I opened them in the car, took a bite of each and immediately went back in the store to purchase one of each for a family taste test. They were SO good!Our store only has four of the flavors, but there are eleven flavors on their website.

They have all natural ingredients, free of preservatives, trans fat and low in calories.

The man clan and I are all in agreement on this taste test. Pineapple, mango and coconut were the winners in a three way tie. We couldn't decide which one we liked best. And although the website states that pumpkin is their most popular, we didn't like that one at all, which was surprising because we are pumpkin fans.

Lily liked the pumpkin, so that bag is hers.

We are gaga over these fruit chips, so when you see them at the store, don't even hesitate to add them to your cart. Our taste buds screamed AMAZEBALLS with every bite. And, don't listen to us about the pumpkin chips, you might like them.

TASTE TEST

I was thrilled to find Rising Moon Organics had some vegan ravioli. It's been a year since I've had a ravioli and I was excited to find them! The hunt was on. I found four at LifeSource and couldn't decide which one to try, so I decided to get them all and do a taste test for dinner. I made some homemade marinara sauce (btw, it's ah-mazing!) and got the water boiling. Here's how we scored the tasty morsels.

1. Garlic and Basil Gnocchi - 5 out of 5 stars. Delicious! You would never know it was vegan.

2. Butternut Squash Ravioli - 5 out of 5 stars. Wonderful! Although, my marinara sauce was too much for it. I would serve it with a simple garlic sauce. Do you have any other ideas for sauces that would complement butternut squash?

3. Spinach Florentine Ravioli - 5 out of 5 stars. Fantastic! Loved the flavor.

4. Creamy Artichoke and Olive - 0 out of 5 stars. I thought this would be my favorite. I even saved it for last so I could savor it. I hated it. I took one bite and gave the rest to Larry. It doesn't specify on the list of ingredients, but I think the olives were kalamata and I don't like those. Larry gave it a 3 out of 5. He'd eat it if it was served to him and enjoy it, but he wouldn't go out and buy it.

3 out of 4 hit the jackpot and I'm thrilled to add them to my 'go to' grocery arsenal for those days I need something yummy, nutritious and quick.

VEGAN EATING IN UTAH

was easier than I thought it would be. We ate at a few national chain restaurants - I found great menu choices at my standby, P.F. Changs.
California Pizza Kitchen and Olive Garden were kind enough to make some vegan accommodations.
Some wonderful Utah finds were Blue Lemon Bistro - that is where we had our Monterey reunion lunch, Divas - has yummy cupcakes...

Guru's Cafe - this Provo restaurant was extra special because we met Monica and Eliot for lunch there.

And one of my favorites was City Cakes - I wish we would have found it sooner on the trip.

My taste buds had a wonderful "hallelujah" moment while I taste tested sweet treats.

Maybe it's a good thing they were a late discovery because my taste buds still quiver at the thought of the peanut butter chocolate brownie - SO GOOD!!

A FRIEND OF MY BROTHER'S HAD

a nine hour layover at the airport, so I picked her up and showed her a few of my favorite Portland places....
We ate lunch at Old Town Pizza and I told her about their haunted past - we even ate in the elevator shaft....

We went to Voodoo Donut and stood in this crazy but SO worth it line....

And we went to Multnomah Falls....

All my men (who were frying all day) were thrilled when I came home with left over pizza and a sampling of donuts for a taste test....

The winning donut was tied between the blue raspberry donut and the maple bacon donut...

WE GIVE TWO THUMBS UP

to agave nectar....

We had a taste test between light and amber.
They both taste great but amber was our favorite...