Located in Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle, Pappardelle's Pasta offers some of the most amazing flavored pastas you can find. With such a huge variety of flavors, it becomes extremely easy to use these pastas to make delicious pasta dishes that are meat free, without running into the plain and boring spaghetti marinara or fettuccine alfredo. And for those of you, like me, who must cook for both the vegetarian and the meat-eaters in the same meal, it is as simple as throwing some chicken into the mix once you've already served up the meat-free portion of the dish. Recently I have been experimenting with different pasta flavors from Pappardelle's, along with creating my own sauces to go with it. I must say, I have continued to surprise myself with my little creations... so far they have all been AMAZING! I've come up with three creations so far. Listed below are the pasta flavors I purchased from Pappardelle's, along with the type of sauce I made to go along with them.
Green Jalepeño Fettuccine with Cilantro-Lime Alfredo Sauce
Mild Spice Red Pepper Fettuccine with Roasted Red Pepper / Four Peppercorn Alfredo Sauce
Four Peppercorn Fettuccine with Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce
If you want to try some of these amazing pasta flavors and your own pasta dishes... go to the Pappardelle's website, and create something delicious!
Showing posts with label Vegetarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetarian. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Veggie Love
For those of you who are interested in the vegetarian cuisine... SuperTarget now carries TONS of vegetarian freezer food options. MorningStar Farms has come out with quite a few new products, all of which can be found at Target, and there is even a new brand that I just tried (Gardein), and all of it is AMAZING!
First, Morningstar came out with 4 entrees. Up until now, all of the products were items such as veggie burger patties, veggie sausage patties, etc. These new entrees are little microwavable meals (just like a Lean Cuisine or SmartOnes). And they are not just meals like fettucini alfredo with no meat. They are meals with veggie "meat"! Finally... And they are so delicious. So far, the 4 entrees available are:
First, Morningstar came out with 4 entrees. Up until now, all of the products were items such as veggie burger patties, veggie sausage patties, etc. These new entrees are little microwavable meals (just like a Lean Cuisine or SmartOnes). And they are not just meals like fettucini alfredo with no meat. They are meals with veggie "meat"! Finally... And they are so delicious. So far, the 4 entrees available are:
- Lasagna with "sausage" crumbles
- Sesame Chik'n with Asian style noodles
- Sweet and Sour Chik'n with whole grain rice
- Chik'n Enchilada with black beans and rice
Beyond their new entrees, there are also a ton of new Morningstar products that can be found at SuperTargets (and I'm sure other grocery stores as well, but I only shop at Target... so I can't say for sure).
Here is a list of the new items that I have recently tried and can vouch for:
- Maple Flavored Veggie Sausage Patties (these are AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS)
- Hot and Spicy Veggie Sausage Patties
- Grillers 1/4 Pounder Veggie Burger Patties
- Chipotle Black Bean Veggie Burger Patties
- Veggie Italian Sausage
And finally, Target carries a new brand that I had not tried before called Gardein (Garden + Protein). The Gardein products I have tried have both been from their frozen food selections, but are cooked in a skillet rather than in the microwave. It's still a quick fix. So far I have only tried two of the frozen meals (the first two listed) and they were delicious. I also went ahead and listed several more Gardein frozen products as well, because they all sound so amazing! The bags also come with recipe ideas on the back.
- Mandarin Orange Crispy Chik'n
- Chik'n Scallopini
- Chipotle Lime Crispy Chik'n Fingers
- Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Wings
- Marinara Chik'n Good Stuff
I pulled up the Gardein Website to see what other options were available. They offer 7 "fresh" veggie options, including Barbecue Pulled Shreds and Grilled Chik'n Strips. They also offer 3 different "3 minute complete meals" that all include a variation of chik'n, rice, and vegetables (as of now, the complete meal options are only availablet at Kroger, Safeway and Whole Foods... so not available to those of us who reside in Oklahoma).
The website also tells you where you can purchase each of these items. You just select your state from the dropdown menus, and it will give you store locations for each product. I don't know how updated the site is though, b/c it shows that all products can only be purchased at Akins Natural Food Stores in Oklahoma, but I purchased them from Target. The site also provides you with recipes created by Chef Tal (some look pretty amazing).
Even if you do eat meat, you should really give these vegetarian options a try. Fake meat tastes just as good if not better than that weird, processed meat that you find in fast food restaurants and frozen meals at the grocery store. Plus, it's good for you, and the environment. And if vegetarian foods aren't selling (as can be an issue in the state of Oklahoma), grocery stores will cut their losses and discontinue the items. KEEP THE VEGGIE FOODS ON THE SHELF... so that I can put the veggie foods into my tummy!
Thanks!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Eating Small
So far I have posted blogs, both new and old, to introduce myself, and to discuss my take on and my goal of "living small". One thing I have not mentioned yet, that again deals with both who I am and the "small is beautiful" ideals, is that I am a vegetarian. I am not a vegan, although I would eventually like to take that step. It is difficult enough trying to find enough vegetarian food while living in Oklahoma... it would be almost impossible to live as a vegan here.
I never thought I would become a vegetarian, although it did make perfect sense considering what a huge animal lover I am. But I always thought it would be way too difficult to give up the foods that I loved. Before becoming a vegetarian, some my favorite foods included Philly cheesesteaks (they held the number one spot), chicken strips, calamari, and cheeseburgers. Just prior to making the decision to become a vegetarian, I was in a zoology class in which we had to dissect a pig fetus, and numerous other things. I was definitely grossed out and disturbed by it, but even then I wasn't entirely ready to give up eating meat. I even made a comment to my lab partner that I would love to be a vegetarian, but I could never stop eating meat.
Shortly after making the above comment, my boyfriend (who is now my husband) and I tried out a sandwich place on campus called Fat Sandwich Co. They make all kinds of crazy, ridiculously fatty, not to mention disgusting, sandwiches, but they also make authentic Philly cheesesteaks. Now, for those of you who have never had a cheesesteak from the actual city of Philadelphia, you may assume that all cheesesteaks are the same... but this is so, SO wrong. I grew up in Philadelphia, and was devastated when my family and I moved to Texas and I had to learn the hard way that no one outside of Philadelphia has the ability to make a cheesesteak. But anyway... the owner of Fat Sandwich Co. not only know how to make a real Philly Cheesesteak, but orders in all of his ingredients from Philadelphia. With the first bite of a cheesesteak from Fat Sandwich Co., I was in love. I had finally found the real thing outside of Philadelphia, and in Oklahoma of all places!
Isn't it ironic that the day after I finally found a real, delicious cheesesteak in Oklahoma, I also finally decide to give up eating meat? What could have possibly possessed me to make this decision? The decision to give up, not only my number one favorite food in the world, but every other food at the top of my list as well? I watched some videos.
I don't even remember what prompted me to start watching all of these videos. What I remember is witnessing the horribly gruesome deaths experienced by animals in slaughter houses. I remember the terrible conditions in which the animals both lived, and died. Long before I had decided to give up meat, I had already chosen not to eat at KFC for it's brutal slaughter of chickens. The beaks of chickens are filled with sensitive nerve endings, and yet their beaks are torn from their faces while they are still alive. Their feathers are then plucked from their bodies, and they are thrown into boiling water and oil. And that is when they are finally relieved of their excruciating pain... in death. But after watching several of these videos, and then doing a lot of research on the subject, I found that almost every piece of meat we eat has gone through the same ordeal as the chickens at KFC. It is impossible to determine whether the animal you are about to ingest was slaughtered humanly, or brutally. I witnessed people cutting off the legs of a cow while it was still alive, crying out in pain. How could I support something like that?
Before totally giving up meat, I first looked into "free-range" and "organic" products. What I found is that the term "free range" is not regulated by any government agency, so the term could be applied to essentially anything, regardless of whether the animal was actually a "free range" animal or not. The term "organic" is regulated by the government, and does require that the animals receive a certain amount of room to move and grow, and a somewhat more humane approach to the slaughter of the animal. However, I also found that government inspections are rare, and it is only when a company is caught that the consumer becomes aware of any false claims of "organic" product. You would think companies in the meat industry would want to brag about their ethical and humane treatment and slaughter of animals if, in fact, they were doing so. But none do. So how is the consumer ever supposed to determine which supplier to go with? It's impossible. Unless you live on a farm and raise your own animals for slaughter and consumption. So I just chose the best possible scenario for me, which was to become a vegetarian. And I haven't had even the tiniest piece of meat since making that decision.
It was a step towards living small. Becoming a vegetarian also supports the environmental movement in several ways. Apart from that, along with becoming a vegetarian, I also discontinued my use of any products that are tested on animals, and attempt to purchase only products with no animal by-products in them. While I do not always agree with Peta's methods and ideology, they have great resources that include vegetarian starter kits, shopping guides, etc., so if you are considering taking the cruelty-free approach (and the living small approach) to life, it is a good idea to visit their website.
Becoming a vegetarian in a state like Oklahoma is sometimes difficult. In other areas of the country you can find a veggie burger, or similar item, on the menu almost everywhere you go (I'm talking hot dog stands, museum snack areas, etc.). But in Oklahoma, you're lucky to find anything specifically made for vegetarians. If anything, I usually have to order the Chicken Fettucini with no chicken (but I still pay for the chicken)! So whenever I find new restaurants, try new recipes, or discover new vegetarian foods at the grocery store, I will post them to my blog. That way, if anyone else is having a difficult time creating variety in their vegetarian diet, they can benefit from what I have been able to find.
Until next time... Live Small and Eat Small, my friends!
I never thought I would become a vegetarian, although it did make perfect sense considering what a huge animal lover I am. But I always thought it would be way too difficult to give up the foods that I loved. Before becoming a vegetarian, some my favorite foods included Philly cheesesteaks (they held the number one spot), chicken strips, calamari, and cheeseburgers. Just prior to making the decision to become a vegetarian, I was in a zoology class in which we had to dissect a pig fetus, and numerous other things. I was definitely grossed out and disturbed by it, but even then I wasn't entirely ready to give up eating meat. I even made a comment to my lab partner that I would love to be a vegetarian, but I could never stop eating meat.
Shortly after making the above comment, my boyfriend (who is now my husband) and I tried out a sandwich place on campus called Fat Sandwich Co. They make all kinds of crazy, ridiculously fatty, not to mention disgusting, sandwiches, but they also make authentic Philly cheesesteaks. Now, for those of you who have never had a cheesesteak from the actual city of Philadelphia, you may assume that all cheesesteaks are the same... but this is so, SO wrong. I grew up in Philadelphia, and was devastated when my family and I moved to Texas and I had to learn the hard way that no one outside of Philadelphia has the ability to make a cheesesteak. But anyway... the owner of Fat Sandwich Co. not only know how to make a real Philly Cheesesteak, but orders in all of his ingredients from Philadelphia. With the first bite of a cheesesteak from Fat Sandwich Co., I was in love. I had finally found the real thing outside of Philadelphia, and in Oklahoma of all places!
Isn't it ironic that the day after I finally found a real, delicious cheesesteak in Oklahoma, I also finally decide to give up eating meat? What could have possibly possessed me to make this decision? The decision to give up, not only my number one favorite food in the world, but every other food at the top of my list as well? I watched some videos.
I don't even remember what prompted me to start watching all of these videos. What I remember is witnessing the horribly gruesome deaths experienced by animals in slaughter houses. I remember the terrible conditions in which the animals both lived, and died. Long before I had decided to give up meat, I had already chosen not to eat at KFC for it's brutal slaughter of chickens. The beaks of chickens are filled with sensitive nerve endings, and yet their beaks are torn from their faces while they are still alive. Their feathers are then plucked from their bodies, and they are thrown into boiling water and oil. And that is when they are finally relieved of their excruciating pain... in death. But after watching several of these videos, and then doing a lot of research on the subject, I found that almost every piece of meat we eat has gone through the same ordeal as the chickens at KFC. It is impossible to determine whether the animal you are about to ingest was slaughtered humanly, or brutally. I witnessed people cutting off the legs of a cow while it was still alive, crying out in pain. How could I support something like that?
Before totally giving up meat, I first looked into "free-range" and "organic" products. What I found is that the term "free range" is not regulated by any government agency, so the term could be applied to essentially anything, regardless of whether the animal was actually a "free range" animal or not. The term "organic" is regulated by the government, and does require that the animals receive a certain amount of room to move and grow, and a somewhat more humane approach to the slaughter of the animal. However, I also found that government inspections are rare, and it is only when a company is caught that the consumer becomes aware of any false claims of "organic" product. You would think companies in the meat industry would want to brag about their ethical and humane treatment and slaughter of animals if, in fact, they were doing so. But none do. So how is the consumer ever supposed to determine which supplier to go with? It's impossible. Unless you live on a farm and raise your own animals for slaughter and consumption. So I just chose the best possible scenario for me, which was to become a vegetarian. And I haven't had even the tiniest piece of meat since making that decision.
It was a step towards living small. Becoming a vegetarian also supports the environmental movement in several ways. Apart from that, along with becoming a vegetarian, I also discontinued my use of any products that are tested on animals, and attempt to purchase only products with no animal by-products in them. While I do not always agree with Peta's methods and ideology, they have great resources that include vegetarian starter kits, shopping guides, etc., so if you are considering taking the cruelty-free approach (and the living small approach) to life, it is a good idea to visit their website.
Becoming a vegetarian in a state like Oklahoma is sometimes difficult. In other areas of the country you can find a veggie burger, or similar item, on the menu almost everywhere you go (I'm talking hot dog stands, museum snack areas, etc.). But in Oklahoma, you're lucky to find anything specifically made for vegetarians. If anything, I usually have to order the Chicken Fettucini with no chicken (but I still pay for the chicken)! So whenever I find new restaurants, try new recipes, or discover new vegetarian foods at the grocery store, I will post them to my blog. That way, if anyone else is having a difficult time creating variety in their vegetarian diet, they can benefit from what I have been able to find.
Until next time... Live Small and Eat Small, my friends!
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