Friday, April 13, 2012

Fun Friday - New Things I've Tried

Hey everyone. I figured since I've been trying a lot of new things this week I'd use that as my fun Friday post. Check out a few things I've finally tried.


The first new thing I've tried is Kombucha. I won't lie, I've bought Kombucha at least 3 times before and never had the guts to try it before the use by date had come and gone. I finally decided now is the time and bought 2 bottles of Synergy brand Kombucha. The one I tried first is the "Guava Goddess" which is pictured above and I have a bottle of Gingerberry sitting in my fridge.

I was afraid to try it. I smelled it like I smell everything I am about to ingest and immediately regretted it. I finally tried it and I won't sit here and blow smoke up anyone's ass by saying I loved it because I didn't. The thing is that I didn't hate it. As I drank it the taste grew on me a little bit. I am not running to the store to stock up on cases of Kombucha but I'll definitely try the other flavor and will partake in it once in a while. So I'll give this a so/so. And it isn't because the brand is bad, it is because I am still getting used to the vinegary effervescent taste and feel of it... and the weird chunks of culture floating in it.


The next thing I tried was The Vegg vegan egg yolk powder stuff. I finally got my act together and made the mix in the proper proportions and added it to a tofu scramble. The stuff is crazy it smells like eggs thanks to the black salt. It still ended up being a bit different than I expected in that it never crisped up like I thought it would but it did add a nice taste (nooch and black salt will do that) to the scramble which had onion, zucchini and spinach. I liked the flavor and I think I'll have to try it in a different preparation to see how it works. Just out of curiosity I think. Oh and I ate the scramble with a few home made kale chips.


I saw Angela's Mess Free Banana Split Bites post yesterday and immediately knew that I was going to make them AND that I was going to add my own twist to them. I figured that it would be a great vehicle for the Artisana pecan butter I opened up yesterday so decided to make little banana with pecan butter sandwiches. You can see the "naked" ones above.


After I made my little sandwiches I melted some vegan chocolate chips and drenched the sandwiches in them. They look messy but I really didn't care. I popped them in the freezer to harden up which is where they are chillin (get it?) now. I'll show you what they look like all frozen and delicious looking when I eat one.

So these are the things I've been trying this week. Lots of good stuff, can't wait to dive into the banana split bites. I don't have much of an appetite which is part of the reason I haven't been showing full days of meals over the past few days. When it comes back I'll be happy to try these awesome treats and show you some full days of good eating.

Hope you all have a great night! I'm going to love every minute of my night at home in bed. I need it. I have the whole weekend off so we'll see what that brings.

23 comments:

  1. Oops, the Fruity O cereal is by Cascadian Farms not Kashi!

    Mmm looks good! Kombucha definitely is an acquired taste. I don't drink it often so I like it in small amounts but I think if I did drink it regularly, I could handle a whole bottle at once.

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    1. Ahh gotcha!

      I drank the whole bottle, very slowly lol. It tasted like a mimosa to me. I have another bottle that I'll try and I guess I'll see how I like that flavor.

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  2. I looove Kombucha. I used to drink it everyday when I lived in Ireland, but since coming back to Canada I hadn't had it in ages. It's funny that you just bought it to try it because I just bought my first 2 bottles again in 4 months! A blueberry maple and asian pear and ginger. It's definitely an acquired taste. I started drinking it because I heard it was good for digestion and I need all the help I can get there.

    I'm really intrigued by the Vegg. I wonder when Canada will get it? I don't miss very many foods as a vegan but occasionally I get weird cravings for egg...sounds like this would help with those!

    Happy Friday!

    Gabby @ the veggie nook

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    1. I've heard that the blueberry maple is good but haven't seen it! What brand is it? I've heard it is good for digestion and also helping to get rid of toxins so I figured it was worth a shot. I didn't hate it but I definitely won't be craving it.

      The Vegg is available for order online in stores like Pangea and Vegan Essentials! I ordered mine from Pangea.

      Hope you are having a great weekend!

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  3. I'm not a fan of Kombucha. Mike and I have shared a bottle here & there, but I doubt I'll buy it again. It's just not to our tastes and I couldn't get quite used to it.

    The Vegg sounds so interesting..... maybe the third time will be a charm as far as crisping up?

    The banana split bites sound amazing! I'm going to have to go print out the recipe.

    Have a great weekend!

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    1. Let's hope I can figure out how to make the Vegg stuff crisp up. Maybe I'll have to stray from the tofu scramble and try something else.

      I haven't tried the banana split bites yet, maybe tonight.

      You too!

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  4. OMG, those banana bites are a work of genius! I'm going to make some asap! I love it!

    The Vegg stuff sounds interesting...your scramble looks awesome anyway. And finally, I love the Synergy kombucha; guava is my fav flavor, followed by the strawberry...the gingeraid is good too. They've started stocking some varieties of Synergy that have the normal alcohol content at my WF. You have to be 21 to buy them. I've tried the raspberry flavor in that kind, and it was pretty good.

    Happy weekend, Sarah!

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    1. Ha I bet your photos will look way better than mine :) Definitely give them a try, I can't wait to try mine!

      Thanks! The guava one tasted like a mimosa to me and I'm not a huge fan of mimosas so I'm wondering if that had something to do with it. I wanted to try the strawberry but I feel like someone told me once it tasted like medicine. maybe I'll give it a try anyway. I heard that there is kombucha with alcohol but I've never seen it. I may have to hunt that down.

      Thanks you too!

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  5. Oh yeah I totally wanted to make those bites too. They look great.
    I'm a big fan of Kombucha but I should probably drink them less often, considering the price. They're fun. Never tried the guava but I like gingerberry, gingerade, mango, the green one...haha, lots. I wish they sold ones with alcohol content in them here, like Rose has! I would totally drink those at work.

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    1. Do it! They were so easy it literally took 10 minutes.

      Good to know you like the gingerberry because that is the other one I have. Maybe it'll grow on me. I'm just glad I finally tried it and didn't throw yet another bottle away. Ha I'd love to drink the alcohol one at work.

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    2. Sarah: Yeah, I can see how someone would think the strawberry kombucha one was a little medicinal tasting. I think the gingery ones are most palatable for a wider variety of taste palettes.

      Maud: Yes, taking the full alcohol kombucha to work is very appealing...though, the % is so low, you can't tell the difference between that and the lower alcohol ones percentage-wise...maybe a tea-totaler would? But, one thing I do like to do (not at work, obviously) is add a shot of vodka to the kombucha...makes a great little pick-me-up.

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  6. "Weird chunks of culture floating in it" - ha ha - is not something I usually want to hear about something I'm going to eat or drink. I'm not being mean though. I have not tried kombucha, but I'm not ruling it out.

    The Vegg looks very interesting. Like Gabby, I sometimes wish I could have eggs so this might be something to try.

    The banana bites look beautiful and tasty. I love the picture of them with the chocolate drenching them - yum.

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    1. Lol that's not being mean, weird chunks of culture are indeed unappetizing. It's something I'm glad I finally tried.

      The Vegg is interesting and I'm still working on figuring out the best way to use it but I'm getting there.

      Thanks! I recommend everyone gives them a try, they are so simple and fast and not a totally horrible for you treat.

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  7. Kombucha is a once-in-a-while beverage for me, but I loved the way you described it! I never know how to label it, and "vinegary effervescent" is exactly what it is.

    The tofu scramble does look beautiful in the picture. My scrambles are never crispy, so I'd be curious to see what the Vegg product can do.

    I saw Angela's post the other day, too! Your version looks absolutely fantastic though, I bet they taste amazing!

    So so happy that you are taking today for yourself - you totally deserve it, and I hope you spoil yourself by doing something wonderful! :)

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    1. Yeah I think it is definitely going to be banished to the once in a while category for me too. It is definitely interesting.

      Thanks, it was really good I just wish it were a little crispier. At least the veggies weren't totally cooked to death though, that's an improvement at least.

      Thanks, I can't wait to try them, maybe in a bit :)

      Thank you, I did have a nice day today, I forced myself to go out and enjoy the gorgeous weather and I'm glad I did.

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  8. You bake such beautiful things. With your baking talent, wrapping and photography skills, I'm sure you could get an online vegan bakery going with no problem. Wish you would. For me.

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    1. Aww thank you Shen, that is really nice of you to say! Hopefully one day I'll be able to start up a business. You'll definitely be VIP.

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  9. BA HA HA, the weird chunks of culture really threw me off, too. I've only ever tried the plain flavor, which I don't mind - but am also not in love with. It kind of reminds me of sparkling apple cider vinegar, which is odd. And I saw Angela's post for that dessert, she's definitely the master of easy (and healthy-ish) snacks!

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    1. I totally agree, Angela is amazing! I don't think the turnaround of seeing a recipe to making it has ever been that quick for me. This is so easy though I just had to do it.

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  10. Hehehe, the first time I tried Kombucha I just felt...confused. It's me, I love quirky healthy foodstuffs right? But to be honest, I didn't like it one bit. Then I tried it again and it was ok. We'll see what happens next time:) Nice to know I'm not the only one who is not quite sure what to make of it:) Have a great weekend!

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    1. Confusing is definitely the perfect word for it! It is just strange. It's definitely ok to be lukewarm about something that is supposed to be good for you, especially when you have such healthy habits anyway. You are definitely not alone, this stuff is just weird and confusing. Oh and don't smell it. That was a mistake lol.

      Thanks you too!

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  11. Those banana bites look freakin' awesome! I just printed the recipe so I can make them tomorrow.

    Kombucha is not high on my list of things to try. I've heard too many people complain about the taste.

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    1. Thanks Sage! Let me know how you like them!

      Yeah I wouldn't run to the store for it either if I were you. Maybe it is an acquired taste but I think there are plenty of other ways to get the same benefits!

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