Tag Archives: vegetarian

Nov20

Lunch Date

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Lunch Date

Hello!! Johnny and I had a fabulous weekend that involved family, friends, and good food. Our nieces came over for a slumber party on Friday, we had an amazing lunch date on Saturday, and I got to chat with my blogging bestie afterwards. Johnny has a deep love for the Popeye’s chicken sandwich and recently made great use of their buy one get one free sandwich promotion. I have been a vegetarian for upwards of twenty years and even though it has been so long since I have ate meat, my mouth still waters at the sight of those chicken sandwiches. They just look SO. Damn. Good. With that recent craving in mind, I knew exactly where I wanted to go for lunch…

Boss ChickNBeer! And no, they do not just serve chicken – they have a fully vegan menu as well. Everything on their normal menu can be made with cauliflower or tofu so people with dietary restrictions have plenty of options. It’s awesome! This is a specific to my area of Ohio restaurant that was founded my two women and has three other locations besides the one ten minutes away from me. I have always wanted to try it and my only regret was not doing so sooner in the year or so since they have been open. It was absolutely delicious and we plan on going back ASAFP.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, we bellied up to the bar and within seconds we realized that this was going to be an excellent experience. No sooner than we were seated, we were greeted by the general manager and began to gab. He introduced himself, asked us for our names, and explained the story of the restaurant and the menu too. All the while, The Humpty Dance was playing on the speakers, which I told him how much I appreciated lol. We got to talking about music and it was like talking to a friend. He told us that a manager at an old job once told him to talk to the people you are serving like they’re a friend at a backyard barbecue. It sure worked because we were cutting it up with all of the employees throughout our meal and it was just FUN. Old school hip hop playing, cracking jokes, and telling stories. I’ve never had a dining experience like it and we both loved it!

The restaurant vibe was a twenty out of ten and the food scores the same marks because holy WOW. Johnny opted for the tender meal and I went for the cauliflower wings with a side of their queso mac. As we sipped on our apple cider beer that tasted like a cabin, as per Johnny’s description, we could see the food being made right before our eyes. All the while, we were getting to know our new friends better. Our food arrived speedy quick and felt even more so as we were immersed in conversation. We couldn’t wait to dig in and every bite was like a little slice of heaven.

My queso mac was out of this world crazy good. It was creamy and cheesy with a little kick and I am so excited to get it again. It was the best mac n cheese from a restaurant I have ever had. The cauliflower wings were crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside and tasted great with their homemade gold sauce. This meal was a vegetarian’s dream come true. As for Johnny, his French fries were crisp and perfectly seasoned and sent his compliments to the staff for being the best chicken he has ever had. The tenders were huge and he was so happy to have some to bring back home so he could eat it again! He dipped his tenders in the Ghostface Killah sauce which was the hottest on the menu. Despite its high ranking, it was tolerable as it provided heat without feeling like it was going to burn your tongue off. I really liked it too and want to get it next. 😀

This local chain has turned everything we thought about going to a restaurant on its head. It was such a personable, friendly atmosphere. Everyone seated at the bar was talking with each other, the staff knew patrons by name, and it was all complimented by a fantastic meal. In fact, the couple we were sitting by was from Pittsburgh and whenever they come to the area, they go to Boss ChickNBeer every time. Who can blame them? It was that good!

As soon as we left the restaurant, Johnny and I began making plans. When we were going next and who to invite for double dates. It can’t be soon enough!

What is your favorite local restaurant? What other local businesses do you like to frequent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar25

Beyond Meat Veggie Burger Review

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Beyond Meat Veggie Burger Review

Hello! Whenever Johnny and I are in the mood for veggie burgers, we tend to go with the MorningStar Grillers. However, we had the opportunity to try a new to us meatless brand called Beyond Meat. This “opportunity” was completely random. I have NO idea where or how Johnny’s dad acquired two big bags of the Beyond Meat patties but he did and bequeathed them onto us lol. My father-in-law is always ragging on me for being a vegetarian (It’s hilarious – seriously!) but he sure is supportive and provided us with the best veggie burger we’ve ever had at home:

^^^ You can check out my prep video on TikTok! @lilred6794 !!!

Meatless options have truly evolved over the years and Johnny and I have tried several that we were genuinely concerned was actual meat lol. I hate that!! In fact, the first time I ever tried a Beyond Burger in a restaurant, I had to have the waiter double check that that was for real what I was eating. Ever since that fateful incident, I have never had a Beyond Burger again. I can’t enjoy my food if I am worried with every bite I take! For a majority of my life, the meatless brands didn’t taste like the real thing in the slightest. It’s just what I’m used to, what I like, and what I feel comfortable eating.

I was a tad concerned that these Beyond Meat burgers would be a bust due to my preferences and, happily, that was not the case at all. These burgers were delicious! In stark contrast to the MorningStar Grillers, the Beyond Meat burgers were thick and juicy. The hint of flavor of a real burger was subtle and I appreciated that a lot for my own sanity lol. This also allowed for the toppings and the fluffy and sweet Hawaiian roll bun to do the talking. I put mozzarella cheese on my burger as well as a healthy dollop of Taco Bell Chipotle sauce. The end result was a flavor symphony and, boy, was it filling. We were totally stuffed at the end of the meal!

If you are like me and shy away from the “taste alike” meatless options, I cannot recommend the Beyond Meat burgers enough. If you are just looking for a yummy new veggie burger to try, I also cannot recommend the Beyond Meat burgers enough!

What is your favorite meatless brand? What are your favorite toppings on a burger? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets Review

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Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets Review

Hello! I have been a strict vegetarian for longer than I can remember and my, how times have changed. Way back when, I feel like there was only MorningStar and Boca for “fake meat” options. Now, the selection is seemingly endless and I am always excited to try what’s new in the meatless market. I am especially partial to the brand Gardein and so is Johnny! Despite being anything but a vegetarian, he loves when I make a meatless dinner and that is a beautiful thing. During my last curbside order, the Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets caught my eye and Johnny and I couldn’t wait for a taste test. Let’s discuss:

When Johnny and I first made fake chicken sandwiches with the Gardein filets, we made them in the air fryer and it was just okay. They definitely weren’t as crisp as we would have liked and that left us less than impressed as the taste was kind of bland and it was a much thicker patty than our usual offering from MorningStar. HOWEVER, I had the last filet in the bag for a chicken sandwich last night and I made it in the oven because our air fryer basket needed washed. We should have made them in the oven from the jump because the difference was night and day.

Our oven cooks really fast so I had to modify the amount of time the filet cooked. Mine was in the oven for eighteen minutes with a flip halfway through and it was perfect. I made my sandwich with a Hawaiian roll hamburger bun, mozzarella cheese, and chipotle sauce. The end result was, easily, one of the best meatless sandwiches I have ever had. The filet was nice and crisp and the sauce and cheese combo was spot on. It was delicious, filling, and was the closest thing I have had to a “real” chicken sandwich since I stopped eating meat. My only qualm with this option by Gardein is the flavor because these filets absolutely need some dressing up and are pretty bland sans sauce. They do have a “spicy” option for the Ultimate Filets and I can’t wait to try them – I think they will be even better!

If you are a vegetarian or simply trying to add more meatless options to your diet, the Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets are a fantastic place to start. Just be sure to make them in the oven!

What is your favorite meatless brand? Where do you like to grocery shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar10

Vegetarian Friendly Ramen

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Vegetarian Friendly Ramen

Howdy!! I have been a vegetarian for as long as I can remember and I will forever be checking the labels of food at the store/where the food is prepared in restaurants. I refuse to let my streak be broken and that often means not getting the things that I would like to try. Soup is a shining example of this because a majority of what you’re buying in store is made with some type of meat based broth. Another food that has fairly limited options is ramen. There’s a million noodle packs for carnivores and one or two for vegetarians!

I have tried a handful of quick to go vegetarian ramen and none of them have ever done much for me. However, I have had a lot of luck in finding my favorite kind during my past few grocery trips. This specific kind of ramen isn’t always available so I get a ton when it is for a speedy and cheap meal. If you are forever on the hunt for a good vegetarian ramen, I can’t recommend this kind enough:

A little sweet, a little spicy, and a little over a dollar – this Sweet Chili ramen is the bomb.com ! It is bold, flavorful, and filling and I actually just had a cup prior to writing this lol. What can I say, I decided to switch my breakfast up from my recent avocado toast kick! It might not seem like much, but it really is a beautiful thing when you can find a food that you like that adheres to your dietary restrictions. In cases like this, it’s like finding the holy grail and you are in for a treat if you try it too. It is SO. Freaking. Yummy!!

The Chili Lime ramen has become my foolproof option and it is easily the best out of every kind I have tried before. 12/10!

What are some of your favorite vegetarian options at the grocery store? Do you have a favorite meatless brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar6

The Most Important Meal Of The Day

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The Most Important Meal Of The Day

Hello!! Something that I actively suck at has got to be eating breakfast. It sounds stupid, but it’s true lol. After taking care of the bunnies and getting cleaned up early in the morning, I’m never particularly hungry. So, I begin the next part of my routine which is work online and slam ALL of the coffee. There comes a point during my mornings where hunger just hits me like a load of bricks and I either answer the call or put it on hold because I could have an early lunch. They say madness is doing the same thing and expecting different results and, honestly, this current system leaves a lot to be desired. So, I have made a conscious effort to incorporate some semblance of a normal breakfast into my routine compliments of a random craving.

As I was completing a curbside order online last week, I got the most intense white girl craving for avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning. I’m not sure why because I’ve only had it one time before. My sister made it for me a few years back when I was over at her house, it was the bomb, and that was that. I figured I was onto something with this out of nowhere hankering so I went ahead and added all of the fixings for avocado toast into my order. I actually just had some prior to writing this and it was just as bomb as I remembered it being. And *shocker* I actually feel awesome!

I am one of those people who absolutely NEEDS a routine and once I have one established, it is really hard for me to change it. Even if it is just one small thing like making breakfast every morning, I have to adjust all of the moving parts in my day to accommodate it and that is stressful. My routine comforts me and once the mental gymnastics starts, that security blanket feels like it got ripped to shreds. I have to admit, I had some butterflies in my basket when making my brekkie – but my entire world didn’t implode and that initial discomfort was quickly satisfied with something yummy that I wanted to eat. Not only did I feel like I worked better, but I had the sense of pride that I took care of myself by stepping out of my comfort zone. It might be a small step, but it was a big one!

Incorporating monkey wrenches into my work flow and challenging my own made up rules might be stressful, but I often find that the stress relief after the fact outweighs any cons. I have some big life changes coming up soon and adding little blips in my day to day will be a great stepping stone to making that shift easier.

What is your favorite food to have for breakfast? Are you structured or go with the flow during your day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov27

Let’s Dish: Thanksgiving Food

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Let’s Dish: Thanksgiving Food

Hello!! I have literally been looking forward to Thanksgiving since last Thanksgiving. And, when Thanksgiving is over, I eagerly await Christmas because my family just does Thanksgiving dinner Round Two. In case you haven’t noticed, I freaking LOVE Thanksgiving food and it makes me sad that I only get to indulge in this passion twice a year lol. And, indulge I shall. Let’s Dish on some Thanksgiving staples that I will definitely be going in for seconds (or tenths!) on:

ALL The Yes:

Green Bean Casserole:

There are some people who absolutely detest green bean casserole and that’s fine – you can just give it all to me! This is one of my designated dishes to prepare and, I hate to brag, but I knock it out of the park every time. It is SO easy to make, tastes divine, and is my all time favorite Thanksgiving food.

Stuffing:

Stuffing is also one of the sides on my To Cook list and, once again, I hate to toot my own horn but it is always bomb AF. I load mine up with celery, onions, tons of garlic, and freestyle the herbs. The trick is to not make it too dry or moist so I am very careful when adding in the vegetable stock. I also add a few pads of butter over top of the stuffing before sticking it in the oven and it has never not turned out just right.

Any Form of Potatoes:

Potatoes are a beautiful thing, aren’t they? No matter how they’re made, I like it all! My mom makes the best homemade mashed potatoes and it is the perfect blend of not too creamy but not too chunky either. And, of course, I can’t get enough of sweet potatoes! While I prefer them plain with a bit of butter, my mother-in-law makes a dynamite sweet potato casserole that I always look forward to. 🙂

ALL The No:

Turkey:

As a vegetarian, turkey is a very obvious no. However, even if I did it meat it would still be a no lol. I genuinely don’t even remember what turkey tastes like. What I do know, is that I don’t think I ever liked it because it was never on my plate when I was a kid!

Cranberry Sauce:

Is it weird that I have never tried cranberry sauce? Guys, I just can’t do it. It’s not so much the way it looks, although that is part of it. It’s mainly a texture thing. It’s one of those foods that I know for a fact I won’t like so I don’t bother. And, at thirty years old, I don’t plan on bothering because I’ve lasted this long without it.

Pumpkin Pie:

HARD no. The only time I have ever tried pumpkin pie is when one of my old client’s brother insisted I take a bite. It was awful! The flavor. The texture. Everything. Even with half a canister of whipped cream on one bite!! I mean, if you like baby food then what a treat lol.

Side dishes reign supreme on my Thanksgiving and I simply can’t wait to dig in! 😀

What is your favorite and least favorite Thanksgiving food? What are your plans for the holiday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov19

Daring Plant Based Buffalo Wings Review

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Daring Plant Based Buffalo Wings Review

Hello! I have been an extremely strict vegetarian for as long as I can remember. Way back in the day, I feel like the only brands around for meatless options was MorningStar or Boca. Now, there are endless different possibilities and it’s freaking awesome lol – minus the fact that the meatless products can be kind of expensive. My favorite “newer” brand has got to be Gardein because Johnny and I absolutely love their fake fish fillets for sandwiches and wraps. I have been interested in trying more of their meatless options but I never feel like paying ten dollars for it! During my last shopping order from Walmart, I did try a new to me brand called Daring. The price was right for five bucks a bag of buffalo “chicken” wings and I was really looking forward to giving it a taste test. I made them this weekend and they were a huge hit! Check it out:

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One of mine and Johnny’s favorite easy peasy meals are wraps. I make them with cilantro lime rice, southwest salad, and a meatless product like fish or chicken. They are so simple but so good! Over the weekend, I thought I would make us some wraps with the Daring buffalo wings after a super busy Saturday afternoon. As soon as I opened the bag and put the wings into a frying pan, I had to call Johnny over into the kitchen. To this long term vegetarian, they really did look like actual wings and Johnny agreed. This was pleasing to me because I am so used to the MorningStar buffalo patties that are just kind of flat lol.

After fifteen or so minutes of cooking the wings, I was ready to assemble my wrap and dig in. I was surprised by the fact that I needed to cut these wings into pieces with a knife because they were too hefty to do with just a fork. Again, that never happened with Morningstar! After my first bite with the Daring wings, I wasn’t sure what to think. The flavor was great – nice and spicy. The texture was what threw me off because it was thicker and chewier than the patties I have ate for well over a decade and a half. Then, Johnny tried a piece and told me that it tasted similar in texture to actual chicken. Because I don’t remember what actual chicken tastes like, I thought that was pretty cool. And, once I got over the initial shock to the system, I ended up enjoying every bite. In fact, I had a wrap for almost every meal that weekend!

If you are interested in expanding your vegetarian meatless options, I cannot recommend the Daring brand enough. The prices are the best I have seen for any comparable brand and they taste great too. Don’t take my word for it? Take the word of the happily carnivorous Johnny, instead!

What is your favorite vegetarian dish? Which brand makes the best meatless food? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov5

Subway Taste Alike Sandwiches

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Subway Taste Alike Sandwiches

Hello!! I absolutely love a taste alike recipe and enjoy making lots of dishes that closely mimic mine and Johnny’s favorite eateries. It was pretty slim pickings in our apartment for a while but I was finally able to put in a curbside order to pick up over the weekend. One dinner I got the ingredients for was to make what is perhaps the easiest taste alike ever – Subway sandwiches. I couldn’t wait to make them because I had no idea until very recently that Subway sold some of their signature dressings at the grocery store! These sandwiches were a huge hit for me and Johnny and I also mean that they were huge lol. Check it out:

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As I placed my curbside order at Walmart, I got all of mine and Johnny’s go to fixings on our Subway sandwiches as well as two bakery loaves of Italian bread. The picture online looked pretty small so I ordered two just to be safe. I definitely could have gotten away with just one loaf because you could imagine my surprise when Johnny brought our groceries home and the loaves were the size of baseball bats! This was honestly a happy accident because we had plenty of leftovers for lunch and dinner the following day. 😀

Before we toasted our subs, I cut up all of the veggies to have them ready for assembly. I chopped green peppers, cucumber, red onion, peperoncini peppers, and olives and got bagged iceberg lettuce, spinach, and a jar of pickles too. This was the most time consuming part of the process, but once it was done all we did was take turns toasting the subs, put them together, and enjoy. As we assembled our meal, we had to laugh because the sandwiches were gigantic. They literally looked like what Scooby and Shaggy would eat in Scooby Doo. Mine was particularly sizable because of all of the veggies and I was full from just one quarter of the sandwich. My eyes might have been way bigger than my stomach, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t taste like Subway with every bite!

The Taste Alike Subway Sandwiches will, without a doubt, be made again. The only change I will be making is using smaller loaves of bread!!

Do you have a favorite taste alike recipe? What is your favorite chain restaurant? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep4

Lookout, Cookout

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Lookout, Cookout

Hello! Every summer Johnny’s job has a company picnic with food trucks and raffle prizes. He has worked there for five years and has never won squat until this year. There were plenty of great prizes to be had and, unfortunately, Johnny got the one thing we can’t use: A mini charcoal grill called the Smokey Joe lol. Any type of grill is grounds for eviction in Timber Top because it is such a huge fire hazard in our wooded community. So, the Smokey Joe found a new home at my in-laws’ house. When Johnny took his winnings home from the picnic, we had no idea when we were ever going to use it. Then, it pulled through in the clutch for a Labor Day cookout with Johnny’s mom and dad:

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Johnny had the brilliant idea of arranging our cookout get together and using the new grill to make my veggie burgers and hot dogs to avoid contamination. He is so thoughtful! After working a little shift on Monday morning, we headed over to chez parents to start the festivities and it was just the best time. Johnny’s mom manned their grill, Johnny’s dad handled the Dutch oven peach cobbler, and Johnny and I worked together on the Smokey Joe as it was my first grilling experience. By the time we were done at our respective stations, we had a delicious meal in store for us. The veggie burgers and hot dogs hit the spot but top marks definitely go to the peach cobbler. I have been asking Johnny’s dad to make it for forever and he deemed our cookout as the perfect occasion. It was as heavenly as I imaged it to be!

After we were beyond full, we retired inside because it was getting kind of chilly out. This was a nice change of pace from the ninety degree days we were having last week but it was still a shock to the system! As we warmed up, we chatted away and got all the doggo snuggles from the precious Odie. It was about all we could muster while being in a full blown food coma lol. Before we left, Johnny’s mom loaded us up with leftovers and an amazing surprise – some gorgeous vintage lamps that belonged to Johnny’s grandma. I can’t wait to show all of you. 😀

This was the first time Johnny and I have actively made Labor Day plans and our cookout was the most wonderful way to spend it. Even though we can’t use the Smokey Joe at our apartment, it proved to be an awesome prize after all!

What do you like to bring to a cookout? How did you spend Labor Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug22

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

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Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Howdy!! When it comes to finding new recipes for dinner, I have been in a rut. I did away with Pinterest a while ago because I was sick and tired of pinning recipe after recipe and never making it lol. So, I decided on a different approach and have just been Googling dinners I am interested in trying. This has been so much easier because I limit myself to the first few five star recipes that show up rather than scrolling through and trying to find just the right one. With this new system, I wanted to try out a recipe I found for vegetarian stuffed peppers from The Modern Proper. It was alright but didn’t blow me away so I definitely plan on making some changes if I make them again! Let’s get to it:

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When I am looking for new recipes, I always look for simple meals that require minimal ingredients. The recipe for the vegetarian stuffed peppers called for twelve or so different ingredients and you are likely to find quite a few of them in your own pantry or fridge. I did! The prep work for the peppers was easy peasy and only involved chopping an onion, a few green onions, and a bell pepper. What took forever, however, was cooking the rice! I had no idea it would take that long and it turned the prep time into an almost hour long process. I literally finished it in the knick of time during a quick work break and had to leave as soon as I was sure that the rice was fully tender.

After work, all that was left to do was top the peppers with tons of cheese and stick it in the oven. Johnny and I were both SO hungry and couldn’t wait to dig in after it cooked for about forty minutes. The end result was just okay. Johnny didn’t particularly care for it and I wasn’t surprised in the slightest. The biggest disappointment to me was the flavor because it was really bland. The recipe called for one packet of taco seasoning and salt and that was it. I would have preferred a lot more kick to it so if I make them again, I would do my own thing with the seasoning. Cayenne pepper, chili powder, maybe a bit of hot sauce too. This recipe was not the best or the worst and the jury is out on if I would try it again.

Even though we weren’t overly impressed with the vegetarian stuffed peppers, I am glad I gave it a shot. You never know if you don’t try!

How do you like to find new recipes? What are some of your favorite vegetarian dishes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah