Amy's Not Just for Kids Meals-Baked Ziti

Hey everyone, I hope you are all having a great week. I have been spending my time packing for my big move to Virginia, taking my kitty to the vet, and Bikrim yoga.  I just started taking classes and I am really liking it.  Bikram yoga is a set of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises done in a 105 degree room! It is really intense but it leaves you feeling great. I suggest that everyone goes out and tries it!

Anyway, on to the food!  Taking yoga is making me want to make good food choices.  I actually read that taking yoga decreases your cravings for junk food! I wanted to show you another Amy's meal that is fun and delicious: Not Just for Kids Meals-Baked Ziti.





I completely LOVE that these are vegan and gluten free! Its such a great feeling knowing that I can have pasta with cheese and bread and it not to have any animal products or gluten in it.  These might be aimed for kids, but like the box says, its not just for kids. Anyone can enjoy a healthy, vegan, gluten free dinner. Of course, if you have kids this is a great meal for them too.  It has small portions which are good for small bellies, and the inside of the box has games and puzzles!



The baked ziti meal comes with ziti, vegan cheese, tomato sauce, broccoli, focaccia, and a apple crumb dessert. It is the perfect little meal from the bread, to the main course, and even the desert.  It reminds me of those Kid Cuisine meals, but a thousand times better for you!  The pasta and sauce tastes great and the broccoli tastes fresh.  I usually am not a fan of vegan cheese, but this one is really good.  It doesn't have a strong cheese flavor, but it melts really well. The focaccia was really flavorful and its great for scooping up the sauce that's left over in the dish. The apple dessert is hot and sweet. I love the apple cinnamon flavor and the crumb top is perfect!

I love this little meal, its perfect for when you want a complete dinner without all the cooking.  While I'm all grown up, I am a kid at heart and I love feeling like a kid again with these meals.  These are perfect for kids and adults of any age!

Have you tried the Baked Ziti Not Just for Kids Meals? Will you be buying these for yourself, or a kid you know?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Broccoli and Cheese in a Pocket

Hello everyone and May the 4th be with you :-P

I love sharing Amy's food with you guys because it is always all natural and organic, which I love.  It is great to find a frozen food to feel good about!  This one combines veggies, and hot melty cheese, what's not to love?

Melted Mozzarella Minestrone

Hello veggie lovers! I hope everyone is doing well. Today I have a quick and easy lunch that I love to make all the time.  I came up with this soup a few years ago taking inspiration from some others I have seen and tried.  What I love about it is that its a meal in its own.  I'm not big on just eating a bowl of soup, but with some added touches you can turn a bowl of soup into a meal of its own!

Amy's Veggie Loaf

Hello everyone! I hope you have all been enjoying the nice warm weather, I know that I have! Although I do have to say I'm happy that April is almost over and May is on its way! I hate how much rain April brings. Usually right about now I am planning my move to the desert...You know, until summer hits and then I plan my move to Alaska.

Today I have an Amy's meal that I consider the substitute teacher of Amy's frozen meals. When I first became a vegetarian, many years ago, one of the very first Amy's frozen meals I found was the veggie Salisbury steak. Salisbury steak is another food that I never ate as a meat eater, but have eaten the veggie version.  I remembered how good it was, and how my mom used to microwave it to me and serve me in my room back at our first house.  I ate it for years..until one day I couldn't find it in the supermarkets anymore.  However, right about the time the Salisbury steak disappeared, the veggie loaf made its debut. I decided to give it a try, and while it wasn't exactly like the steak, it was still very good, and I knew I had found its substitute.





The Veggie Loaf reminds me of those classic 1950's TV dinners.  It comes with a veggie loaf made of lentils and other vegetables covered in a really tasty veggie gravy, mashed potatoes, and a mix of peas and corn.  I love mixing the gravy with the mashed potatoes and pretending I'm an all-American meat eater.  I have never actually had real gravy on mashed potatoes!





This meal really reminds me of my grandma's cooking, because she always used healthy ingredients..and a lot of lentils!  I always feel good after eating this really healthy meal, full of protein and veggies, but I like pretending that its bad for you! :-P

Have you tried Amy's Veggie Loaf?  Do you like vegetarian meat loafs?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Bowls Broccoli & Cheddar Bake

Hey everyone! Today I have another Amy's meal to show you!





Amy's has been making these bowls for quite a while, from mac and cheese with tofu, to pasta and peas in tomato sauce.  However the Amy's Bowls Broccoli & Cheddar Bake are a new addition to the bowl family. Since it's Amy's they are of course organic and vegetarian, and on top of that, the Broccoli & Cheddar bake is gluten free too!







I love the flavor of these bowls. The cheese is a nice sharp cheddar flavor, and of course broccoli pairs perfectly with cheddar.  The bread crumbs on top are the perfect touch to make these bowls taste like they came right out of the oven.  The pasta tastes great too, you can't even tell that it's gluten free!

Have you tried the new Broccoli & Cheese Bake Bowls?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Mexican Tofu Scramble

Hey everyone!  I wanted to show you what I had for lunch today. Yes, it's another Amy's meal.



I have mentioned before that eggs totally freak me out, and I try to avoid them as bast as I can.  I always loved scrambled eggs, and its a food a miss, not because I am a vegetarian, but just because the idea of eggs creep me out.  I was so happy when I found Amy's Tofu Scramble! Finally I get to have scrambled eggs again!  Amy's makes a few different tofu scrambles, and today I have the Mexican variety to show you.



This scramble comes with tofu on a gluten free tortilla  covered with salsa, and re-fried beans and potatoes on the side. The tofu scramble doesn't taste exactly like its eggy counter part, but it is still really tasty!  I like how there is salsa on top, but unfortunately it not spicy, so I add some hot sauce to the mix.  The re-fried beans are really flavorful, and the potatoes complete this breakfast.



It is always a great feeling being able to eat a "normal" breakfast, but still maintaining my beliefs and commitment to avoiding eggs.  I love getting lots of protein in this meal too, and of course lots of flavor!



I love this Mexican Tofu Scramble! I hope you guys try it, because I know you'll like it too!

Have you tried Amy's Mexican Tofu Scramble?  Do you like Mexican food for breakfast?

Bye from  the Veggie Side!

Amy's Shepherd's Pie

Hello everyone!  Today I have another Amy's meal to show ya.  Are you guys sick of Amy's yet? Well I hope not since I love them!  Every meal tastes amazing, and they are all organic. You can't beat that!  Here's is one of the first Amy's frozen mean I had ever tried, the shepherd's pie.  I tried it when I was very young, I remember I didn't even know what shepherd's pie was.  My dad explained to me it was lamb and veggies all cooked up with mashed potatoes on top, of course this Amy's version leaves out the lamb.

This combination of veggies in a bowl really reminds me of my grandma's cooking!  I can't say she ever made me a shepherd's pie, but just the flavorful mix of vegetables in a broth brings back memories of my grandma cooking me dinner. This meal is really comforting and hits the spot, especially on a cold winter day.

Have you tried Amy's Shepherd's Pie?  What foods remind you of your grandma's cooking?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Minestrone Soup

I have been on such a soup kick lately!  I don't know if its because it is the best food to warm up with on a cold winter day, or because its a great way to help you lose weight, and I still need to shed those extra pounds that I gained from the holidays.  Either way I just love soup, and I love Amy's soups because they are good for you too!  They really help me to make the best choices that I can, since they are vegan too!





Each can is filled with loads of veggies! You can see the carrots, beans and chunks of tomatoes.  It also has lots of vegan pasta in it too, which is why I love this soup.  Tomato soup is one of my favorites, but I still feel hungry when I'm done since there's not much substance to it.  But this soup fills my spoon and mouth with each bite, leaving me nice and satisfied after.





This soup is so delicious and a staple in my cabinet! Whenever I get the craving for soup, its always there for me!

Have you tried Amy's Minestrone Soup?  Will you be going out and getting some to keep warm and full this winter?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Vegetable Barley Soup

Hello veggies and non-veggies alike!  Today I have the perfect food to warm you up by the fire on a cold January night.  Of course that would be Amy's Vegetable barley soup.  As I have mentioned before, Amy's makes a large variety of vegan and vegetarian foods, which are all really tasty and always organic.





These are ingredients you can feel good about eating.  I love barley soup so much!  I was always one of my favorites from when I hate meat, and after I gave it up too.  This soup is really flavorful and loaded with all kids of vegetables, and of course, lots of amazing barley.





You can see each spoonful is really hearty.  Its perfect for filling you up, and warming you up.  This soup paired perfectly with some quick make shift garlic bread I whipped up.



I couldn't get over this garlic bread!  I just took some lefter over Italian bread from when I ordered pizza, drizzled on a bit of olive oil, and sprinkled this garlic and herb mix that I picked up in Disney World  I popped it in the toaster oven until it started to brown.  The garlic went really well with the veggies and barley in the soup, and I loved soaking up the broth with the crunchy bread. Mmmm!

Have you ever had Amy's Vegetable Barely Soup? Will you be buying some (and pairing it with garlic bread)?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Soups No Chicken Noodle

Good morning!  Today I have a great soup to share with you!  One food I used to love as a kid was chicken noodle, but hey, what kid didn't?  That was one food I needed to find a replacement for, and luckily I did very shortly after giving up meat.  I have showed you guys some Amy's food already (check them out in the labels list on the right hand side of the blog).  Amy's makes amazing vegetarian organic food.  And while I love her frozen meals, she also makes a huge verity of soups!  One of my favorites is her No Chicken Noodle.  It has all the flavors of the classing get-well-soon soup, but completely organic and vegetarian.   It is filled with veggies, noodles, and tofu all in a warm, comforting veggie broth.  This is the kind of soup you can curl up with on a cold day.






Love those natural, vegan ingredients!




I like to enjoy my No Chicken Noodle with a handful of crackers for dunking! Mmm!




This soup is a great alternative to regular chicken noodle and not just for vegetarians.  If your'e just looking for a tasty, organic soup, give this one a try!

Have you tried Amy's No Chicken Noodle Soup? Are you going to go get some?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip and Chips!

Good morning everyone! 

How many of you love artichoke spinach dip?  I remember the first time I tried it I loved it, and now it can be found at almost every restaurant!  It is so creamy and cheesy, you almost forget it is full of veggies!  I found a great frozen dip at Trader Joe's and I had to pick it up!  You just pop it in the microwave and you make a perfect little meal for one, or a restaurant worthy appetizer!

I paired this with some great simple tortilla chips that I also picked up at Trader Joe's.

Look how simple those ingredients are! Gotta love it!

This was definitely a great find and I will be purchasing it again!

Do you guys like spinach and artichoke dip as much as I do? Have you tried this delicious one from Trader Joe's yet?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Annie's Organic Honey Mustard

How many kinds of mustard should a household have? One? Two? Well of you ask my dad, and answer is four.  My dad and I absolutely love mustard. It is spicy, delicious, and goes great on so many things.  We both really enjoy the brown Jewish Deli mustard, but I also love honey mustard!  Since I don't eat meat, I never end up ordering anything at a restaurant that comes with honey mustard, since that is usually reserved for chicken tenders or other types of food like that (can you tell I have no idea what I am talking about?) The only time I get to enjoy honey mustard is when my meat-eating boyfriend, Ben, orders meat and I steal a french fry and quickly dunk it in his honey mustard before he can get that pesky chicken in it.  Because once it touches the meat, it becomes contaminated and I wont eat it.

It was time I bought some honey mustard so I could enjoy it at home with my veggie chicken and feel like a normal meat-eating American.  And if I am going to buy honey mustard, might as well make it all natural and organic!

Annie's is a great brand that makes all natural foods.  They make things from gummy candy to mac and cheese.  

Look at those natural ingredients! Yum! It tastes different than regular honey mustard, you can tell it is all natural, none of those fake flavors.  It is really good and I love it with my veggie chicken!  I am not used to being able to eat food with honey mustard so I don't even know what else to eat it with!  But I will keep trying  it with new foods and looking for new ways to enjoy it!

Have you every tried Annie's Honey Mustard? What do you think of it?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Vegetable Pie

Good morning!  Today I have a really interesting and delicious meal for you.  This is Amy's Vegetable Pie Pocket Sandwich.  I love Amy's!  All the food is vegetarian and a lot are vegan too.  Everything is completely preservative free! You can't get better then that! Oh and of course everything by Amy's is delicious.  

I love these ingredients! No MSG, no preservatives and all organic!  

Amy's Vegetable Pie is like a chicken pot pie and a Hot Pocket all wrapped into one and turned vegetarian!  It is filled with peas, carrots, potatoes and tofu in a think sauce that is very similar to a pot pie filling.  It is fast to make and easy to eat!  Its great if you need a quick meal with some extra flavoring and lots of flavor!  

Will you be picking up Amy's Vegetable Pie?

Bye from the veggie side!

Awareness Wednesdays. What's Hidden in Yogurt.

Hello all! Today's post is about yogurt.  If you are a vegan, that is already a food that you have cut out of your diet, but us veggies still eat it.  However, if you don't read closely you'll see that most yogurt might not be vegetarian.  What is in it that makes it not vegetarian? You guessed it - gelatin.

Yoplait Yogurt

Right there in the middle, Kosher gelatin!  What is Kosher gelatin you might ask.  Well if you are familiar with Jewish traditions and eating Kosher, you would know that it is not Kosher to consume and dairy products with meat.  This threw me off.  Of course gelatin is meat, and yogurt is dairy, so how can this possibly be Kosher?  For a few years right after I became a vegetarian I still ate yogurt because I figured Kosher gelatin must not have any meat in it, like a veggie alternative.  Otherwise it couldn't be Kosher. Problem solved.  When I got older I did some research and I found out what Kosher gelatin really is.

Kosher gelatin is made from animal skins and bones, not from the actual "meat" of the animal.  Therefore it is Kosher to eat it with dairy since it its not actually meat in the Kosher sense. It also has gone through so many changes that it can no longer be considered "meat" by Kosher standards (Credit). 

So there you have it.  I might be considered Kosher, but it is certainly not considered vegetarian.  As a rule, I will not eat any yogurt that I can't read the ingredients before hand, like at a restaurant, since you can never be sure if there is Kosher gelatin in it.  

Still want yogurt? Well me too! But that is not a problem.  Many organic yogurts do not have any gelatin in them.  My favorite brand is Stonyfield.  They make delicious and organic yogurts that are always vegetarian.  The come in a lot of flavors too so it is easy to find ones that you will like

Will you be cutting out regular yogurt and opting for an organic and vegetarian brand?

Bye from the Vegie side!   

Amy's Samosa Wrap

A Samosa is a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, ground lamb or chicken.  No meat here!  Samosas are a great vegetarian food since they are filled with the essentials like potatoes and lentils, and they are also very flavorful. Now I could show you how to cook them, but that is too much effort and I am all about the ease of vegetarianism.

Amy's is an amazing food brand.  They make everything from frozen meals, to soups, and everything they make is organic and vegetarian.  They also make a lot of vegan foods too!  What I love about Amy's is that there are ZERO preservatives!  Most people bash frozen food because they think its filled with preservatives, but you wont find any in Amy's foods.

Today I made a samosa wrap.  The samosa wraps are individually packaged and frozen, and are part of Amy's collection of Indian foods.  It has all the vegetarian samosa fillings PLUS tofu, inside a vegan wrap.  What can be better?

As you can see everything is organic and vegan and preservative free.

These wraps are delicious, filling, and very easy to make! A few minutes in the microwave and you have an amazing vegan meal!  How easy is that?

Bye from the veggie side!