Review: Hail Merry Strawberry Macaroons and OCHO Coconut Bars

When you're craving a strawberry treat, you hope your snack tastes as delicious as this macaroon from Hail Merry. It's a perfect bite.

My Vegan Cuts Snack box contained a wonderful treat from Hail Merry. The company's strawberry macaroons are little bites of chewy goodness that are bursting with strawberry flavor. 

You get the texture of shredded coconut with every chew, but all you taste is this beautiful strawberry flavor.

I haven’t tried many raw treats, but the few I have were not tasty at all. I was expecting not to like these macaroons, but they were exceptional. I would eat these all day, every day.

Another thing to keep in mind: All products sold by Hail Merry are free of corn, soy, and starches.

OCHO makes a scrumptious coconut dark-chocolate candy bar that's leaps and bounds better than a Hershey Mounds bar.

I purchased a box of eight OCHO Coconut Bars from Vegan Cuts. I was always a fan of Hershey's Mounds bar as a child, and when I saw these, I had to try them. It's been years -- decades even -- since I've eaten an Almond Joy or Mounds bar, but I do remember the overly sweet coconut filling and tasty chocolate shell.

The OCHO Coconut Bar did not disappoint. Not only is the product organic and vegan, but it's free of artificial preservatives and ingredients. Eat that, Hershey!

As you bite into the coconut bar, you get a slight crunch as you break the dark-chocolate shell. Then you taste the slightly sweet, gooey, coconut filling. You can feel the shredded coconut in your mouth, and the flavor is amazing. Before you know it, the bar is over, but you feel satisfied. That's not to say you don't want another bar right away, but you don't feel this addictive craving for another bar like you do with the conventional, overly sweet candy products on the market.

Well done, Hail Merry and OCHO -- well done!

Recipe: Cashew Cream

This homemade pizza is made by toasting the top of a naan bread, then adding pizza sauce, sliced sauteed mushrooms, thinly sliced baked tofu (to give the texture of cheese), spoonfuls of Alfredo cashew cream, and dried herbs. I then heat a pan with a little oil, put the pizza inside and cover with a lid. After 10 minutes on very low heat, the bottom crisps up, and the topping gets warm.

Cashews that have been soaked, drained, then blended with water or non-dairy milk produce a wonderful, creamy sauce. I made a batch of cashew cream the other day and have been able to apply it to a number of dishes.

When I make cashew cream, I first soak the cashews for at least 4 hours. If you want to make 1 cup of cashew cream, soak 1/2 cup of cashews, which you'll blend with 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water or non-dairy milk. From there, you can flavor your cream sauce in a number of different ways.

Plain cashew cream is a great substitute for heavy cream. I use plain cashew cream in my Curry Pumpkin Soup. I also use it when I make my vegan cheesecake (recipe to come in the next day)

Curry Pumpkin Soup

When I want more of a cheesy taste, I blend the cashew cream with a little salt and 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast (found in the baking aisle and not the same as bread yeast) or vegan Parmesan.

I microwaved washed asparagus in a bowl for 2 minutes. I then drizzled warm Alfredo cashew cream sauce over the top. I lightly salted the asparagus and added black pepper prior to adding the sauce.

Over some whipped organic mashed potatoes, I added sliced sauteed mushrooms, a pan-fried vegan "chicken" cutlet, and some Alfredo cashew cream sauce. I served asparagus alongside the potatoes.

Along with the vegan Parmesan or nutritional yeast, I also had the juice of half a lemon, a little nutmeg, black pepper, and one garlic clove (or some garlic powder). This produces a sauce similar to Alfredo.

So, if you're a new vegan, make sure to have raw cashews around. They'll add creaminess and depth to your soups, sauces, and desserts.

Review: Jem Raw Organic Nut Butters

My breakfast this morning: Bob's Red Mill rolled oats sweetened with Jem Raw Organic's Cinnamon Red Maca Almond Butter. The nut spread is perfect on fresh fruit, smeared on toast, or eaten off a spoon. 

My dinner last night: The crusty whole wheat bread, pungent raw onions, and fresh cilantro cut through the sweet -- but balanced -- barbecue sauce on the textured soy protein.

It probably wasn't until a few years ago when I tried something other than peanut butter with my jam. I tried almond butter and instantly fell in love. It's smooth, yet clings to the inside of your mouth. Since then, I've seen almond butter in its purest form, as well as mixed with spices and/or flavorful additions, such as chocolate. 

I don't recall exactly why I ordered Jem Raw Organic's Cinnamon Red Maca Almond Butter last year, but I think it might have had to do with the small-business appearance of the company and their apparent dedication to quality. Their nut butters are raw (meaning they're not prepared at a certain level of heat), organic, extremely smooth and creamy, have a slightly runny consistency, and come in four flavors -- all of which I've tried.

• Cinnamon Red Maca Almond Butter: This is my absolute favorite flavor. The creamy spread envelops your tongue, and you're hit with the cinnamon flavor and a pleasant sweetness that comes from the coconut palm sugar. I don't know what red maca (a strength and stamina enhancer) tastes like, but it must add to the overall amazing quality of this spread. I eat a little off a spoon if I want something small and sweet after a meal, and I've spread this on fruit and bread and mixed it in oatmeal and smoothies. 

• Macqui Camu Super Berry Nut Butter: Made from raw sprouted almonds like the Cinnamon Red Maca Almond Butter, this product is a close second as a tasty spread. It has a fruity taste that is very pleasant and cuts through the sweetness. 

• Coconut Cardamom Almond Butter: This almond butter definitely tastes like coconuts and cardamom and was more sweet than salty/savory. It worked perfect as a spread over my not-so-sweet white vanilla cake and as an ingredient in my smoothies. Those who enjoy eating Indian sweets will love this spread.

• Chocolate Hazelnut Spread: This nut butter is comprised of sprouted organic hazelnuts and is a wonderful replacement for Nutella and similar chocolate-hazelnut spreads. The organic cocao nibs are front and center as a flavor profile, so much so, that I found this spread to be more one-note when compared to the other spreads, which pulled your taste buds in different directions with the spicy, sweet, and savory components.

 

Follow Jem Raw Organics on their Facebook page to learn about discounts and free-shipping offers. I usually wait until they offer 10-20 percent discounts before ordering. Each 6 oz. jar costs $12.99. There are 1 oz. jars for $3.99. You might be able to find the nut butters cheaper on Amazon.