Sesame Kingdom - Mediterranean Spreads

Spreads! So many ways to use spreads and so many spreads out there. But, I don't think I've ever bought a spread made mostly of sesame seeds. Sesame Kingdom is a new company that is providing super delicious, healthy spreads made with sesame seeds as the foundation. None of us are new to tahini--that amazing sesame seed-based spread that we love to eat with our falafel, but have you ever had flavored spreads with sesame seeds? I hadn't, that is, until now.

Sesame Kingdom sent me three of their five flavors to try. Instead of incorporating them into salads or spreading them on pancakes or French toast, which sounded delicious, I wanted to eat them on some crusty French bread to get the full flavor.

The one that is the purest sesame flavor is the Mighty Date. Made with just organic sesame seeds, date syrup, and spices, this one is made with tahini lovers in mind, but is thick so you can use it as a base for sandwiches or as a dip for crunchy veggies. It is very good.

The Carob Chocolate is simply sesame seeds, carob syrup, cocoa, extra virgin olive oil, and spices. This one would be delicious on strawberries, raspberries, or drizzled onto pancakes. It is a nice balance of the carob and cocoa and is not overly sweet, which I appreciate.

But, my favorite is the Beet with Za'atar mostly because it is different and has an unusual, but amazing flavor. Made with sesame seeds, dates, beets, extra virgin olive oil, and spices, this one has so much flavor that putting it on a plain baguette is perfect!

I love that all of their spreads are vegan, gluten-free, and made with mostly organic ingredients. Sesame seeds are a great source of copper and manganese and a good source of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, molybdenum, vitamin B1, selenium and dietary fiber. So, if you are seeking a healthy snack or spread, look no further. Sesame Kingdom sells the spreads directly on their website for $12.99 each. I'm hooked!

Full Disclosure: Although these products were provided to me for free to review, that in no way influenced my veracious opinion.

Singha Thai Cuisine, Moab, UT

While in Moab, a friend of mine kept raving about a Thai restaurant and insisted we dine there. Singha Thai is located off the main street in an unassuming location. With just a simple red hanging sign and the word "Open" illuminated in the window, we walked in, hoping to grab a seat for dinner.

They weren't that busy, but asked us to wait a few minutes as they cleaned the tables. The small dining room had enough seating for at least 11 parties of four.  In a simple dining room with dark wood tables and pictures of Thailand on the walls, we took our seats.

The server was very helpful in identifying the vegan dishes, of which there were a lot. We started with spring rolls made with veggies. They were pretty simple and the peanut sauce was runny, so I wasn't so impressed.

For my meal, I ordered the Ka Prow (sans fish sauce) and I must say that this dish impressed me. I order the same thing at most Thai restaurants so I have many years of data and this dish was exquisitely made. Loaded with green beans, red peppers, fresh basil, and some of the best fried tofu I've ever had, I was very pleased with my dish. I loved the option for brown rice as well.

Out of all the places I've eaten in Moab, this one will certainly be remembered as one of my favorites. It's an unassuming place with really good entrees, a nice atmosphere, and great service.

Singha Thai
92 E Center Street
Moab, UT 84532
(435) 259-0039

Cast Iron Black Bean Loaf

It was a chilly evening, so I rooted through my newest cookbook to see what kind of hearty dish I could find when I stumbled across the Cast-Iron Black Bean Loaf. This ridiculously filling dish comes to us from Easy Vegan Breakfasts & Lunches by Maya Sozer.  Loaded with quinoa, black beans, veggies, and topped with a ketchup sauce, it's like the meatloaf your mother didn't know how to make. Makes a great main dish with a side of roasted broccolini.

Cast-Iron Black Bean Loaf
Serves 3-4

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 2 Tbsp tamari
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 Tbsp arrowroot starch or cornstarch
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Ingredients for Sauce

• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup or agave nectar

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Heat the oil in a cast-iron pan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add all the rest of the ingredients, except the sauce ingredients, and cook, stirring, for another minute. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and spread over the black bean loaf. Bake for another 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Moab Brewery, Moab, UT

Heading to Moab to jump off the mesas made for one anxious Angela. Luckily, my friends were ready to keep me in check and the first place we headed was Moab Brewery. Thinking I'd just have a drink and hopefully an appetizer, I was pleasantly surprised to find this place to be very vegan friendly!

This restaurant is huge! And when we arrived, it was overflowing with people. Luckily, we were able to snag a couple of seats at a table with friends who had already been seated. Score! I ordered a glass of wine and hung out with my friends. I know it is weird to order wine at a brewery, but it was what I was in the mood for, so there.

This place was loud and fun and a great place to go with friends. When it came time to order, I went with a simple Vegetarian Chili, which is vegan as-is.  When it arrived, I was not prepared for a huge bowl of beans and very little veggies! The description stated, "thick and chunky, made with lots of veggies," but, lo and behold, this was a bowl of beans!  It was good, but I definitely had upset bean tummy later on.

Later that week, we decided to grab some carryout from that place too. My friend called and ordered the Veggie Burrito without cheese, rice, or sour cream. But, when we got back to the hotel room, it had cheese in it. That did not make me happy. The guy who served us pushed our new order to the front of the line and had a vegan burrito ready when we arrived again. He was very apologetic so I was very forgiving. This one was good - made with broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, walnuts, and pineapple in a flour tortilla with chili on the side. Definitely filling, if nothing else.

Other items that are or can be made vegan are hummus plate, black bean soup, assorted salads, hummus wrap, and veggie wrap. The veggie burger is not vegan.

My burrito was $9 and chili was $5 -- super cheap. The service was as good as I think it could have been given how slammed they always are. And the atmosphere is just fun! It's a great place to go with friends to hang out and have a great time!

Moab Brewery
686 South Main Street
Moab, UT 84532
(435) 259-6333

Easy Vegan Breakfasts and Lunches by Maya Sozer

Easy Vegan Breakfasts & Lunches by Maya Sozer is a great book that seeks to provide the reader with easy-to-make vegan breakfast and lunch items. The photography is great and the recipes really are easy!

I tried two recipes.  The Cast-Iron Black Bean Loaf is a ridiculously filling dish. Loaded with quinoa, black beans, veggies, and topped with a ketchup sauce, it's like the meatloaf your mother didn't know how to make. Makes a great main dish with a side of roasted broccoli rabe.

The second dish I made is the classic Indian dish, Chana Masala. It is packed with spice! Be sure that whomever you are serving this to is a lover of Indian spice and, if so, they'll love this. And you'll love it too because the rice takes longer to make than the dish itself. In just a few minutes, you'll have a dish fit for a dinner party.

Other delectable recipes include Day Dream French Toast, Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes, Eggplant Quinoa Black Bean Burger, Curried Veggies, Better Not Squash Mac and Cheese, and Cozy Quinoa Lentil Minestrone.

I, honestly, can't wait to try more recipes. You can order Easy Vegan Breakfasts & Lunches on Amazon for just under $13. Well worth it.

Full Disclosure: Although the book was provided to me for free to review, that in no way influenced my veracious opinion.

Explore Cuisine

Explore Cuisine, the leading alternative pasta brand, just came out with a bunch of new products and I was excited to try three of them.

Their Pulse Pastas are made from organic lentils and chickpeas, which makes them high in protein and a great source of fiber and iron. Flavors include Red Lentil Penne, Green Lentil Penne, Chickpea Fusilli, and Green Lentil Lasagne. I tried the Red Lentil Spaghetti. I felt these noodles had a nice flavor, but not the best texture as the noodles stuck together immediately and got hard after removing from the pot of boiling water. I saved some for the next day and when I heated them up in the microwave, they were actually softer than when I first boiled them. Funny how that worked. I liked them much better the next day!

Next, I tried one of their Soybean Noodle Soups. I did not love this soup. I guess I'm just not a big fan of dried soups anymore as I eat mostly fresh food nowadays. These gluten-free, vegan meals contain 20 grams of protein and only 3 grams of fat. But, they lack flavor.

Lastly, I tried one of their Bean Pastas--the Edamame and Mung Bean Fettuccine. I loved this pasta! Made of just edamame and mung beans, these noodles were soft and had great flavor. I just made the recipe on the side of the box that is made with avocado, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and olive oil and it turned out great!  Other flavors include Black Bean Spaghetti and Soybean Spaghetti.

All in all, I'm excited about having more vegan and gluten free pasta options and can't wait to try more. To order the noodles on Amazon go here. They are also available in stores nationwide.

Full Disclosure: Although the products were provided to me for free to review, that in no way influenced my veracious opinion.