Here's another new vegan product I picked up while on vacation: Road's End Shells & Chreese. I bought a box of their Cheddar Style Shells & Chreese to see how it would compare to my regular homemade version from Ultimate Uncheese
(a perennial shmoo favorite).It was so easy to make! I boiled the noodles, tossing in some frozen peas and corn at the end, drained it, then added some plain nondairy milk and the flavor packet. Just like a conventional box of mac & cheese! The instructions called for just 1/4 cup of nondairy milk, but the pasta still seemed too dry. I added at least an extra 1/4 cup before getting a nice, smooth consistency.
On the side are baby carrots with Vegenaise and dill for dipping, fruit salad, and three Mi-Del Ginger Snaps
for dessert.Verdict: Whipping this up took no time at all, but how would the flavor compare? "Hey, this tastes just like the macaroni and cheese that you make, Mom!" shmoo said. High praise for Road's End, from both the cook and the consumer. 5 stars.
I love them, too! Definitely kid friendly!
ReplyDeleteMac and chreese is a staple at our house. My hubbie can't cook so that's what he makes whenever I'm out. It's my daughters favorite. It's easy to mix with veggies and things. If you add a can of diced tomatoes (well about half a can, use your judgment) it tastes alot like spaghettio's, which is neat.
ReplyDeleteI'm always tempted to buy that boxed vegan mac and cheese, but always passed it up. Now that I know it's good, I'll be getting some! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog for a long time and I love it! This is my first time commenting though.
ReplyDeleteI have the ultimate uncheese cookbook and I was wondering which mac and cheese recipe you use?
>>I have the ultimate uncheese cookbook and I was wondering which mac and cheese recipe you use?
ReplyDeleteI use the "Amazing Mac 'N Cheez Sauce" and usually pour it over 1/2 lb. macaroni and 1/2 a package of frozen peas. It's yummy!
>>If you add a can of diced tomatoes (well about half a can, use your judgment) it tastes alot like spaghettio's, which is neat.
ReplyDeleteOoh, thanks for the idea! I actually hated Spaghettio's when I was a kid, but the diced tomatoes sound good!
I love Road's End Chreese! Granted, it's not a meal in itself but it sure is convenient! Perfect for a lazy Friday night dinner. I actually think it's a little bland so I add lots of medium salsa and it's delish. Seriously, try the salsa.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
it's crucial to always use soy milk and never water to make the chreese sauce! to add a bit more flavor and sneak in more veggies, it also tastes good if you use Imagine boxed creamy broccoli soup instead of soy milk to make the chreese sauce.
ReplyDeletealso, if you aren't worried about making it super healthy, it's even better with a bit of earth balance stirred in.
I saw that great article about VLB in VegNews. I was so excited to see such a great review there for you!
ReplyDeleteI hope news of the VLB spreads far and wide . . . and inspires people to make healthy, interesting lunches for themselves and their children.
Best to you!
Where is that cool spoon/fork from?
ReplyDeleteI use Road's End too, but I never follow the directions. I add Bragg's, flax seed oil (don't cook it), more nutritional yeast, more rice or soy milk, some red pepper flakes and most of the time I blend in some white beans or lima beans. We also add peas and carrots or broccoli. The kids love to help make it and it doesn't seem to pre-packaged if you know what I mean. I eat mine with hot sauce on it, but my kids go with or without the hot sauce depending on their mood. My husband refuses to eat it because it is from a box. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI love your fruit salads, they always look so good and yummy. But i have problems keeping several melons in the fridge. Do you buy them whole or halves? Any good, reuseable, melon storage tips?
ReplyDeleteNoticed the Mi-Del ginger snaps in there! If you haven't tried them, I recommend their chocolate snaps too, they're great.
ReplyDelete>>Where is that cool spoon/fork from?
ReplyDeleteThey are from REI:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=48111578&parent_category_rn=5777365&vcat=REI_SEARCH
Wow, this is a coincidence. Just as I was reading this entry I was eating some Road's End pasta. The alfredo style to be exact. You should try that - it is really good!
ReplyDeleteWe love their gravies, especially the shitake mushroom, which I use as a cream of mushroom soup substitute. My extended ode to their gravy is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://nowheymama.blogspot.com/
2007/02/gravy.html
I make my own cheeze sauce, and always add sauteed mushrooms to my mac and cheeze. Makes it seem almost elegant. Well, almost
ReplyDeleteWe are partial to the 123's and chreese. I add a bit of earth balance and chopped broccoli (even tho daughter says don't "do that again", she always eats it!
ReplyDeleteI love Road's end mac and chreese!! mmm! I always toss in frozen peas as well.
ReplyDeleteI always put the broccoli in the water first, (a whole head chopped up)by the time it's boiling for the macaroni, it all gets done at perfect timing and tastes so good too. My granddaughter loves broccoli with mac and chreese! She'll eat 2 big bowls of it.
ReplyDeleteRoad's End is so convenient and I love that it is packaged in post consumer recycled paperboard!
ReplyDeleteIf I have time and want to be decadent (or make a yummy dish for a potluck with non-veggies) I make the mac and cheese dish in The New Farm Cookbook with added broccoli, mushrooms and sauteed Gimme Lean sausage!
I just so happened to find a packet of chreese at a local whole foods store after i read this blog. the packet suggests grilled cheese and fake meat and cheese sub, but i thought, why not make it into mac and chreese? so i cooked some penne and put the chreese into it. added some soy milk and corn. it doesn't taste like kraft, but it's still great! best of all, my daughter thought it was great too! i'm going to give some to my son when he gets up from his nap! thanks for the great ideas!
ReplyDeleteSo do you know something about the Mi-Del snaps that I don't? My mom used to buy those for me when I was having tummy troubles (yay ginger) but then I noticed those pesky egg whites in the ingredients, and now they're only comfort food to remind me of mom on special occasions. You're talking about the dairy-free ones, right?
ReplyDeleteFollow the link in the post to the Mi-Del Ginger Snaps. The ingredients are listed; they contain no egg whites and are vegan.
ReplyDeleteThat looks great, let me know what you think about my rigatoni salad with fakin bacon..I've been vegan for 12 years so it's nice to see more sites like yours :)
ReplyDeletethanks for your info.
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