I've had a bit of a lazy strange food day, scraps of things and cravings for lots of junk food! The cooking class I had been looking forward to was supposed to be happening tomorrow night, unfortunately they've had to rearrange it. This put me in a bad mood, naturally I had to drown my sorrow in crisps and TV. If I look on the positive side, it means I have more time to experiment with food on my own before the class. Maybe I'll be in a better situation to take on the knowledge? To be honest, I'm just a bit bummed no matter the positive spin I try.
For dinner, I decided to have a proper comforting and warming dinner. I had some help from Amy and her Kitchen, they have a great line of frozen dinners and soups that are predominantly Gluten Free. Some are also Vegan too, I think they might be extending that range which is great as I love their Burritos!
Here's a review on their products...*
Availability of Product:
The Amy's Kitchen range can be found in pretty much all frozen free from sections in any supermarket. Obviously it does depend on what you are looking for as that varies. I find that my products are somewhat harder to find, as always the Gluten Free only range is always the stronger line. I'd imagine nothing less, for I am a rarity! (I have to revel in my unique-ish-ness occasionally)
I usually find the Burritos and the newly found Enchiladas in Holland & Barrett, they always have a good selection for Free From. The Burgers I found in Asda, with a selection of their ready meals.
To really hit the jackpot you need to visit Ocado (like with many of the brands I talk about) as you can get every single meal from the range apart from the Enchiladas. I can only assume they are another of the Holland & Barrett specials. Having just looked on Ocado there was so many ready meals and soups available, such as a new Gluten Free Vegan Mac n Cheese. Definitely the place to go if you have a good size freezer and a deep pocket!
8/10
Quality of Taste:
I have always looked forward to enjoying something from the Amy's Kitchen range. It isn't usual for me to have anything from them in the Freezer as I can't always get to H&B or Ocado. So when I do, it is something to look forward to! I have tried a fair bit from the range, mostly the Soups, Burrito and the Manhattan Burgers. I try to steer clear of too many completely ready meals, I like to have to make at least a part of my dinner. Like today, I made Potato Wedges to go with the Enchiladas. Had I known the size of them, perhaps I wouldn't have though!
To make things easy, I will sum up my thoughts on each product I have tried below. Rather than paint them all under the same brush...
- Low Fat Split Pea Soup - This Soup is one I always order when doing an Ocado shop. It is simple, one of my favourite vegetables and great for when I am not feeling well. As for the taste, it is pretty good though it isn't the most flavoursome. I tend to add a bit of salt and pepper to give it more of a kick. Nonetheless I still order it and my cupboard will always be restocked with a can of it.
- Low Fat Lentil Soup - Very similar to the Pea Soup, with it's texture being similar throughout and the flavour needing to be kicked up a little with some salt. Again, I like it as it is something different plus with some Rice Cakes it makes a good small meal.
- Hearty Rustic Italian Vegetable Soup - Now this Soup is brilliant, I would eat this for a dinner when I don't want to cook. It isn't something for when you aren't hungry because blimey do they pack a lot into the tin! There are juicy sliced Mushrooms, Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Peppers, Rice and Kale, all still in pieces not blended which I prefer. I like that it has a bit of chewing involved, makes it feel more like you've eaten! Their flavour is great without needing anything added. My favourite Soup of the bunch!
- Hearty French Country Vegetable Soup - Very similar to the one before, just without so much packed in. I find the flavours to be just as good, though I prefer the Chickpeas in the Rustic to the Beans in this soup. I also find this one a little harder to locate in Supermarkets, yet the Rustic is nearly always there.
- Gluten & Dairy Free Bean and Rice Burrito - This is the Burrito that first introduced me to Amy's Kitchen. I found this in the States when on a trip in Florida during my introductory stage to this lifestyle. I always scoured the freezers for something new and easy to cook, I was delighted when I found this. It's a quick bite that tastes delicious, packed full of Beans, Rice and Spices. The wrap itself is quite soft, not too thick to be a casing, though it does ooze out a little so I eat it with a knife and fork. It tastes even better when you add some melty cheese to it in the last minute of cooking in the microwave!
- Manhattan Veggie Burger - This burger is something that I cannot get out of my head. It is simply out of this world and spectacularly divine. To me it is the real thing, one bite into it and I was blown away. It's so packed full of flavour and the texture is perfectly symmetrical to what I remember a burger to be. Of course, I'm not saying I miss the meat, I miss the simple act of having a burger that isn't dry, full of beans or crumbling out while I'm eating it. It can be made into anything, I for one can't wait to try to make some Aubergine Bacon and put it in for a Smokey BBQ Bacon Cheese Burger! By a clear mile, this is my favourite Amy's Kitchen product. They appear to have mastered the Gluten Free Vegan burger with ease.
- Black Bean and Vegetable Enchilada - I thought this would be similar to a burrito, actually it's more of a meal. Covered from top to bottom in a spicy sauce, wrapped in a Corn Tortilla filled with Black Beans, Vegetables and Tofu. Simply full to the brim with flavour in every bite. My only wish was that there were more fillings than Tortilla as the balance seemed a little off. I still enjoyed it though, nice to finally have some Tofu in a ready meal!
8/10
Ease of Cooking:
I can't complain about preparation for any of their products, they are all complete within 10 minutes of putting them in the microwave or on the hob. They are simple to open, cook and then eat.
My only complaint, if anything, would be that they are too easy to cook. When I have those burgers in my freezer they don't last longer than a week. How could they when they cook in a singular minute?!
10/10
I know I talk a lot about dropping ready meals and not eating too many of them. Some days, there is nothing you can do to please your stomach and a good readymade Burrito, Burger or Enchilada is what is needed. I am still new to completely treating my body better and like anyone I make mistakes.
What I must say is that I never make any stupid mistakes, I am always Gluten Free Vegan. That is what I do not and will not alter from at all. My health is too important for that. When I do slip up, it will be I've had too many crisps or not had any fruit that day. In someone else's eyes, it isn't anything big but to me I try everyday to improve my cooking and my diet. A good balance will only help me feel better in the end. Mind over matter should be my motto but when you're not feeling 100% that mind does make a strong fight!
Happy Veganuary Day 27 everyone! On the final stretch now, I hope you are keeping with me!
*I've not got many pictures, borrowed some from Amy so apologies for the quality!