Category: Lifestyle

Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins Recipe

Happy Food Friday! Today I am excited to share a recipe with all of you. I recently ended up with an overripe banana, and that meant it was baking time! I did a search of the web for some banana muffins, but all of the recipes I found required at least two bananas, and I only had one. I decided to create my own recipe based off of THIS simple one from PETA. I’ve made these Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins a couple times now, and today I’ll be sharing this easy and delicious recipe with you!

This recipe is not only simple to make, but it uses ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. What’s great about using applesauce in baking is that it works like an egg to hold the batter together, and it also keeps the muffins really moist. You do not taste a strong apple flavor in these muffins. Instead, they taste just like traditional banana bread! These are a great breakfast treat for anyone, whether you are vegan or not. I love enjoying them with my morning coffee!

Print Recipe
 Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins Recipe
Delicious banana applesauce muffins made from simple ingredients. These are perfect for breakfast or snack time, and are great to bring for brunch! Even your non-vegan friends will love these muffins!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Vegan
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Cook Time 20 Minutes
Servings
Muffins
Ingredients
  • 1 Ripe Banana
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 2 cups Flour
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Vegan
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Cook Time 20 Minutes
Servings
Muffins
Ingredients
  • 1 Ripe Banana
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 2 cups Flour
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 360º.
  2. Mash banana in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add applesauce, vegetable oil, and sugar to banana and mix well.
  4. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking soda.
  5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until blended.
  6. Pour batter into a greased or lined muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Share this Recipe

I hope you enjoy this recipe for Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins! If you try this recipe, I want to know. Tag me on Instagram HERE so I can see your photo.

What do you make with overripe bananas? Let me know in the comments!

5 Reasons to Read the Balance Keepers Trilogy by Lindsay Cummings

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you one of my new favorite book series, the Balance Keepers by Lindsay Cummings. I’ve followed Lindsay’s YouTube channel for years now, and when I found the first book in this series at a library book sale, I knew I had to scoop it up. I don’t read a lot of middle grade novels, so I was nervous this wouldn’t be the series for me. I am so happy to say I fell in love with the Balance Keepers, and I hope to encourage more people to pick up these books. Here are five reasons why you should read the Balance Keepers trilogy by Lindsay Cummings!

The Balance Keepers trilogy is a middle grade fantasy series consisting of The Fires of Calderon, The Pillars of Ponderay, and The Traitor of Belltroll. You can read my full, non-spoiler review of the first book in the series by visiting my Goodreads page HERE.

1. Imaginative Magic System

The first reason I love the Balance Keepers trilogy is the unique magic system. This series takes place in the underground world known as the Core, which works to ensure the Earth above is safe from danger. Our protagonist Albert is a Balance Keeper, and he must work to restore any imbalance in one of the three realms to keep Earth safe. Each Balance Keeper gets one magic power by diving underwater to retrieve a tile with a symbol on it. Whenever you wear your tile in the Core, you get to use its magic power! There are tiles that allow you to speak with animals, tiles that give you an incredible memory, tiles that help you swim, and many more. I loved seeing this magic system come to life, as it encouraged the characters in the book to work together to solve problems.

2. Strong Friendship

Speaking of the characters, another reason to read this trilogy is the strong friendships represented in the story. Albert is put onto Team Hydra with a boy named Leroy and a girl named Birdie when he arrives to the Core. These three become fast friends, and it is wonderful to see how much they care for one another. They work as a team to keep the Core safe, but they also support each other and build each other up if one is feeling sad. It’s also wonderful to see Albert, Leroy, and Birdie grow as friends throughout the trilogy!

3. Exciting Adventures

Another reason to read this series is the aspect of adventure. In addition to competitive training simulations, Team Hydra is always on the move around the Core to discover more information and learn all they can about this new place. Each book also ends up with a trip inside a magical realm, where Albert, Leroy, and Birdie must figure out how to deal with the realm’s unique geography and creatures to help restore its balance. I really enjoy adventure-filled stories, and the Balance Keepers trilogy always keeps me turning pages for more!

4. Magical Creatures

If you are an animal lover, you are going to adore this trilogy! In addition to a wide variety of interesting creatures, this series features a special dog named Farnsworth. While he looks like any normal dog, Farnsworth can actually live for many, many years, and he also has flashlights for eyes! Farnsworth is Albert’s companion creature, and goes with him everywhere he possibly can. It’s so sweet that Farnsworth plays such a big role in the series, and I loved reading about him and the other creatures of the Core.

5. Strong Writing

Last but not least, I think this series stands out because Cummings has a great writing style. This trilogy is aimed at middle grade readers, so it does cater to that audience in terms of the tone. However, the writing can definitely appeal to adults as well. I was very impressed with how Cummings weaves her storylines together. While there is one over-arching plot in the Balance Keepers series as a whole, each book also has a smaller plot that concludes nicely. In addition, I found the series to be quite unpredictable. I could never guess what was going to happen next, and that kept me wanting more. I’m also inspired to read more of  Cummings’s books now that I know I enjoy her writing!

  I hope this blog post introduced you to a new series, and that you will give it a try! These are just some of the reasons I adore the Balance Keepers trilogy, but there are many more, including the character of Pap, Albert’s adorable grandpa. Whether you are already a fan of middle grade fantasy, or you are looking for something out of your comfort zone, I think the Balance Keepers will keep you entertained from start to finish. Please be sure to let me know if you read the series!

What is your favorite middle grade fantasy book? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Campbell’s Well Yes! Italian Vegetables with Farro Soup Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I’m reviewing another vegan food product for all of you, and this time I have some soup! I’m always on the hunt for a good soup to have on hand in the pantry, and I discovered that one of the new Well Yes! soups from the brand Campbell’s is vegan. I thought the Italian Vegetables with Farro sounded delicious, so I grabbed a can and got to eating. Let me share my thoughts on this soup with all of you!

Well Yes! is a line of soups from Campbell’s that are created with nutrition in mind. I absolutely love the clear labeling on these cans, which states whether the soup is vegan or vegetarian, and also shares that the can is BPA free and the soup is made without preservatives. The Italian Vegetables with Farro is the only variety of Well Yes! I found that is vegan, but I’m excited that Campbell’s has at least one soup directly catering to vegans. This soup in particular features tomatoes, white beans, carrots, red peppers, and zucchini. Each serving has 4 grams of protein, which could definitely be better.

The first thing I noticed about the soup is how amazing it smells upon opening the can! The soup has a really nice flavor, and I like the ratio of vegetables to beans to grains. On its own, the soup is not very filling. The broth is definitely on the thin side, and that was the main drawback for me. I felt like the soup was not a complete meal on its own, partly because the broth is so light, but also because I would like a more nutritious meal. Thus, I repurchased the soup and added it to some whole wheat pasta as a sauce. That was an okay idea, but it still wasn’t great. Overall, although I think the soup is tasty, it’s not something I would have on a regular basis. Instead, I would keep it on hand for sick days, or days when I’m really in a pinch for a meal.

I hope this review of Campbell’s Well Yes! Italian Vegetables with Farro Soup was helpful to you! I purchased this can for $2.49, which is more than I would like to spend for prepared soup. As I mentioned, this is a nice item to have on hand in the pantry, but I would not eat it regularly. I am very glad that Campbell’s made this vegan option, and I hope the brand will release more vegan soups in the future!

What is your favorite kind of soup? Let me know in the comments! 

Marshalls Haul | Vegan Food & Beauty

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I have a haul to share with you. I recently went to Marshalls for the first time in quite a while, and I couldn’t believe my luck. I discovered a plethora of vegan food products, and some vegan beauty products, too! While I knew Marshalls sold some food, I had no idea my local store had expanded to include a few isles of goodies, many of which are vegan. There were so many tasty treats available that I had to limit myself to a few things. I’m so excited to share with you my vegan haul from Marshalls!

FOOD

Cybele’s Free To Eat Chocolate Chunk Brownie Cookies – $3.99

This box of cookies started the haul for me. When I saw vegan Chocolate Chunk Brownie Cookies on the shelf I just knew I had to try them. These cookies are from the brand Cybele’s, which specializes in products that are free of the top eight allergens. I’ve already tried all of the food products in this blog post, and I’m happy to report I really enjoyed these cookies. They were such a nice treat, and I think the price was good for a box of 12 cookies considering this is a boutique brand. I stopped by the brand’s website and there are coupons available HERE if you would like to try them for a discounted price!

The GFB Gluten Free Bites in Dark Chocolate Coconut – $3.99

Next I grabbed this bag of Gluten Free Bites in the flavor Dark Chocolate Coconut. I’m sure you will notice that many of the vegan products I feature on the blog also happen to be gluten free, but I do not eat a gluten free diet. It just so happens these two dietary restrictions overlap in many specialized foods! I thought these bites sounded delicious, and I was right. It felt like eating cookie dough, and I loved the coconut outside with a gooey inside. Plus, two bites have 4 grams of protein, which is pretty good in a mini snack. I also saved a dollar buying this product at Marshalls, as a bag retails for $5.00 on the brand’s website HERE.

Pereg Quinoa with Spinach – $2.99

The last food item I purchased was a Quinoa with Spinach packet from Pereg Natural Foods. I needed to get at least one meal option instead of snack food, right?! This quinoa was really tasty, and very easy to make as it comes with all the spices pre-mixed into the packet. I am surprised to learn that this product sells for $4.80 on the brand’s website HERE, meaning I saved nearly $2.00 by shopping at Marshalls! I also got two meals out of this, stretching my dollar even further. First, I made the quinoa for dinner and sautéed some broccoli and garlic to make complete the meal. I then finished the leftovers for lunch the next day by adding the quinoa to a salad for added protein! I would definitely buy this product again, perhaps try the other flavors as well.

BEAUTY

Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths – $2.99

Last but not least, I stopped by the beauty section to see if there were any products I needed to try. I found a lot of great vegan options, but limited myself to one new-to-me product. I purchased a pack of the Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths because I thought they were an amazing price at $2.99. As it turns out, I got a great steal! These clothes retail for $6.99 on the brand’s website HERE. I saved $4.00 by shopping at Marshalls. I think this is because Eco Tools has new packaging for this product, so the products with the old packaging are now discounted. I’m so excited to use these cleansing cloths whenever I travel, or perhaps on days where I really need a clean brush but don’t have the time for a complete cleansing session. I’ll be sure to report back once I’ve tested these!

That wraps up my latest Marshalls Haul! I still cannot believe I found all of these vegan products for such great prices. I know some people are wary about buying food at stores like Marshalls, but so long as you check the expiration dates and ensure the packaging is in good shape you shouldn’t have any problems. All of the food I purchased was well within the expiration dates, and they tasted fresh! If you are struggling to find some treats that meet your dietary restrictions, I highly recommend seeing what your local Marshalls has to offer. I know I will be going back whenever I’m in the mood to try a new product, especially a yummy treat like cookies!

What unexpected finds have you discovered at Marshalls? Let me know in the comments!

Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheeze Review | Vegan & Gluten Free Mac and Cheese

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I am excited to share a review of the Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheeze with you. A few weeks back I had a craving for boxed macaroni and cheese. Yes, boxed mac and cheese specifically! I know there are some vegan varieties out there, but unfortunately my local grocery store doesn’t carry any. I luckily spotted the Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheeze in the freezer section, and internally squealed with joy! My mac and cheese craving was about to be conquered!

This box was a bit expensive at $3.69, especially when compared to what boxed mac and cheese normally costs, but it was worth it for a special treat! Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheeze is not only vegan, but it is gluten free and soy free as well, so it’s great if you have a lot of food allergies. This is, of course, a junk food, and it is very high in fat at a whopping 22 grams. Luckily, it has 8 grams of protein, which I think is pretty good for this small container. Once I got home I noticed that the product is made using Daiya cheese. I think Daiya has a very specific and acquired taste, so I was a bit nervous about how this would be. Luckily, I really enjoyed it!

Here is what the Mac & Cheeze looks like once it is cooked. I used the microwave, but it can also be made in a conventional oven. It may not look that appetizing, but it’s quite delicious and definitely satisfied my mac and cheese craving! I love how creamy the sauce is, and the pasta has a nice texture to it. I don’t think I’ve ever had rice pasta before, but it’s really tasty in this dish. I wouldn’t say this tastes exactly like non-vegan mac and cheese, but it is a close substitute for sure.

You can tell I am a big fan of this product because I repurchased it the next time I went to the grocery store! This time I added some sautéed broccoli and chickpeas to the pasta to add some more nutrients. It was absolutely delicious! I will definitely be experimenting with this more in the future. I bet there are a lot more combinations that would taste great and also make the meal a bit healthier.

All in all, I’m very happy with the Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheeze! If you need to satisfy a mac and cheese craving, this is a great way to go. I will be sure to buy this again in the future, but I’m also hoping my grocery store will get a boxed vegan mac and cheese, since that will be a more affordable option. I also plan to try to make my own mac and cheese at home, but sometimes I just love the boxed variety!

What is your favorite vegan mac and cheese? Let me know in the comments!

Oh, Hello Stationery Co. Makeup Bag Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to share with you a makeup bag from one of my favorite small businesses, Oh, Hello Stationery Co. I first stumbled upon this online store in the planner community, and have purchased the brand’s stickers for nearly two years now. Oh, Hello has since expanded its product line to include enamel pins, mugs, and more. One of the newest available products is makeup bags! I was sent one as a gift from the company, and couldn’t wait to show it off here on my blog. I think many of you will love these fabulous and affordable makeup bags!

The Oh, Hello makeup bags are made from neoprene material, similar to many laptop and tablet cases. Each bag features an original design from the brand on the front panel, and a solid black background. While there are 10 designs available for purchase on the Oh, Hello website HERE, if there is a pattern from the brand that you enjoy, you can email the shop for a custom order. I picked out the design called Sage Victorian, which is from a past sticker kit. In addition to choosing a design, you can also opt to customize the bag with your name or a short quote.

The first thing I noticed about the makeup bag is how big it is! The bag measures 9.5 x 5.75 inches, and I put a standard size Ipsy bag next to it in the photo above so you can see how it compares. I appreciate that the bag comes with a sturdy zipper as well, so I don’t need to worry about it opening in my suitcase during travel.

I wanted you to see the size of the makeup bag in action. I put together the makeup products that I would bring with me for a vacation, and they all easily fit into the bag with room to spare. When I travel with this bag, I will also put in my makeup brushes! I can’t believe how much easily fits into this bag. The one thing I don’t like about the bag, however, is also something I do like, and that is the lack of structure. I like to organize my items when packing, but with this makeup bag everything is just thrown in due to the stretchy fabric. That being said, this stretch allows you to pack products that are all different shapes and sizes, as the fabric adjusts to the shape of the items. Thus, while I would ideally like a bag with more structure or compartments, I also love that the bag easily fits everything I need and more.

All in all, I am beyond happy with my new makeup bag from Oh, Hello Stationery Co.! This will definitely be my new go-to bag for travel. The makeup bag retails for just $13.95 on Oh Hello’s website HERE. This is a great deal for any makeup bag, but especially one from a small business featuring a unique design you can’t get anywhere else. If you shop this weekend, May 19 – May 21, 2017, you can save 25% on your entire Oh, Hello purchase through the Planner Boss Collective Sale (full details HERE). If you miss the sale, you can still save 15% using my coupon code POLISH15 at checkout any time. I look forward to using this makeup bag and buying some as gifts for friends during the holidays!

Do you have a go-to makeup bag? Let me know in the comments!

The product in this post was a gift from the brand. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Kashi Amaranth Polenta Plantain Bowl Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I’m excited to review another vegan food product with all of you. I recently spotted some new Kashi bowls at my local grocery store, and decided to pick one up to have on hand. I don’t know about you, but I always keep what I call “emergency meals” stashed in my freezer. There are just some days where I’ll be too tired to cook, or maybe I’m in a rush and don’t have time to cook. That’s when freezer meals really come in handy! The Kashi Amaranth Polenta Plantain Bowl not only sounded delicious, but it looked quite hearty for a microwavable meal. Let me share my thoughts on this product with you!

I found the Amaranth Polenta Plantain Bowl for $3.29 regular price. While that is a bit pricy for a frozen meal, it’s much more affordable than ordering takeout! This particular meal is inspired by Central American cuisine, and contains polenta mixed with plantains, black beans, sweet potato, and kale in an ancho chili sauce. I really appreciate that Kashi mentions it is vegan right on the front of the box so I don’t have to pay close attention to the ingredients list. It’s also great that this small bowl contains 7g of fiber and 9g of protein! I think that’s pretty good for one of my “emergency meals.”

Here is what the meal looks like after it is cooked in the microwave. I admit it doesn’t look too appetizing, but that’s mainly because of the stirring it goes through while cooking. I’m actually quite impressed with how delicious the Amaranth Polenta Plantain Bowl tastes! It is a bit spicy, so keep that in mind if you don’t like spicy food. The plantains are definitely the main part of the meal. The taste and texture almost remind me of the fried chicken I used to get at Chinese food restaurants! Overall, I think the mix of flavors is delicious. You get spice from the sauce, but the plantains and sweet potatoes add a nice sweetness to the dish as well. I’m quite happy with how yummy this quick and easy meal option is!

All in all, I definitely think you should give the Kashi Amaranth Polenta Plantain Bowl a try! I’ve repurchased this meal a few times now, and it is great to have on hand. Make sure to keep an eye out for sales and coupons as well – I scored these for 2 for $5.00 a while back! I hope you found this review helpful if you’ve been curious about this Kashi meal. I think it tastes great for a frozen dinner, and I’m going to continue to try more options from Kashi in the future.

Have you tried a Kashi bowl? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I’m excited to bring you a review of another new-to-me vegan product. I recently traveled on a quick road trip, and wanted to pick up a snack to bring with me just in case I found myself in a situation where vegan food wasn’t readily available. I found the Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie bars at my local grocery store, and decided to pick up a box since they sounded delicious, but also seemed like they could tide me over between meals if necessary. Luckily, I didn’t need to eat any bars during my trip as it was easy to find vegan options, but I’ve certainly enjoyed them at home.

I picked out the Peanut Butter Cookie variety of Lärabar not only because it sounded delicious, but because each bar contains 7g of protein. I think that is a good amount for one small bar, and knew it would be a nice item to have on hand should I need it during my road trip. I’ve never tried any Lärabar products before, so I was really amazed when I looked at the ingredients list on this product and saw only three things: dates, peanuts, and sea salt. Talk about simple ingredients! I also love that the packaging is very clear for those who are looking for a food product for a specific diet. This bar is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan, and kosher.

Here is a look at the bar itself. It doesn’t look amazing, but it really tastes delicious! I love dates and peanut butter, so I’m honestly not surprised that I like the bar. The texture is quite like a cookie, too. The bar is quite filling, but it is definitely a snack and not a meal replacement. I think this is a great bar to keep in your purse or at your desk in case you need a quick pick-me-up throughout the day. While it’s not as amazing as eating an actual cookie, of course, this Lärabar is quite yummy, and I love the simple ingredients.

All in all, I am a big fan of the Peanut Butter Cookie bars from Lärabar. They are a bit on the expensive side, so I do not plan to buy them regularly. However, I do see myself getting these for future trips, or for those times where I want to make sure I have food on me when there might be slim pickings on vegan options. I also look forward to trying other products from Lärabar! Please let me know in the comments if you have any favorites from this brand.

 

Book Review | Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux Inc. on February 23, 2017

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary

Format: eARC

Pages: 336

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★ 

Remember the places you touched me.

The parts of Mira Cillo that Ben touched are etched on his soul.

Palm. Hair. Chest. Cheek. Lips. Throat. Heart.

It was the last one that broke her. After her death, Mira sends Ben on a quest for notes she left in the seven places where they touched—notes that explain why she and her sister, Francesca, drowned themselves in the quarry. How Ben interprets those notes has everything to do with the way he was touched by a bad coach years before. But the truth behind the girls’ suicides is far more complicated, involving a dangerous infatuation, a deadly miracle, and a crushing lie.

REVIEW

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage is a young adult mystery novel surrounding the horrifying death of the Cillo sisters after they were found at the bottom of the quarry. No one knows why Mira and Francesca drowned – was it an accident or a suicide? Shortly after their bodies are discovered, Mira’s boyfriend Ben receives a letter from her in the mail. This letter is the first in a series of notes that Mira left in all of the places Ben touched her during their relationship. Ben must hunt down these letters to solve the mystery of the Cillos’s death. What follows is an extremely creepy and captivating novel that I absolutely loved.

I was instantly hooked by Savage’s writing style, and flew through this book in a few short days. The story is extremely fast-paced, and I really enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of this story with Ben trying to find Mira’s letters as soon as possible. Savage does an excellent job at creating a mysterious and ominous vibe. Even the letters that Ben finds are written so cleverly! I could never predict where the story was going, and that added to my enjoyment of the book.

I will say that I know this story is not for everyone. If you like books with a solid conclusion, Beautiful Broken Girls is not for you. In fact, I read many negative reviews of this book, and nearly every one mentions the open ending. For me, this ending was absolutely perfect for the novel. Not only does it add to the mystery, but it allows the reader to think of all the possible outcomes. What really happened? What didn’t? These loose ends only made me think about this book more and appreciate the rereadability of the story.

Moreover, I do question why it was necessary for Ben to be a survivor of sexual abuse. While this does play into the plot a bit, the story would still hold up without this storyline. Plus, the details surrounding this event are quite iffy. Ben mentions more than once that he never remembers the sexual assault happening, and that his name was just on a list. Thus, while I appreciate the author’s attempt to show the lasting effects of this trauma and how the survivor is treated in society, this storyline felt a bit out of place in the book for me.

Similarly, even though I loved the open-ending, I do wish we got more information about a couple things. Namely, the youth pastor, Mr. Falso, who plays a very important role in Beautiful Broken Girls. He is talked about less and less as the book goes on, and readers never get to find out what he does with the information he collects. I would also love an epilogue with the printing of a certain article, but I will leave out the details so as to not mention spoilers.

My only other critique is that I did find a plot hole in the book. In one scene, Ben mentions that he hasn’t seen his friend since a fight broke out earlier in the book. However, this friend was in another scene after that fight. I did not consider this minor plot hole when rating this novel, as I read an advanced copy and do not know if it was fixed in later editing.

Otherwise, I think Beautiful Broken Girls is a great mystery story that deals with interesting topics I don’t read a lot about in young adult literature. I could relate to the Italian family heritage discussed in the book, and perhaps that is why I felt a strong bond with the characters. This book is unbelievably sad, and my heart especially goes out to Mr. Cillo. I can’t imagine what he is feeling as this book comes to a close.

In the end, I absolutely loved Beautiful Broken Girls, and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a creepy mystery. Keep in mind that this book deals with serious topics, including sexual abuse, self harm, suicide, and more. However, this story provided me with a lot to think about, and the fast-pace kept me hooked from beginning to end. I am very interested to pick up Kim Savage’s other books, and hope to do so in the future!

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Affiliate links used. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Breyers Non-Dairy Oreo Cookies & Cream Review | Vegan Ice Cream!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Now that I’ve been vegan for eight months, I’ve started to get a bit more adventurous with food. I’m trying a lot more vegan products from the grocery store, and I’ve also tried more recipes this past year than I have in my entire life (seriously). I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on the food I’m currently trying with all of you here on the blog! Whenever I have a food post, it will go live on a Friday. I’m sure I won’t post a Food Friday every week, but I will keep my food related posts to Fridays from now on so you’ll know when to expect them. I recently found the new Breyers vegan ice cream at my local grocery store and scooped it up right away (pun intended). Let me share my thoughts on the Breyers Non-Dairy Oreo Cookies & Cream!

Breyers recently released two vegan ice cream flavors, which are technically called Frozen Almond Milk Dessert – Vanilla Peanut Butter and Oreo Cookies & Cream. While I do love peanut butter, I had to try the cookies and cream flavor first. This ice cream is almond milk based, similar to what is offered by Ben & Jerry’s. I have tried a few of the vegan options from Ben & Jerry’s, but unfortunately that ice cream is very expensive and, while delicious, does not mimic traditional ice cream’s taste perfectly. I just had to see if Breyers could do better, especially since this 1.5 Quart container costs only $3.49 regular price!

Here is a quick photo of the helpful icon on the side of the carton that mentions this is suitable for vegans. I always appreciate when products either have a vegan label or clearly state that the product is vegan. I’ve actually spotted some non-dairy ice cream products at the grocery store that still contain other animal ingredients, so I’m really glad Breyers is appealing to vegans directly!

Without further ado, let’s talk about the ice cream! I am absolutely in love with it! Breyers has so closely mimicked the taste of cow’s milk ice cream that I bet if you gave this to a non-vegan he/she wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. This Oreo Cookies & Cream is very creamy and sweet, and I can really taste the Oreos whilst eating it. I have nothing negative to say about it at all! I’m in love with this delicious treat, and I’m going to need to force myself not to pick it up every time I go grocery shopping. Huge thanks to Breyers for doing such an amazing job with this vegan ice cream!

If you’re able to find the new Breyers vegan ice cream at your local grocery store, I definitely recommend giving it a try. I hope Breyers will continue to release even more flavors in this line of products. It’s always really exciting to me when a non-vegan company begins producing vegan items. It shows that vegans have a big impact on the market! Additionally, I hope you enjoyed my first Food Friday post. I’m excited to share more about what I’m eating here on the blog, but I will, of course, keep the beauty posts coming as well.

Have you tried vegan ice cream? Let me know in the comments!