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[	Tags	|	3.5 stars, amy's, breakfast, dairy-free, organic, vegan, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	cold	]

This is the final product for review sent to us by Amy's marketing manager Michelle Erbs. Thanks again Michelle!

Amy's “Meatless Breakfast Patties”
“Made with organic grains and vegetables and just a hint of Italian sausage spicing, Amy's patties are really delicious. And of course, they can be eaten any time of the day, not just for breakfast!”
-110 Calories/ 1 patty serving
-6g Total Fat

Molly Says: These are probably my second favorite meatless breakfast sausage replacement. I throughly enjoy the texture of Amy's burgers, and these patties are made in the same fashion. The microwaving directions require you to place the product on a plate and wrap the plate with vented plastic wrap. While this might be inconvenient for some, it is also a vital part of the microwaving process. I ignored this suggestion the first time I made one of these patties and wound up with something that was difficult to chew and flavorless. Moral of the story is: Follow the directions. These patties are flavorful and juicy (when properly prepared.) While the sausage flavor is not as strong as in the Boca meatless breakfast patties (my #1), it is better than the Yves variety. The texture is much like homemade sausage (closer to, yet better than, the Yves “sausage”.) Again, these are not like my beloved Boca patties, that are more like a juicy (greasy) McDonalds patty. The greatest disappointment of this product is the calories. It is no larger than the competition's products, but somehow has the caloric count of TWO of the other products (Two Boca @ 120, two Yves @80!) For my money (and appetite) I am much better off with eating two Boca patties than one Amy's patty. Thats not to say this product is not without its good points. It is dairy-free (the only one that is dairy-free) which makes it a great option for people on vegan diets. I would recommend you try these patties if you are someone with a small appetite. I would not likely buy this product myself.

I give Amy's “Meatless Breakfast Patties”

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As a lover of Helen's Kitchen's tofu, I have been slowly trying to sample all of their frozen meals. Rich was disappointed by his Thai style Helen's Kitchen meal so I took this one on myself.

Helen's Kitchen “Indian Curry”
-With tofu steaks over rice.
-300 Calories
-8g Total Fat

Molly Says: Helen's Kitchen has been both fantastic and mediocre for me. While I really enjoyed the Mexican style “Cheese Enchiladas”, I wasn't incredibly impressed with the “Farfalle & Basil Pesto” and Rich was very much unimpressed by the “Thai Yellow Curry.” Helen's Kitchen has meals all over the spectrum and this meal falls somewhere in the middle. I was largely unimpressed with this meal, but I did not find it offensive or completely poor tasting by any means. The rice in the meal was of a decent texture and the serving size was fairly large. It's just your standard white rice, but it is texturally appealing which is really all you can ask. The curry mixture was confusing. As I ate the meal I recognized that there was no flavor that I would describe as “curry”, and I found myself having a difficult time thinking of this meal as “Indian” at all. The sauce was not spicy. In fact, it almost tasted sweet. The tofu was delicious and as was, the sauce was somewhat flavorful. It just didn't taste like what I thought I had signed myself up for; that being, Indian cuisine. Overall the meal was mediocre. No portion of the meal had any presence, though the tofu was delicious, as I now expect from Helen's Kitchen. This meal is, at best, on par with a standard non-organic/inexpensive frozen meal with poorly translated ethnic flavors.

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[	Tags	|	5 stars, dairy-free, itailan, organic, pasta, rising moon organics, vegan, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	calm	]

For dinner last night I FINALLY tried Rising Moon Organics “Organic Lasagna”
“Made with organic PRIMAcotta soy ricotta and organic pasta”
-380 Calories
-10g Total fat

Molly Says: I've had this meal in the freezer since just after Thanksgiving and for whatever reason (likely the barrage of Amy's meals we received in the mail...) I've passed it over time and time again. Last night I finally found myself craving Italian (and willing to be satisfied with the lesser frozen Italian.) The microwave directions are simple. Cut a one inch slit in overwrap and microwave for five minutes. This went on without incident, which is something we rarely notice and I feel should be appreciated (especially after having several explosive meals and hours of back-breaking scrubbing of the inside of the microwave...) In the interest of full disclosure I must add that I did garnish the top of this lasagna with Parmesan cheese, dried basil and red pepper flakes. Though the addition of these ingredients surely made the meal more appealing to me, it would have been plenty tasty without. The sauce was somewhat chunky and punchy- but not overly acidic. The PRIMAcotta soy ricotta replacement tasted NO different than an average (actually quite good tasting) ricotta cheese. Basil is mixed into the smooth PRIMAcotta mixture making it sweet and delightful. The noodles were noticeably better than most other frozen noodles. They had a distinct homemade-style texture. They were not as thick as some brands, but instead, were delicate and light-which worked well with the rest of the meal and was, in my opinion, ideal.

I give Rising Moon Organics “Organic Lasagna”
* * * * * 5 of 5 stars
For its chunky, homemade style sauce, delicious PRIMAcotta soy ricotta replacement and delicate noodles. Yum!

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Today I made Rich hot dogs for lunch and in true American spirit, I made myself a big fat burger* shipped to me free of charge by Amy's marketing manager Michelle Erbs.

Amy's “Quarter Pound Veggie Burger”
“Amy's Quarter Pound Veggie Burger combines fresh organic grains and vegetables with protein-rich soybeans and a hint of barbecue sauce to create a firm, great tasting burger that's perfect for barbecuing or grilling.”
-220 Calories
-5g Total fat

Molly Says: I don't know many burly Uncle Hanks who are also vegetarians so this burger seems almost excessive. If this burger serves a single purpose I think it is to coax skeptical husbands into the realm of vegetarian meat substitutes. I imagine some meat-loving man ripping into this massive burger, practically assaulting the bread, and then looking me in the eye and saying “not bad”, a true compliment from such a man. But I digress. These burgers are huge and only appropriate for the most well trained appetite. They taste much like the “Texas Veggie Burger”, but on a larger scale. Contrary to the Amy's description, I found that this burger became quite soft in the microwave. Not to the point of being overly mushy, but I'd still never call this burger “firm”. The mixture of grains, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, walnuts, celery and potatoes (along with various other grains and spices) made this hearty burger truly delicious. The touch of barbecue sauce only sweetened the deal. Still, I was ready to put it down slightly over half way through the burger. Sappy, frail vegetarians and vegans beware, this burger packs a punch and demands an appetite more manly than mine.

I give Amy's “Quarter Pound Veggie Burger”
A 5 star salute * * * * *!
Though my appetite may be more suited for this burgers little brothers, this burger is hearty and delicious.

*or big, fat, hearty, delicious, mega-veggie-burger.

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[	Tags	|	5 stars, amy's, indian, organic, tandem review, vegan, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	busy	]

(Rich and I are both sitting at our computers eating this meal. He has his own, as do I. Lets see how it sized up to our eclectic palates.)

Molly:Ready? ANNNDDD TASTE!
Molly:The Paneer is interesting. That was my first bite. It was a little softer than I've had. More flavorful I think. It seems like it's absorbed more of the sauce.
Rich: Definitely. It tastes like it was cooked in the sauce for a while.
Molly:It was cooked in the sauce DUH
Molly:The rice has a great texture. This is the best frozen rice I think I've ever had.
Rich: Yes. I think the rice tastes just as good as the Indian restaurant we go to. Not too dry or moist; just perfect.
Molly:The potatoes have a really strong flavor in the spinach. I love how everything in this meal does so well on its own. The little ball of spinach doesn't violate the rest of the food unless I want it to.
Rich: I disagree about the potatoes. I think they seem a little mild. Just a little, though. The spinach is great. There are some mild spices on it, making it really tasty.
Molly:I think this is the first meal that included rice in which I felt satisfied. This meal is filling and the 5-6 bites you get of the Indian sides are enough to make you crave Indian food (side note, we need to go to Kabob and Curry soon...)
Rich: The sauce itself is a standard Tikka Masala. It doesn't quite pack the same spice punch that the sauce in the Tandoor Chef meal does, but it comes close. It's milder in heat, also.
Molly:I found that this sauce was quite a bit thicker too, which I liked. It gave it bulk and helped to fill me up better. I agree with you on the spiciness though, it wasn't nearly as spicy as some other Tikka sauces. That said, it still tasted really great to me.
Molly:Wow. I just finished. Why did we wait so long to eat these again?
Rich: I think this is a great meal for people looking to venture into the world of Indian cuisine. It's a very mild heat, which can be a concern for some people.
Molly:I think that anyone who appreciates Indian cuisine could really enjoy this meal also (this includes Rich and myself.) The translation of these staple vegetarian preparations is outstanding. It lacks the heat that you might get at an Indian restaurant, but the flavor is there in full force.

Molly:I give this meal 5 stars for sure. It tasted nothing like a frozen meal. The rice was some of the best I've had, frozen or otherwise; the Paneer was soft and flavorful, the sauce was thick and rich and the spinach and potatoes were a match made in heaven.
Rich: I'm also giving this meal 5 stars. This is fantastic, and you really can't tell that it's frozen. Hopefully our local store will decide to carry this meal.

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Another Amy's Breakfast bowl delivered thoughtfully by Michelle Erbs, Amy's Marketing manager.

Amy's “Rolled Oats” Hot Cereal Bowl
“Amy’s mom’s favorite breakfast is old-fashioned rolled oats, which inspired us to create this tasty oatmeal bowl. Amy’s oatmeal is cooked to perfection to create that familiar blend of textures: smooth and creamy with just enough definition. Amy’s oatmeal is more than mere comfort food. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber and iron, with no cholesterol. So take a minute and comfort yourself.”
-220 Calories
-3.5g Total Fat

Molly Says: Amy's has really taken the frozen breakfast market by storm. They hit it out of the ballpark with their newest “Hot Cereal” Bowls. These “Rolled Oats” are the closest product to oatmeal, making them the most familiar to my palate. When I first took them out of the microwave I feared that Amy's may have struck out. The texture was initially gummy and the meal was frankly, not great looking. After adding my toppings (walnuts, brown sugar and frozen raspberries) and mixing everything together, the meal resembled delicious oatmeal both texturally and by appearance. I took my first bite and found myself channeling Goldie Locks, even saying out loud “This porridge is JUST RIGHT.” The texture of the oats was sensational. This was another breakfast bowl that was begging to be customized. As the raspberries and brown sugar melted into the cereal, it only became more flavorful. The serving is gigantic by oatmeal standards. I did a side by side comparison of this bowl to Quaker “Simple Harvest” breakfast cereal packets and surprisingly, the calories per recommended serving are reasonably close. Quaker clocks in at 160 calories per 1.48 oz serving. Amy's easily trumps the competition at 220 calories per 9oz serving. WOW! Amy's product is equal to over 6 servings of the unprepared packets of Quaker breakfast cereal. If you were to prepare the oatmeal packet equivalent to Amy's “Rolled Oats”, you would have to make approximately six and a half packets at a whopping 1040 calories. Amy's Kitchen, how do you do it?

I give Amy's “Rolled Oats” Hot Cereal Bowl
* * * * 5 of 5 stars
Hands down, the greatest  breakfast cereal on the market, easily standing above the competition with its massive portion and low calorie count (and awesome stand alone flavor made better by customization.) 

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[	Tags	|	5 stars, amy's, breakfast, non-dairy, organic, vegan, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	cheerful	]

Once again, Michelle Erbs (marketing manager extraordinaire) of Amy's Kitchen, has filled our freezer with palate pleasing frozen meals. Michelle has sent us a HUGE box full of Amy's newest creations. Not only did she send us a generous box full of what will undoubtably be AMAZING meals, she also sent two of each. Expect tandem reviews from 

sgt_easton

Amy's “Steel-Cut Oats” Hot Cereal Bowl
“Steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oats, were first domesticated in Europe 3,000 years ago and became the staple crop of people in those regions. Now Amy’s is bringing the tradition of this hearty oat into your kitchen. Full of texture and packed with nutrients, steel-cut oats do not go through the processing steps of rolled oats, so they retain more of the nutrients, flavor and texture of the whole oat grains. They take more than half an hour to cook on the stove top, but you can heat this hot cereal bowl in only minutes.”
-220 Calories
-3.5g Total Fat

Molly Says: What a wonderful surprise it was to wake up to a HUGE box from Amy's Kitchen with breakfast packed carefully inside. After a quick game of ennie-meenie-miney-moe, I popped the steel-cut oats into the microwave. I was instantly impressed with the cooking time. If you've ever cooked steel-cut oats on your stove top, you know its a lengthy and delicate process. Amy's has somehow managed to put all other steel-cut oats to shame with their generous serving of steel-cut oats straight from the microwave. This bowl easily contains a single serving that is three, if not four times the size of a packet of regular oatmeal. The calories are so low, this meal is practically begging to be customized. I added some frozen raspberries and maple syrup to mine. The oats are slightly sweetened with an organic agave nectar, so they could just as easily be enjoyed without adding toppings (but where is the fun in that!?) The oats were awesome. I have never experienced a hot breakfast cereal with such diversity in texture. This was not only delicious, it was interesting! I loved the way a grain or oat would pop in my mouth from time to time. As my raspberries melted into the cereal, it only became more delicious. Whats best is that I was absolutely full, and felt amazing after eating this hot cereal. Great care was put into making this hot cereal equal in quality to the home made version, and you could taste that effort. I would definitely urge all of you to give this hot cereal a try. All it takes is 4 minutes and a little creativity and you'll have a customized breakfast worthy of the most picky eaters.

I give Amy's “Steel-Cut Oats” Hot Cereal Bowl
* * * * * 5 of 5 stars
For its diverse texture, speedy cooking time and whole grain, organic sweetness that makes you feel energized and ready for a good day.

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[	Tags	|	4.5 stars, amy's, breakfast, organic, tofu, vegan, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	busy	]

I let Amy's “Tofu Scramble” pocket sandwich stay in the fridge for far too long. Had I anticipated that it would be so pleasing, it would be a staple in my diet by now.

-”A pocket sandwich filled with organic tofu, flavored with golden tumeric and bits of sautéed organic vegetables… onions, shiitake mushrooms and sweet bell peppers. Non-dairy/no cholesterol.”
-180 calories
-6g Total Fat

Molly Says: Oh tofu scramble, my avoidance of you says nothing of my love. You're edgy, with a tough, somewhat fear inducing appeal that says “I'm tofu AND scrambled eggs, what of it?” (Anyone else picturing this pocket in a bad-boy leather jacket?) This pocket is surely some kind of a vegan miracle. Cheese-less and egg-less yet somehow so satisfying. The tofu eggs are delightfully surprising. Very egg like. They did have a kind of “mass produced” flavor (think Eggbeaters or McDonalds scrambled eggs) which in terms of eggs is kind of an average, not upsetting/not amazing flavor/texture- but because this is tofu, it's superb. Really quite the accomplishment for Amy's kitchen, not that I'd expect anything less. The pocket pastry is pleasing, as always. Soft in the middle and crisp at the edges. It has the usual floury, pie crust qualities that Amy's pockets have become known for. The shiitake mushrooms (known for their fantastic flavor) come through beautifully in the pocket. Though I'll admit that I didn't really SEE tons of them in the pocket, their presence was tasted and very pleasant. The bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and broccoli were all tasted as well. They came together to create a very pleasing and healthy flavor. I'll absolutely try this pocket again and I recommend it to all of you. The calories are low and the pocket tastes sensational. The texture is pleasing and it will fill you up for sure.

I give Amy's “Tofu Scramble” in a pocket sandwich
4.5 of 5 stars
For its tasty pastry, delightful and surprising tofu “eggs” and delicious vegetables, though their physical presence was somewhat scarce.

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[	Tags	|	5 stars, american, amy's, dairy-free, gluten free, organic, vegan, vegetarian, veggie-burger	]
[	Feelin'	|	cheerful	]

Amy’s “Bistro Veggie Burger” comes in to polish the company’s recently tarnished image. With a sixty second trip to my microwave, this burger has reinstated my dedication to Amy’s as an organic company who does it right.

Amy’s Kitchen “Bistro Veggie Burger”
-“A good veggie burger is hard to find. And finding a great tasting veggie burger, especially one that is gluten free and contains no dairy, is even harder to do. This veggie burger is made with organic, brown rice, pinto beans, and plenty of mushrooms and a touch of barbeque sauce to give it that ""just off the grill"" flavor.”
-90 Calories (wow!)
-2.5g Total Fat

Molly Says: The good thing about Amy’s kitchen is that even if you get a terrible meal, the chances of getting a second terrible meal are slim to none.  I was finally able to find the elusive “Bistro Veggie Burger” in Syracuse while visiting my Father for the holiday. I plan on talking to the local store and asking (read: begging) them to stock these burgers. The “Bistro Veggie Burger” is probably the most texturally appealing of the entire line of Amy’s burgers. It has a hot off the grill, crisp (caramelized) exterior, and its interior is softer, comparable to a medium-rare burger. The flavor of this burger is nothing short of a miracle. The mixture of mushrooms, nutty brown rice, pinto beans and BBQ sauce is enough to make your mouth scream for more. This burger really has it all! It’s also VERY low in calories (though I never would have realized that had I not looked at the nutritional label.) This burger easily rises to the top spot in my top three favorite Amy’s burgers. Bistro, California and Texas (veggie burgers) are my very favorites, but this “Bistro Veggie Burger” will always have a special place in my heart (and tummy!)

I give Amy’s “Bistro Veggie Burger”
***************************************************
(a whole crap-load of stars)
For its stupendous “hot off the grill” texture, punchy, savory flavor and redemption of a previous disaster-meal.

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[	Tags	|	5 stars, amy's, dairy-free, organic, vegan, vegetarian, veggie-burger	]
[	Feelin'	|	content	]

This will be my final Amy’s burger review for the time being as it was the last of the burgers available to me in my local store. If I come across the “Bistro Veggie Burger”, “Breakfast Patties” or “Quarter Pound Veggie Burger”, I’ll be sure to pick them up and review them as well. Without further adieu, the final installment of my trip across the country ends on the west coast with Amy’s “California Veggie Burger”.

Amy’s “California Veggie Burger”
-“A savory blend of grains, organic vegetables, mushrooms, and walnuts. Non-dairy/no cholesterol.”
-140 Calories
-5g Total Fat

Molly Says: These were all five star burgers without a doubt, but this burger was probably tied for my favorite with the “Texas Veggie Burger.” I didn’t have high expectations for this burger. Maybe it’s my New Yorker blood (and pessimist NY attitude) that led me to believe that this burger could have potentially tasted like smog and protest signs, heavily processed into non-beef patty form. I’m VERY happy to report that California tastes MUCH more pleasant than I had expected. I’m having a difficult time coming up with a description that will accurately portray how delicious this burger was. The texture was ideal, as was true of each Amy’s burger I sampled. This burger was thick, and softer than some others. The grain/vegetable/nut mixture was delectable. This burger had an incredibly savory/hearty flavor that was bold and rich, as well as complex. The mushrooms added an earthy undertone to the burger which complimented the nutty-ness of the walnuts and the savory mixture of the grains and other vegetables. Unlike some other burgers that I’ve tried, this burger has an enjoyable aftertaste. I can still taste the savory burger on my breath (unlike Gardenburger patties. It took me a week to shake their “dog food” flavor on my palate.) It is very likely that I’ll eat another one of these burgers for lunch (EDIT: And I DID!). If you’re planning on trying Amy’s veggie burgers, I would highly recommend starting with either the “California Veggie Burger” or the “Texas Veggie Burger". Though they were all delicious in their own right, I think my two favorites will absolutely blow you away!

I give Amy’s “California Veggie Burger”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Amy's Kitchen sets a high standard for veggie burgers, and so I name them... KING OF ALL VEGGIE BURGERS!

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I had planed to review this burger a few days ago but I piled scrambled eggs on top of it and didn’t feel like I would be giving this burger a review that would do it justice. I ate another “All American Veggie Burger” for lunch today and I’m glad to say it was the star of the meal.

Amy’s “All American Veggie Burger”
“Firm, hearty, and perfect for grilling or barbecuing. Made from fresh organic grains, vegetables and protein rich soy. Just the thing to satisfy the most avid burger fan. Non-dairy/no cholesterol.”
-120 Calories
-3g Total Fat

Molly Says: I began my “trip across the country” with Amy’s burgers days ago, and each day I have been more and more impressed by them. As you can see, I ate an open-faced veggie burger sandwich today. I really wanted to taste this burger so I ate it plain. Amy’s boasts that this burger will “satisfy the most avid burger fan” and that its great for “grilling or barbecuing.” Well I’ll do you one better Amy’s! Its also great for microwaving and eating plain on a cheap slice of bread! This burger has a grilled texture (crisp on the outside and soft in the middle.) PERFECT! The burger had great flavor and texture. It was onion-y, nutty, very savory and deeeeeeeelicious, even plain. This burger had fewer calories than the Gardenburger “Grillers” (my once go-to burger) and was light-years better (texture, flavor and sustainability.)  

Eat.

These.

Burgers.

I give Amy’s “All American Veggie Burger”
* * * * * 5 of 5 stars
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm