SHE’S GREEN JOHN BURKHART
HE’S GREEN
SUMMER GRILLIN'
Product reviews from our eco-conscious couple John & Jennifer Burkhart
JENNIFER BURKHART
Summer is synonymous with pool time, icy beverages, and grilling! Maybe you'll be celebrating dear ol' Dad with a family BBQ and need some ideas on what to grill? We've got a sample menu for you, complete with organic and all-natural ingredients. Happy Summer, and Happy Father's Day!
ORGANIC SUNSHINE BURGERS PLANT BASED, SOUTH WEST STYLE
HE SAID: If you don't like meat and you hate flavor, these
are your burger patties. These were tasteless and chalky by themselves. You'll definitely need to dress these up to make them edible. I slathered mine in mayo and mustard and ate it like a lettuce wrap and it was decent.
SHE SAID: I've always enjoyed the hearty, satiating taste of black bean burgers, and these definitely had that, too. Thankfully, I couldn't taste the jalapeños, bleh. If that doesn't make me a true native of the Southwest, so be it! The crumbly texture made it difficult to hold in a lettuce wrap, but I still liked them.
SIMPLY 7
ORIGINAL, ORGANIC HE SAID: I'm not joking when I tell you this bag was empty in
a matter of hours. Our kids love veggie straws, and these are pretty much the same thing, just in ruffled chip shape. Light and crispy with the perfect amount of salt. I think a bowl of sour cream onion dip would take these from great to amazing.
SHE SAID: If you've ever had veggie straws, these are exactly that, just shaped like warped frisbees. Our kiddos snarfed them up faster than I could say, “Grocery budget!” They were thick, had a soft crunch, lots of potato flavor, but a grainy mouthfeel. Very different than typical potato chips.
COLEMAN ORGANIC
SPINACH CHICKEN SAUSAGE HE SAID: If Popeye made bratwurst, this is what he'd make.
These were overloaded with spinach to the point that it overpowered the flavor of the chicken. Not a good one to eat by itself, but I could see these being good in a pasta dish.
SHE SAID: Our youngest didn't appreciate the “green
stuff” (shocker), so that was a bust. As for me, I thought they were delicious just sliced up, and dipped in stone ground mustard. But with the versatile, savory flavor, you could definitely add these to many dishes.
REED'S
ALL NATURAL JAMAICAN STYLE GINGER ALE HE SAID: This quarantine has made me an expert on ginger
beers/ales, especially when they're combined with lime juice and vodka. This one was the tastiest ginger brews I've come across. I think the pineapple juice they add to this is what made it so good.
SHE SAID: I am SO not a fan of spicy ginger anything, so
I was apprehensive about this ginger brew. Well, consider me a convert, wow! It had a mild ginger flavor, and honestly reminded me of that refreshing taste of Sprite. Perfect for those hot summer days. Fun tip: add some vodka and freshsqueezed lime juice for a delicious Moscow Mule.
NIMAN RANCH
CHORIZO UNCURED SAUSAGE HE SAID: I'm pretty sure Niman's ranch is in the middle of
Death Valley, because these sausages were nearly dehydrated. Now, overcooking could have been a factor, but in my defense, the cooking instructions on the package are very vague. My advice if you try these—lightly pan fry them, do not grill.
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greenliving | June/July 2020
SHE SAID: Grilling chorizo sounded fancy, like something you'd find on a grill platter at a trendy restaurant. We had to try it. Sadly, these links dried out (“griller” error?). Even so, I enjoyed the not-too-spicy flavor, and would buy them again, but I’d sauté them next time.
greenlivingaz.com
