Tava Ghee

Several years ago, the Minx and I were wandering through an Indian market looking for exotic things to cook with. The lady behind the counter asked if there was anything in particular we were looking for. We replied, "no," but she started naming some Indian products we might be interested in. "Some ghee, perhaps?" The Minx's eyes lit up and she gratefully allowed the woman to lead her to the aisle with the ghee in it. After we left, I asked, "What is ghee?" She said, "It's like clarified butter." I thought she was going to say something more interesting considering how excited she got about it. It wasn't until later that I realized how versatile the product can be. 

Traditional clarified butter involves removing the liquid from butter through simmering and also separating the fat from the milk solids. Ghee retains the milk solids that are caramelized in the simmering process. Therefore, ghee has a nutty flavor and aroma. You can also flavor ghee for different cooking applications. Ghee is a staple of Indian cooking, but it can be used in virtually any cuisine as a replacement for butter or oil.

Recently, we received some samples of a new ghee product. Tava Ghee is an organic, gourmet, flavored spreadable butter that comes from 100% grassfed cows. Created by founder Raquel Tavares Gunsagar in her kitchen, she quickly turned her product into a highly successful business. Tava Ghee has since moved from Raquel’s home to a factory kitchen in downtown Los Angeles.

Along with the original ghee, there's also vanilla ghee, green chili ghee, and Himalayan pine salt ghee. We used the vanilla ghee in place of some of the butter in a chocolate cake to enhance the vanilla flavor. I even ate it on crackers. The vanilla flavor is subtle but pleasant, and there's no sugar added, so don't expect it to be sweet. I also used the green chili ghee for some shallow frying of my hand-cut French fries. I only seasoned the fries with salt and garlic powder, but the chili flavor from the ghee added a spicy element.

Tava Ghee is steadily popping up in specialty grocery stores across the country, but if it isn't sold in a market near you, you can order it directly from their web site.

* Any products in this post that are mentioned by name may have been provided to Minxeats by the manufacturer. However, all opinions belong to Minxeats. Amazon links earn me $! Please buy!



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Sheila G's Brownie Brittle

Have you ever found yourself nibbling on the crispy bits of brownie clinging to the pan after you've served up a fresh batch from the oven? Sheila G has. In fact, this is her favorite part of the brownie, so she decided to make a line of snacks specifically created to taste like those crunchy morsels there never seems to be enough of.

Brownie Brittle, as she calls it, comes in four flavors: Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate Chip, Toffee Crunch, and Salted Caramel. They're cracker thin and roughly square shaped, but tend to break apart into smaller pieces in the bag, much like real brittle. Despite their diminutive snack size, Brownie Brittle is intensely chocolate flavored so you won't need to eat too many to feel satisfied.

The Chocolate Chip flavor is the most reminiscent of a traditional brownie, but the crispy texture might also give you nostalgic memories of eating Coco Pebbles while watching cartoons on TV. The Toffee Crunch is also quite good with just enough toffee to give you the flavor without getting unwanted bits of gooey sugar stuck in your teeth. Salted Caramel is a hot flavor right now, so it's no surprise that Sheila G has a version of it. I just wish it had a tad more salt to drive home the contrast with the caramel.

After an unfortunate childhood incident where I ate a half gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream by myself and got sick, I've never been a fan of that flavor combination. However, in the interest of thorough reporting, I sampled the mint chocolate chip Brownie Brittle. To my relief, the mint is fairly subtle, providing a touch of refreshing support to the rich chocolate flavor. I could actually eat a few of these without any bad flashbacks. For mint and chocolate lovers, I'm sure this would be a favorite.

Sheila G's Brownie Brittle allows you to enjoy the flavors of a brownie with far fewer calories than eating a whole brownie square. In fact, a 1-ounce serving has only 120 calories. So if you go hog wild and eat the whole 5-serving bag, well, at least you'll still have a couple of calories left in your daily allowance for some vegetables. You know, for balance.

Later this year, Brownie Brittle will be available with holiday decorations. The mint, chocolate chip, and salted caramel versions will each have a chocolaty drizzle on top, to make them a little more festive.

* Any products in this post that are mentioned by name may have been provided to Minxeats by the manufacturer. However, all opinions belong to Minxeats. Amazon links earn me $! Please buy!



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B'more Organic Skyr Smoothies

Recently, we were approached by a new local company called  B’more Organic about their skyr-style smoothie which just hit the market. Skyr originated in Scandinavia and is a yogurt product made from strained skimmed milk.  It's high in protein, fat-free, and contains probiotics for healthy digestion. Those sensitive to dairy may find skyr more friendly to their tummies as it is lower in lactose than other dairy products. The Minx and I have tasted skyr-style kefir products before and were put off by the slightly lumpy texture and chalky taste. The people at B'more Organic assured us that their Icelandic-style skyr is rich and silky, so we thought we'd give it a try.

With 32 grams of protein per serving, zero fat, no added sugar, and naturally  occurring nutrients, these skyr beverages are intended to serve as a satisfying meal replacement rather than just a snack. Indeed, after imbibing an entire 16 ounce container (which is two servings), I felt quite full and was able to go about my day without any sense of lethargy.

Andrew Buerger, CEO of B'more Organic, came up with the inspiration for his product while on a hiking trip in Iceland. "I discovered the amazing flavor and healthy energy provided by  skyr, It was the first dairy product that did not aggravate my lactose intolerance and the protein content is incredible. I couldn’t wait to share this protein-rich treat with other active Americans!”

The smoothies come in five flavors: Vanilla, Café Latte, Banana, Mango Banana, and Strawberry Banana. I tried the strawberry first and was pleased with its bright, fruity flavor. The drinks are touted as having no added sugar, but they do include stevia extract. While not obvious in the fruity flavors, it can be tasted in the vanilla. As for the texture, it is pleasantly smooth, but I did get a hint of chalky after taste. Still, it was not enough to turn me off from drinking more.

Founded in Baltimore, B’more Organic is a certified B Corporation, dedicated to sustainable business practices. Their smoothies are USDA Certified Organic and GMO-free, using grass-fed organic milk  from small farms in Lancaster, PA. And if drinking a healthy, organic product isn't enough to make you feel good about yourself, ten percent of sales goes to Jodi’s Climb for Hope, a charity that raises money to fund research on breast cancer and Multiple Sclerosis.

* Any products in this post that are mentioned by name may have been provided to Minxeats by the manufacturer. However, all opinions belong to Minxeats. Amazon links earn me $! Please buy!



Posted on Minxeats.com.