If you know the hubby, you know he loves pizza! Honestly, he could probably eat it seven days a week and never tire of it. Recently he started making his own dough (once he saw how easy it was and how full of junk and preservatives pre-made doughs can be). He loves doing it (not to mention eating the finished product) and he's getting pretty good at it!
Around this same time I've been doing my best to limit the amount of dairy in my diet (I've been a vegetarian since January 1, 2005, but am attempting to eat more vegan options recently - and, I'll be honest, cheese has been the hardest thing to remove). With that said, I picked up a couple different mozzarella cheese alternatives to try on the hubby's homemade pizza dough. I thought I would do a quick side-by-side comparison of the two brands I've tried thus far. {FYI - The almond option I bought is not vegan since it contains casein, which is a milk protein. If you were to adhere to a strictly vegan diet this would not be a possibility for you, but because I haven't cut dairy out completely I wanted to try it as an alternative.} PS The only reason I went with these two brands is because our local grocery store carries them. There are definitely more choices available, some of which I hope to try soon, but that's how I decided on these first two.
First up, the ingredients. Like I mentioned, the Lisanatti cheese does contain a milk protein, so is not considered vegan, but has an almond base. The Daiya cheese is completely plant-based, as well as being soy, gluten, nut and lactose free.
Next, the nutritional facts. They seem to be pretty comparable, but the Lisanatti cheese does have less saturated fat (0g vs Daiya's 2.5g), less carbs (3g vs Daiya's 8g), more protein (6g vs Daiya's 0g) and more calcium (20% vs Daiya's 10%).
A picture of the nutritional label from Daiya is on the left and Lisanatti is on the right.
Most important, the taste. I did a taste test of the cheeses on their own, as well as obviously on my pizza. My first impressions of the Daiya Dairy-Free Shredded Mozzarella Cheese was that it was a little waxy (which makes sense since many of the ingredients are different oils), but the taste itself was good. I wouldn't say it tastes exactly like standard cow mozzarella, but it had a cheese-like flavor. As far as the Lisanatti Foods Shredded Almond Mozzarella Cheese goes, I thought it nutty (which makes sense since it's made from nuts - duh!) Again, I wouldn't say it tastes perfectly like standard cow mozzarella, but I think that due to the texture being a little more like cow mozzarella it seemed more spot on than the other (then again, it has dairy in it, so that also makes sense). {PS I also had the hubby try both cheeses on their own and he thought the Daiya had more of a consistency of a hard cheese [think Parmesan] and the Lisanatti was spot on for texture with cow's mozzarella, but thought the taste was great with both [which, let's be real, he was not expecting].}
Not sure if you can tell from my crappy picture, but the Daiya is on the left (a little
more waxy look, maybe a little more processed feel) and the Lisanatti is on the right.
Daiya's mini pizza is in the back left and the Lisanatti's mini pizza is in the front right.
Once they were cooked on my pizzas, I thought that the waxy consistency of the Daiya's went away and it actually seemed a little creamier to me than the Lisanatti. The flavor was yummy on both of them. I would be interested to see had I not known these were mozzarella alternatives if I would have thought they were any different. I might have been able to pick out the almond based cheese because it was a little nuttier tasting that a cow mozzarella, but still delicious. (FYI - The hubby's homemade dough contains whole wheat flour, yeast, water, olive oil, salt and some herbs. Super easy but still delicious. I wouldn't say the crust is overly flavorful, so I was still able to taste the cheeses on each of the pizzas.)
The mini pies are ready to eat - YUM! The Lisanatti pizza is on the left and the Daiya pizza is on the right.
Along with flavor, I think the melt-ability and texture (especially if you are using them on a pizza) are also super important. As I'm sure you could see in the previous picture, both of the cheeses melted perfectly in the oven (we cook them at 530* for about 10 minutes). The Lisanatti pizza was in the back of the oven while the Daiya was in the front, which probably accounts for some of the browning of the Lisanatti cheese. The Daiya cheese had a little more "stretch" to it (you know, when you take a bite and pull the pizza away and some of the cheese stretches from the pizza to your mouth), which made it feel a little more like cow mozzarella to me. I thought the Daiya cheese seemed little creamier than the Lisanatti cheese once it was melted (it actually felt like it could have gotten stuck on my teeth a bit it was so gooey). I think originally I was worried that not only would the taste be off, but they wouldn't melt properly and the texture would be off as well. Thankfully I felt as though both mozzarella alternatives hit the nail on the head in all of the important departments.
I realize that vegan cheese has come a long way in recent years, but I was always a little nervous to try them (because, let's be real, I may have a slight addiction to cow cheese). I'm happy to report that I can definitely see myself making the swap with little to no issues (although eating out may be a little more challenging, especially at our favorite Mexican restaurant, but I'm taking it one step at a time). I think if I was planning on adding these cheese alternatives to something that wasn't going to be cooked, I would prefer the Lisanatti cheese due to the non-waxy feel, but if I was planning on cooking/ baking/ microwaving/ melting the cheese, I would be absolutely fine with either (and probably would even prefer the Daiya cheese, not just because it's completely plant-based but also because of the texture once warm).
This past weekend the hubby, pup and I went to Joshua Tree with some friends. I tried to unplug from social media (only logging on a couple times to post a couple pictures to my Instagram feed so my parents knew we were still alive ;)) and just enjoy the surroundings, the moment, the people. With that said, I have a ton of pictures and videos I thought I'd share. Before going to Joshua Tree (we've been a couple times now because the hubby loves the rock climbing there) I always thought it'd be boring, barren and blah, but I promise you, the desert is pretty fantastic (and it is definitely growing on me!)!
Our friends had already planned their trip and when we were hanging out a couple weeks ago asked if we wanted to tag along. We are always down to camp so since all of the bedrooms in the AirBnB were already claimed, we threw the tent in the car and decided to make it a bit of a "glamping" adventure (seeing as we were able to use the kitchen for cooking, the bathrooms to handle our business, the pool/ hot tub for relaxing, etc). A little camping, a little modern comforts.
Backyard camping!
Not a rough place to "camp"
No one really had any specific plans of what they wanted to see or do, but since the pups were able to stay in the house, we wanted to make sure we hit up some of the trails. (FYI - Dogs are not allowed on the trails in Joshua Tree, which means that in the past we've had to forgo some of the hiking because we had Walt in-tow.) We did some research and decided we wanted to see Skull Rock and the Keys View, as well as hike to Barker Dam and Wall Street Mill.
I'd hike that...
The last time we were in Joshua Tree I remember we stopped by Skull Rock because it was literally just off the road. Well, this time we thought we'd follow the trail signs (there were arrows pointing you on a trail, but the signs didn't say WHAT they were directing you to) and took a MAJOR detour. Instead of the 300 feet from the street, we probably wandered around the desert for an hour looking for a rock with two "eyes". But, hey, it's all about the journey, not just the destination (especially because the rock was a bit underwhelming after all of the climbing, scurrying, hiking and searching we did).
Kevin and I along our "300 foot hike" - HA! More like a mile plus!
There it is... Skull Rock... Eh....
Temperatures were still manageable (the high was 92* on Saturday, but in the summer it's easily in the triple digits within the first few hours after the sun rises), but even still we tried to keep our hiking on the shorter side to make sure we weren't burning ourselves out or running out of water while on the trails. The hike to Barker Dam was about 2 miles round trip and we saw plenty of nature along the way. One of the guys with us is actually a nature nut (okay, that isn't his official title, but he works for the wildlife preserves in Santa Cruz and is super knowledgeable when it comes to the animal world and plant life) so it was awesome to have him there, pointing out specific creatures (and geeking out over our finds).
Not much of a dam or much water there, but it was still cool to see.
The rock formations in the desert are so cool!
Did you know the Joshua Tree only grows in the Mojave Desert?! Something about that specific elevation.
Some of the trees were super big!
Ryan and Kevin! Buddies!
These are the views from Keys View (looking down into the Coachella Valley).
Around this time it was getting a little toasty and our energy was starting to ween, so we figured it was a perfect time to head back to the house to enjoy some of the amenities (like the pool and kitchen), as well as let the pups out to go potty. The crew didn't realize it when booking the AirBnB, but it was right outside the Twentynine Palms entrance to Joshua Tree which made it super convenient (especially because the main entrance can get pretty busy on the weekends).
Walt wanted to get out of the sun so decided my lap was the place to check out...
A different kind of pool.
After some maxin' and relaxin', it was time to head back into the park. We thought the Wall Street Mill trail sounded promising and I would say it was one of my favorites of the day. Along the trail there were some jalopy cars, dilapidated structures, history of a gun fight and tons of trees, rocks and wildlife to see. The gold mill at the end was pretty cool too (it was used back in the 40s), even if you can't go in it. In total it was a little over 3 miles, but that's due to all of our detours to see other things along the route (I think it was supposed to be a little under 2.5 miles if you stayed true to the course).
I think we came across 3 or 4 old, rusty cars and trucks on this hike.
Checking out the scenery.
There were no signs, so we don't know what this building was originally, but it was still cool to explore.
The old gold mine.
My dad would call this picture "artsy", I just liked the extra dimension of the barbed wire in front of the mine and rocks.
PS Originally we thought heading out early, before the heat of the day would be the best time to explore, but we quickly realized that the late afternoon was pretty magical. We came back to the park, after our lounging at the pool, probably around 4:30pm and it was perfect. The weather was much more manageable, the lighting was much better for photos and the creatures seemed to be out and about. Obviously both times have their pros, but we all liked the afternoon best.
So grateful these guys invited the hubby and I to tag along on their trip.
We were hoping to be done with the Wall Street Mill hike about 30 minutes before sunset so we could drive to a nearby campground to get some awesome views, but with our detours and delays along the way we didn't finish soon enough. Even still, we were treated with some pretty spectacular sights of the desert at dusk.
The desert glow is oh so purrrrty!
The desert was blooming from all of the recent rain we've gotten.
Joshua Trees are pretty cool no matter the time of day, but their silhouettes at sunset are pretty spectacular!
Sometimes sunsets aren't super exciting when the sky is clear, but the different colors on the horizon are still beautiful!
Goodnight Mr. Sunshine!
Eventually it was time to get back in the car and head to the house so we could make dinner and relax in the hot tub. (#RealTalk: Hot tubs gross me out. I don't like the thought of sitting in everyone's sweat so if I do get in one I can't stay for very long before I start thinking about it and get weirded out. With that said, I sat on the side and put my feet in ;))
Sunday morning the hubby was planning on doing some rock climbing/ bouldering in the park but by the time we got up, packed and ready to go, and he did some "research" on where he wanted to climb it seemed to be a little too late (meaning too warm), but we still drove through the park and enjoyed the views. We decided we'd head home instead of climb which meant we'd still have the afternoon to take care of some "adulting" and get ready for the upcoming week.
It wouldn't be a road trip without getting stuck in SoCal traffic and having the boys sleep through it all...
If you know me, you probably know that I do not enjoy spending money. With that said, buying our annual parks pass is one purchase that I never second guess. It is $80 {there are discounts for military, seniors, disabled, and 4th graders} and gets you entrance into the National Parks for a year (for entrance into Joshua Tree you would spend $30 {which allows you access for 7 days}, but that means if you plan to go to a National Park more than twice (or more than two separate Parks) you cover the cost of it - and even if you don't, the parks need our funding now more than ever!).
<3 National Parks are for lovers! <3
It may have been a quick trip, but the memories made will last a lifetime! Now it's time to plan our next great adventure!
This blog is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. The content and opinions expressed here are that of my own.
I get it, we're all busy, so that's why I thought I'd try a new {QUICK} recipe you can make with things you've probably got in your cupboard or on your counter. In fact, this recipe only calls for THREE ingredients and is a breeze to throw together.
You see, the hubby LOVES breakfast food. I, on the other hand, can take it or leave it. Besides pizza, I'd say he could eat breakfast foods (waffles, pancakes, cereal, etc) for the rest of his life and be totally content. With that said, although I may not want to partake in the brunch or brinner {breakfast for dinner} on a daily basis, I do try and cater a bit to his loves and desires (I mean, if it wins me "good wifey points" I can redeem at a later date it's totally worth it, right?! ;))
#RealTalk: The hubby normally makes his pancakes from a box, but there are those times when the mix has run out and I have forgotten to pick up more at the grocery store (I can't be the only one who walks in needing ONE thing and walks out with a cart full of items and the only one I needed is not in there, right?!). This recipe is PERFECT for those instances (or when you have extra ripe bananas you need to use or when you are enjoying the great outdoors on a camping trip!).
Like I mentioned, this recipe only calls for three ingredients, and you probably already have them on hand - Bananas, Oats and Almondmilk. I use the Shelf Stable Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almondmilk since we always have some handy in the cupboard [shelf stable almond milk, in addition to being ultra pasteurized, is packaged in sealed, sterile Tetra Pak cartons to allow it to be stored at room temperature when it's unopened], but I've also done it with the Almond Breeze Almondmilk Blended with Real Bananas if you want more of the banana flavor (and have some in the refrigerator).
As I'm sure you know, the hubby and I love camping and this is a perfect recipe for those mornings by the campfire (especially since the shelf stable almondmilk doesn't need to be in the cooler, making room for essentials like Reese's White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups for our s'mores ;))! I pre-blend the oats at home before we go and put them in a tupperware, that way all I need to do is "mush" the bananas before adding them to the almondmilk and oat "flour" mixture.
I eat mine with nut butter or jam, but the hubby is a purist and goes the butter and syrup route (in fact, he likes syrup so much I think he might be an elf ;)). No matter the toppings, this quick and easy pancake recipe gets two thumbs up!
I'm beyond blessed to work with some AMAZING brands! I'm not sure how I got so lucky, but I'm not about to kick a gifted horse in the mouth (shoot, I hope no one is kicking ANY horse in the mouth... and apparently that isn't even the saying...).
Over the past couple months I have been "hoarding" some of the goodies I have received so I could put them into a HUGE RUNNING GIVEAWAY for YOU! Hopefully there is a little something that everyone would be STOKED to receive, but instead of a bunch of smaller giveaways, this prize pack will go to ONE extremely lucky winner (if I do say so myself).
The brands aren't sponsoring or hosting this giveaway, but they've been kind enough to bless me with the gear that I'm passing along to you so essentially it's coming to you via a middleman {ME! ;)}. With that said, hopefully you'll show them a little love and continue to support them (whether that's with a social media follow or with your next running purchase).
So, because I'm sure you are all dying to see, let show the people at home what you could win (there will probably be a few more goodies in the box, but here are the things you can write home to mom about...):
Obviously not everything fit into this single picture, but it gives you an idea of the goodies the winner will SCORE!
Entering this giveaway is easy-peasy! Simply use the Rafflecopter widget below and cross your fingers. Some entries are available daily so I'd HIGHLY recommend entering early and often (and coming back every day until the giveaway ends).
This giveaway will run through Thursday, May 9th at 11:59pm PST. The winner will be contacted on Friday, May 10th via the email address on their Rafflecopter account and has 24 hours to claim their prize pack (make sure your information is up-to-date and you check your email regularly). US Residents only. All entries are verified, so make sure to do whatever the required action for the entry is or it will be disqualified. I'd hate for you to miss out on winning due to a technicality, so if you're going to click the option, make sure you do whatever it asks or a new, random winner will be selected in your place.
