Posts Tagged ‘Organic’

Sea20 Energy Drink

2 comments Written on October 15th, 2012 by Marisa
Categories: Drinks
Tags: Agave, Big Lots, Natural, Organic, Seaweed

Product: Sea2O Organic Energy Drink (don’t forget to disable the audio)
Purchased at: Big Lots (University Place)
Price: 40 cents (20% off the normal 50 cents)

Truth be told, writing reviews for beverages is always a challenge for me. Beverages can be easily divided into broad categories: alcoholic/non-alcoholic, fizzy/flat, sweet/neutral and of course, delicious/disgusting – which in turn provides little challenge for a review. At any given time, I generally have a collection of cans and bottles gathering dust on our shelves because they have nothing noticeable or extraordinary about them (I’ve since curbed my “buying-drinks-specifically-for-Clearance-Cuisine” habit). In fact, today’s product was purchased at least six months ago, but it’s still good. Still good.

When I buy a product for the site, I always try to pick things that err on the side of ridiculous, whether it’s a quirky ingredient, stupid slogan and/or mascot or a terrible Flash-based website that’s straight from the 90s. In this case, today’s feature drew me in because: the word “SEA” in the name (the sea is delicious, no?) and the concept of a non-caffeine based energy drink. After flipping the can around, I learned it also has ~organic seaweed extract~ which sealed the deal for me.

Sea2O is based locally in Bellevue, WA but I found the drink locally at Big Lots, a stark change from its suggested retail locations like Whole Foods and Metropolitan Market. The can used the word “Organic” probably around twenty times, but I lost count by the time opened the can. While I have no qualms about organic ingredients, once enough is fine for me thx.

The drink is very similar to the Capri Sun pouch drinks I grew up drinking as a kid, probably due to the sweetener (agave nectar). Though it’s touted as an energy drink, I’m of the mindset that anything you add enough sugar to, whether it be table sugar, HFCS, agave and what have you, can become energized (new marketing idea: pixi sticks as energy powder). For those asking if the drink was salty or fishy, I’m happy to confirm that there’s no seaweed taste or essence, since seaweed extract is added as opposed to the nori you’re used to wrapping around your sushi.

That said, I’ll stick to my artificially sweetened, caffeine saturated energy drinks.

Tags: Agave, Big Lots, Natural, Organic, Seaweed
Posted in Drinks | 2 Comments »

Pacific Organic Beef Pho Broth

1 Comment » Written on August 27th, 2012 by Marisa
Categories: Food
Tags: Beef, Grocery Outlet, Organic, Pho

Product: Pacific Organic Beef Pho Broth
Purchased at: Grocery Outlet (Seattle – 4th Avenue/SODO)
Price: $1.49

I remember the first time I experienced pho, it was a small drafty joint near Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. Now I didn’t order my own bowl, it was my dad who got some and I just tagged along. This was probably about fifteen or so years ago, before pho became “mainstream” like other Asian delicacies (see also: bubble tea) and prompting chains like “Pho King” and “What the Pho” (uninformed, click here). Truth be told, my first encounter was not a pleasant one. Truthfully said, I thought the broth specifically smelled like old smelly beefy gym socks. Needless to say, now I love it.

While pho is reasonably cheap around here (about $5-6 for a “small” bowl, enough to fill you up and then some), I’ve always yearned to make it at home. Though I don’t have a tub of beef bones and oxtail stewing in my kitchen 24/7, there are lots of quick-prep methods popping up, from concentrated bouillon cubes and paste to today’s product, a pre-made organic broth complete with instructions printed on the side.

I didn’t have any rice noodles, sliced beef, bean sprouts or any of the other requisite ingredients to make pho besides this broth and the bachelor’s carbohydrate of choice, the dried Top Ramen rectangle. Due to my laziness, cheap nature and unwillingness to spend more money on quality ingredients for something that ultimately (like all review for this blog) is a culinary experiment, the ramen and the broth had to suffice. As I soon found out, it was the broth that spoiled the noodles, not the other way around.

Pho broth is a distinctive yet simple flavor (keeping in mind my comment in the first paragraph). Per Wikipedia, “The broth for beef pho is generally made by simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onion, charred ginger and spices. For a more intense flavor, the bones may still have beef on them. Seasonings can include cinnamon, star anise, roasted ginger, roasted onion, black cardamom, coriander seed, fennel seed, and clove.”

It seems Pacific Organic took the “star” in anise literally, as to make it front and foremost as the highlight and only seasoning discernible in the broth. The liquid tastes like Eau de Good & Plenty. Uneatable and already destroying my little ramen brick, the rest went down the drain.

Folks, I may not have to write a legible, intelligent blog post each week, but I sure to have time to make my own pho broth, especially if this is how the pre-packaged option is going to taste.

Tags: Beef, Grocery Outlet, Organic, Pho
Posted in Food | 1 Comment »

Bake With Me! (Sorry, Not the Latest Stoner Comedy)

No Comments » Written on August 26th, 2011 by Marisa
Categories: Food
Tags: Cookies, Grocery Outlet, Organic

Product: Arrowhead Mills Bake With Me Organic Sugar Cookie Mix
Purchased at: Grocery Outlet (Lakewood)
Price: $1.99

There’s no better way to ~~kill time~~ bond with a loved than a lazy Sunday afternoon than baking your own sugar cookies. What’s even better is when the mix is all made up for you and you only have to add an egg (or if you prefer, an egg substitute) and some butter. While I’ve glanced over many boxed sugar cookies mixes in the past, this one caught my eye because it includes a cookie cutter. And not just any cookie cutter. It’s a duck.

A fun afternoon to spend with your child/significant other.

Oh, plus the mix is organic and has whole wheat and stuff so you won’t feel as guilty as you bite the heads off your newly baked duck cookies.

I’ve included some of the instructions from the back of the box below for your enjoyment:

“Let’s make sugar cookies! and Create Fun Duck Shaped Cookies!”

“Let’s preheat the oven so the cookies bake properly and butter the pan so they won’t get stuck! Preheat oven to 350? F. Have your child lightly butter an 11×15 cookie sheet using some melted butter & pastry brush.” (We used a Silpat cause that’s how we roll).
“We mix the ingredients according to the directions so that we can make the cookie dough taste yummy. Let your child (in this case, Ben) beat the eggs & melted butter in a large bowl. Add the Cookie Mix. Mix with an electric mixer on low until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough slightly to form a small ball. Use immediately or chill for up to 24 hours.” (We used some of that pasteurized egg product courtesy of Costco so we got to eat all the uncooked dough we wanted. We probably would have eaten the raw dough with a real egg anyway).
“Isn’t it exciting to roll out the dough and cut it with our new cookie cutter?” (Actually it was a pain in the ass to remove all the dough scraps from around the duck shapes we cut out. Additionally, we used regular evil corporation flour to roll out the dough instead of the Arrowhead Mills Organic Pastry Flour the box instructed. Our cookies were corrupted from the start.)
“These fresh baked cookies taste delicious! I love spending time making fun desserts with you!” (Ben & I went through a trial separation following the baking of the cookies and he got full custody of them).

There was also a little booklet including some “games” (maze and coloring page) and an offer for a free apron if we sent in a bunch of UPCs and shipping costs. Sadly, we had to decline.

Enjoy the following photos documenting the process.