Breakfast is Best

Happy Winds-day everyone! I don't know where you are, but here in LA we have been experiencing some serious wind. Which turns out to be a good thing as it has been clearing our skies from all that smog. Yuck!

Today I wanted to give a quick shout out to two of my favorite products. Of course they are breakfast items since breakfast is my absolute favorite meal. Without breakfast I am like a monkey without his banana. (Grumpy and liable to throwing feces) These two products are my go-to in the a.m. Without them I don't know how I would ever start my day. Both are healthy and delicious and can only be found at Trader Joe's (as far as I know.)

The Morning Star Veggie Sausage Links are amazing. I've been eating these puppies for over 18 years now and have no plans to stop. Ok I know you meat eaters reading this are skeptical. I can see you rolling your eyes and scrunching your nose in disgust. Do not be fooled. Yes there are a lot of unappetizing soy products out there. I admit it. This is not one of them. I know at least 5 hard core carnivores who I have tricked into enjoying these. They are tasty, period. The big problem with these is that you can NOT cook them according to the package. There is only one proper way to cook these guys and I am going to let you in on the secret now.

1. In a skillet
2. Add oil
3. Cook on low-medium heat until cooked through and browned on the outside
4. Add a sprinkle of Mrs. Dash 1 minute before you take them off the heat

BAM! Deliciousness in you mouth.

Whatever you do, DO NOT add water to the skillet as the package says. It makes them soggy and gross. I should probably write a letter to Morning Star to let them in on my revolutionary cooking method. Maybe they'll be so happy by the increased sales they'll offer me a lifetime of free links!

The second product I wanted to mention was Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Raisin Cinnamon Rolls. These guys rock! They are super yummy and pretty healthy for you, not to mention they are vegan too. They are sweetened with fruit juice and only have 2g of fat with a good amount of fiber. I love them topped with butter, peanut butter, Earth Balance, or any other nut butter. They're probably awesome with cream cheese too but I haven't ventured that route yet. They are only lightly sweet (which I love) and have a good cinnamon flavor with a fair amount of raisins.

Together, these two products make an awesome and healthy combo that will get your day off to a good start. I promise.

What's your go-to breakfast?

Anyone know what cartoon character greets everyone by saying "Happy Winds-day"?

Not Just a Corn Chip

I am always trying new and delicious things, so naturally I thought I should make a series devoted to sharing my extra yummy finds with you. These are the products that are so tasty, I feel like I would be committing a crime if I didn't let out their secret! MUAHAHAHAHAHA. I believe that no one should be left in the dark when it comes to food so good it makes me do the "Yummy Jig" (a dance in which you sway and wiggle your shoulders while releasing expressions of happiness like "m-m-m", "yummmm" and "gooooddddnessss". I hope these products will prove to unleash your inner Yummy Jig.

When I first tasted Have'a Corn Chips, I was in High School and had them in my packed lunch box everyday. Yes I had packed lunches in High School, I went to a hippie school remember? Read Childhood Cravings for more info.

I would like to say they are healthy. I mean the ingredients are Corn, Soybean oil, Soy Sauce, and a dash of lime. That's it. The simplicity is really what makes it so special. However, eating a whole bag of anything is probably not healthy and this is what happens when Have'a chips are in the house. The light flavor of the soy sauce with the lime is heavenly and addicting. They are great with salsa, bean dip, cheese, whatever, but I love them best in their pure form- straight out of the bag and into my mouth.

WARNING: May cause childish behavior like arguments over who gets to suck the last crumbs from the bag.

Product: Have'a Corn Chips

Price: $ 1.69 a bag

Where to purchase: Health food stores, Wholefoods, and online at Natural Grocers