Oats
Full disclosure: I have a partnership with Country Choice Organic and use their oats exclusively! Prior to this partnership, I had used several brands of oats and, for the most part, find them interchangeable (although some brands have done me wrong). I know a lot of people prefer Quaker, but I find it freakishly overpriced, especially on the east coast. A surprisingly cheap option is the rolled oats from the bulk bins at Whole Foods--who knew?
.jpg)
Almond Milk
I most frequently buy the Trader Joe's store brand. I'm not picky, as long as it's unflavored. I prefer the refrigerated varieties better than the shelf-stable because I believe it tastes better, and it also costs less per ounce.
Peanut Butter
Any natural brand will work, but I love Trader Joe's crunchy and unsalted. You only have to stir it once, and it stays soft and spreadable in the fridge. Whole Foods' 365 brand is another great option (I'm almost positive they are produced by the same company).
Cocoa Powder
Any brand of unsweetened cocoa powder will do just fine. When I can find it, I love Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder.
.JPG)
Honey
I strongly recommend buying your honey from a local farmer! Please, please, please! I love buying honey as a "souvenir" when I visit other cities. You can find a honey vendor at almost any medium-sized farmers' market! Most of them will even let you sample the different varieties. Ask them for which variety is the mildest in flavor (because most of my recipes use honey as a sweetener, and not a source of flavor).
Chocolate Chips
At the moment, I'm using Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips because they are vegan AND within my price range, which is a rare find. In the past, I've used the Enjoy Life brand, which is vegan and allergy friendly. I really liked it, but gosh, it's expensive!
Maple Syrup
I look for pure maple syrups, but I love Trader Joe's maple & agave blend. The agave makes the product more affordable and also "tames" the intense maple flavor (which I actually am not a huge fan of, so it's perfect for me).
Flax & Chia Seed
Once again, I get these nutrition boosters from Trader Joe's. Incredibly cost-saving! Because I utilize both milled and whole flax seeds, I buy the bag of whole seeds and then grind half the bag at home (instead of buying a bag of each).
Extracts
Avoid artificial extracts as much as you can. Three brands I use and trust are Simply Organic, McCormick's, and Tone's. All are reliable, but the last two are very affordable. If you go through extract quickly (especially vanilla or almond), I recommend Tone's, which is available in bulk volumes at Sam's Club! My mom buys these because she's a cake decorator! Simply Organic is available at many health food stores, like Whole Foods. This is the brand I use for my peppermint and lemon extracts.
Coconut milk
People frequently ask me what kind of coconut milk I use: from the carton or the can? The reason I don't specify is that you can technically use either. However, I find the stuff from the carton has a much more pleasant taste (the canned stuff tastes "tinny"). I like the So Delicious and Silk brands; both have an immensely tasty "original" variety that makes super pleasant oatmeal.
Canned Pumpkin
During the autumn months, I buy my pumpkin at Trader Joe's. It's super cheap! Unfortunately, they have a limited "in-season," so the rest of the year, I buy Libby's.
Shredded Coconut
I buy my unsweetened shredded coconut from the bulk section of Whole Foods. I don't think they're in the actual bulk bins, but they are packaged in small tubs next to those bins. They are so affordable that I refuse to buy them from anywhere else!
Nondairy yogurt
My favorite nondairy yogurt to use is SoDelicious Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt. It comes in a larger container, technically four servings but I can stretch it further. Such a pleasant taste! When I can't find that, I buy the single-serving Greek-Style packages. The texture is thick, the taste is agreeable, and the consistency is just right. I sometimes buy almond yogurt. It's okay, but the coconut variety is better. Ultimately, my motto is "anything other than soy." Gross.
White Chocolate Chips
I use the vegan King David white chocolate chips. You can find them online.
Vanilla Bean Paste
I use the Nielsen Massey brand. My sister bought me this gem from Amazon.
Full disclosure: I have a partnership with Country Choice Organic and use their oats exclusively! Prior to this partnership, I had used several brands of oats and, for the most part, find them interchangeable (although some brands have done me wrong). I know a lot of people prefer Quaker, but I find it freakishly overpriced, especially on the east coast. A surprisingly cheap option is the rolled oats from the bulk bins at Whole Foods--who knew?
Almond Milk
I most frequently buy the Trader Joe's store brand. I'm not picky, as long as it's unflavored. I prefer the refrigerated varieties better than the shelf-stable because I believe it tastes better, and it also costs less per ounce.
Peanut Butter
Any natural brand will work, but I love Trader Joe's crunchy and unsalted. You only have to stir it once, and it stays soft and spreadable in the fridge. Whole Foods' 365 brand is another great option (I'm almost positive they are produced by the same company).
Cocoa Powder
Any brand of unsweetened cocoa powder will do just fine. When I can find it, I love Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder.
.JPG)
Honey
I strongly recommend buying your honey from a local farmer! Please, please, please! I love buying honey as a "souvenir" when I visit other cities. You can find a honey vendor at almost any medium-sized farmers' market! Most of them will even let you sample the different varieties. Ask them for which variety is the mildest in flavor (because most of my recipes use honey as a sweetener, and not a source of flavor).
Chocolate Chips
At the moment, I'm using Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips because they are vegan AND within my price range, which is a rare find. In the past, I've used the Enjoy Life brand, which is vegan and allergy friendly. I really liked it, but gosh, it's expensive!
Maple Syrup
I look for pure maple syrups, but I love Trader Joe's maple & agave blend. The agave makes the product more affordable and also "tames" the intense maple flavor (which I actually am not a huge fan of, so it's perfect for me).
Flax & Chia Seed
Once again, I get these nutrition boosters from Trader Joe's. Incredibly cost-saving! Because I utilize both milled and whole flax seeds, I buy the bag of whole seeds and then grind half the bag at home (instead of buying a bag of each).
ExtractsAvoid artificial extracts as much as you can. Three brands I use and trust are Simply Organic, McCormick's, and Tone's. All are reliable, but the last two are very affordable. If you go through extract quickly (especially vanilla or almond), I recommend Tone's, which is available in bulk volumes at Sam's Club! My mom buys these because she's a cake decorator! Simply Organic is available at many health food stores, like Whole Foods. This is the brand I use for my peppermint and lemon extracts.
People frequently ask me what kind of coconut milk I use: from the carton or the can? The reason I don't specify is that you can technically use either. However, I find the stuff from the carton has a much more pleasant taste (the canned stuff tastes "tinny"). I like the So Delicious and Silk brands; both have an immensely tasty "original" variety that makes super pleasant oatmeal.
Canned Pumpkin
During the autumn months, I buy my pumpkin at Trader Joe's. It's super cheap! Unfortunately, they have a limited "in-season," so the rest of the year, I buy Libby's.
Shredded Coconut
I buy my unsweetened shredded coconut from the bulk section of Whole Foods. I don't think they're in the actual bulk bins, but they are packaged in small tubs next to those bins. They are so affordable that I refuse to buy them from anywhere else!
Nondairy yogurt
My favorite nondairy yogurt to use is SoDelicious Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt. It comes in a larger container, technically four servings but I can stretch it further. Such a pleasant taste! When I can't find that, I buy the single-serving Greek-Style packages. The texture is thick, the taste is agreeable, and the consistency is just right. I sometimes buy almond yogurt. It's okay, but the coconut variety is better. Ultimately, my motto is "anything other than soy." Gross.
White Chocolate Chips
I use the vegan King David white chocolate chips. You can find them online.
Vanilla Bean Paste
I use the Nielsen Massey brand. My sister bought me this gem from Amazon.
Anything else?
Just ask! Leave a comment below.
Just ask! Leave a comment below.
What camera do you use to take your pictures?
ReplyDeleteCanon PowerShot s95
DeleteWhat kind of pot/pan do you use when you're cooking stovetop oatmeal? I don't have a lot of options myself...
ReplyDeleteI use T-Fal nonstick saucepans :)
Deletewhat size mason jars do you use?
ReplyDeleteI have a variety of mason jars in a variety of sizes. The standard pint size works well because it gives room to shake and stir. :)
DeleteWonderful work! This article is very helpful and informative, perfect for wildlife photographers. Also, take a look at my article on best Resort in Satpura. It's packed with valuable insights for nature lovers. Please read and leave your comments.
ReplyDelete