Happy (belated) New year, everyone! I hope 2020 is off to a good start. After the madness that was 2019 for me, I am happy to report that the new year has been pretty good to me so far.
As you may have noticed, in recent months I've changed my content a bit. The reasoning? I just don't have much time for recipe development lately. Plus, I've found my little following is a bit more interested in my reviews. I don't ever want to give up on recipes, but I thought I'd try out more lists and longer content and see what sticks. It's definitely easier than having to develop, photograph, and edit a recipe each week!
Also, I do comedy in my spare time. Sooo maybe that should find its way into my blog? Who knows.
Anyway, I've been wanting to do a few 2019 roundup lists, and what better way to start than by sharing the products that made my kitchen even tastier!
Note: None of these lead to affiliate links (unless noted) and I don't make any money off sharing or you buying.
Ashley's Top 2019 Food Products
Truffle Zest
You know that slogan, "I put that shit on everything"? Well, I think it applies even MORE here. I impulse-bought this little jar of deliciousness at the behest of an internet list and I am so very glad I did. I'm not one of those beyond-snooty foodies who claim truffle is cheating. If it's tasty, it's tasty. Try it on veggies or roasted potatoes (my favorite is brussels sprouts!) for an out of this world flavor experience.
Dash Mini Waffle Maker
Man, I love dash. Such cool, inexpensive little gadgets! I won this little waffle maker in a white elephant gift exchange and it is now an integral part of my weekly brunch. I love that I don't have to lug out my whole huge waffle iron for a quick breakfast! Bonus, you can make hashbrowns or fun omelettes as well.
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
Another Dash product! This has been a godsend for cooking quick, peel-able hard-boiled eggs and effortless poached eggs! The timer is based on how much water is in the cooker, and it sings you a little song when you're done. Pro tip: measure the liquid amount in the little cup they give you, so in case you lose it (like I did, d'oh!) you know how much water to use for each kind of egg.
Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
This isn't my favorite of 2019 per say, but it is my favorite seasoning of all time. I put it on veggies, meats, non-meats, basically anything I want to jazz up a bit. Not too spicy, just a bit of a zing and savory salt flavor to really enhance a side dish. It's also a great secret ingredient to chowders! I just discovered they have a salt free option, which is a great idea for those of us looking to make better health habits in 2020.
Imperfect Produce (this contains the only referral code of the post!)
I cannot reccommend this enough! I LOVE Imperfect Produce! I've done a ton of Farmshare and veggie boxes in the past and while I love the idea of supporting local farms, Imperfect definitely gives you the biggest bang for your buck in regards to vegetable quantity and variety of additional products. Plus it helps reduce food waste! Use my code to sign up (via that link) and we'll both get a lil discount on our next box.
Instant Pot
It took me a while to get on the Instant Pot train. And, to be honest, I don't really do a ton of full one-pot dinners in this thing. I like to taste my meals as I cook, add things throughout, and the IP doesn't really allow for much improvisation in that regard with it's "set it and forget it" method. What I've really enjoyed, though, is that it makes cooking time-consuming staples (rice, quinoa, potatoes, lentils) SO much quicker! I simply add the dry ingredients and the liquid, and in under 10 minutes I have as much as I want. Definitely a kitchen MVP!
Wundernuggets
A friend of mine in the Austin Food Blogger Alliance created Wundernuggets as a nutrient-rich upgrade to her kids' favorite food: chicken nuggets. Story time: this year was rough. When I'm depressed, it's hard to eat. I kept a bag of these in my freezer all year as a quick dinner where I could force the appropriate nutrients into my body when I didn't have it in me to put through the effort. So I am super grateful I knew about these veggie packed nuggets! On a happier note, picky eaters will also find these great. The flavors are all awesome and I can't wait to see what comes next with this company!
Beyond Meat and The Impossible Burger
As you may know, I've drastically cut down my meat intake over the past year. But every now and then... you just need a burger. I am happy to report, these fit the bill. While there are different environmental factors that come into play with all the "meatless meats" hitting the market, it's good to have these on hand for a treat when you want to stick to a plant-based diet. I prefer the Impossible Burger, but you can only purchase it in restaurants. For an at-home version, Beyond Meat is the best on the market.
Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
I fell victim to another internet list BUT this is pretty awesome. Super easy--simply put the coffee grounds in the cyllander, fill with water, and let steep overnight. What results is a rich coffee that isn't bitter. I like it cold, but you can warm it up too. And after a week of forgetting to take out the grounds, it still hasn't leaked or changed the flavor.
Double Joy Select Coffee
I have a coffee maker. I have various French Presses. I don't always have the time to dedicate to brewing coffee. Nor do I have the budget for Starbucks Via, my usual go-to for instant coffee. I read the reviews on a number of instant options, and decided to try Double Joy. And thankfully, they lived up to the reviews! These are delicious, rich little coffee packets that are great to keep on hand for lazy days, travel, or in your desk in case the office coffee maker is on the fritz.
Mike's Mighty Good Ramen
Ramen is one of my favorite meals I never knew about until I moved to Austin. Since then, it's become super popular. With Mike's Mighty Good, I can get a restaurant-quality ramen base for only a few bucks that I can make at home! I love the vegetarian kimchi version, to which I add a pat of butter, corn, kimchi, scallions, lime, and a soft boiled egg. Sooo good!
That's all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll think of more. What was your favorite foodie discovery of 2019? Let me know in the comments!
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