NoMoo VEGAN Cookies

NoMoo is a traditionally dairy-free company that recently added EIGHT vegan cookies to their repertoire! They were kind enough to send me a box of their vegan assortment for review; each cookie comes individually wrapped.

Since I was reviewing along with the esteemed tasting panel (one vegan, one vegetarian, one omnivore), I decided to start with what seemed to be the more classic flavors.

 

In order:

vanilla bean dream: "Every vanilla lover's dream! Made with Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean paste blended in a sweet sugar batter generously topped with dark, rich vanilla bean."
The (vanilla bean) dust was really unappetizing looking and didn't seem to add any significant vanilla flavor. The prominent flavor and texture was buttery with an extremely light and pleasant vanilla taste.

sugah cinnayum: "A sweet sugar cookie made with pure vanilla bean and sprinkled with sugar and spice and everything nice. It will make you say Yum."
I love cinnamon sugar more than is appropriate, but I have no idea why it was necessary to insult this stellar combination with intentional misspelling. To add to the insult, it was neither sugary or cinnamony enough. I can't be the only one that wants the sweet taste of cinnamon toast out of a cinnamon sugar cookie. Sadly, I didn't get it.

classic chipper: "Dark Belgian chocolate chips and real vanilla bean, a classic chocolate chip cookie gone vegan."
Thank goodness this cookie was very chippy and therefore most redeeming. I really liked it, which was a relief. I don't like not liking cookies!

loco for coco: "A soft, decadent cookie made with real cocoa and rich Belgium chocolate chips topped with flakes of sea salt. It's guaranteed to drive you crazy.....good!"
Hold up, I liked this one even more. As much as I love chocolate, double chocolate cookies don't usually do it for me. But, this one was my jam: really rich and really chocolatey.

Next up:
oatmeal choco-chip: "Dark Belgium chocolate chunks, tangy orange zest and rich molasses make up this spicy vegan oatmeal cookie."
While most of the cookies were thin and medium palm-size, the oatmeal was somewhat thicker, significantly denser, and quite a bit smaller in diameter. Normally I wouldn't touch an oatmeal cookie with a 99 1/2-foot pole, but since this cookie wisely substituted chocolate chips for raisins, I made an exception. It was still an oatmeal cookie, but the chips made it palatable.

citrus appeal: "A buttery citrus cookie topped with a sweet almond glaze and decorated with a fresh candied orange peel. It's bound to appeal to your taste buds."
I don't know how one goes about adhering candied orange pieces to a pre-packaged cookie, but NoMoo did and it WORKED! I would not normally reach for an orange cookie, but this was the bomb.com.

chocolate chills: "Dark, decadent French cocoa with a cool hit of peppermint."
The photo of this cookie on the website and packaging shows crushed candy canes atop, but this cookie was naked. Not only would the canes add pleasant crunch to an otherwise mushy cookie, but the added appeal would have gone a long way. Definitely nowhere near as yummy as the loco for coco.

raspberry bliss: "A blissfully sweet cookie blended with fresh, dried raspberries topped with raspberry powder."
This cookie was possibly more unappealing looking than the vanilla- perhaps because of the red dust. Unlike the vanilla cookie, there was no discernible raspberry taste whatsoever.

Overall, I'm always happy for more vegan cookies on the market, but- in my opinion, NoMoo has a little more work to do with aesthetic and flavor in many cases. To recap, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up my favorites: classic chipper, loco for coco, and citrus appeal. Let me know if you agree/disagree...go eat some cookies!!

How I Ruined Mother's Day with the Flu

When you're lucky enough to be a healthy person, you sometimes refer to having a really bad cold as "the worst." The same might also be said for other relatively minor ailments that pop up along the way: sore throat, headache, etc. But nothing is quite THE WORST as getting the stomach flu. Unless, of course, you get the stomach flu on Mother's Day.

I had all of the best intentions. Her gifts were bought and wrapped well in advance, Netflix sent me Suffragette, and I was prepared to make thick cut, strawberry shortcake French toast. 

I woke up feeling a little under the weather, but I figured it would pass. I put 89 in her annual Mother's Day dress and we went to pick up some flowers. When we returned, I filled up our M&M bowl with dark chocolate raspberry Little Secrets (more on them soon) because VM loves raspberry with chocolate.

While our guests were en route, 89 waited impatiently as I began to prepare brunch.

The breakfast turned out divine. Or so I'm told. I served the plates and immediately crawled into bed- still holding out hope that the feeling would pass.

When they were done eating and cleaning up (a fine Mother's Day tradition), VM came upstairs to see how I was- just in time for the moment of stomach flu confirmation. It was not my finest moment.

So, that's where the photos stopped. Dinner was cancelled, as was dessert. I spent three days in bed trying to avoid Instagram because there are way too many food photos when you're not feeling well; all I wanted to see were goats! And this nerd.

 

 Days later, when I was ready to eat, VM delivered some homemade soup from her freezer.

This is an important distinction in my family. While VM makes extraordinary matzoh ball soup, the matzoh balls never pass her lips; she always has a bowl with no balls. That day, it was I who needed a bowl with no balls.

Although it was only a few days, they were rough ones. Instead of celebrating, poor VM was busy momming on Mom's Day...and beyond. 89 put in some long hours as well. My dad had to mow my lawn!

All of this is to say, "Thanks, VM; sorry I ruined Mother's Day. Do-over, please."

Also, beware of germs.