Cava Mezze Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Have you ever wondered how hummus became popular with a cult following in the last few years? It seems it is on every menu, a staple party food, and coveted work snack. In fact, there is even this Buzzfeed article explaining hummus obsessions, and I relate to many of the claims.

Pureed chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and a healthy dose of tahini paste are the building blocks of hummus. But the opportunities for the spread creations are endless. Cilantro, roasted garlic, and jalapeno are the tip of the hummus-ingredient-choices iceberg.

Similar to most people, I, too, have a slight obsession with hummus. There is something about the creamy and satisfying texture that I love. It is satiating without feeling heavy, velvety without using dairy, and zesty without using synthetic flavorings. Although, I do recommend reading ingredient labels because some generic hummus brands sneak in soybean oil, those cheats!

Cava Mezze brand does not use soybean oil in its hummus, and it is delicious. How does the roasted red pepper hummus perform in the Sans Soy test? Let's see.

Quality: In case the bright orange color did not alert you, the thick texture and garlic aroma make an authoritative stance to show this hummus means business! Tiny, crimson specks of roasted red pepper swirl around the dip. Moister than competitor's hummus, the spread is dexterous, and does not fall off carrot sticks or slip out of a makeshift tortilla.

Taste: As a result of the roasting procedure, the red peppers create a delightful sweet undertone. This perfectly complements the fiery garlic presence. As the main ingredient in hummus is a garbanzo bean, hummus may have a tendency to have an earthy undertone. Yet, this hummus is vibrant.

Price: One 8-ounce tub of hummus costs $3.99 at my local Whole Foods Market.

Overall grade: B+. This is a great hummus, and I enjoyed dipping, smearing and sandwiching it between bread. Although I liked the sweet, roasted red pepper flavor, the intensity of the flavor could be a bit much after awhile. Bonus points are given because Cava Mezze has local restaurants in the D.C., area, and are always wonderful to grab some nibbles, a glass of wine and catch up with friends.

Peanut Butter & Co. White Chocolate Wonderful

When I grocery shop I try to be organized. I attempt to plan ahead and make lists. But, when I enter the doors of my local grocery store, I become a marketer's dream as catchy advertisements and labels distract my well-organized intentions from reaching their final destination. Hence, I rarely come home with all of the items I meant to buy and a few newbies have appeared in my shopping cart. That is how I ended up discovering a new peanut butter brand: Peanut Butter & Co.

Based out of New York City, Peanut Butter & Co. has a slew of different peanut butter flavor from which to choose, all made without soy! Yipee! Less than ten total, natural ingredients compose the nut butter, one of which is an emulsifier that is derived from sunflowers. The particular flavor I picked up is a combination of white chocolate and peanut butter. Sounds interesting and decadent, right? Let's see how +Peanut Butter & Co.  White Chocolate Wonderful peanut butter performed in the Sans Soy test.

Product: Peanut Butter & Co. White Chocolate Wonderful

Quality: My first impression is how smooth is the peanut butter. The consistency resembles common peanut butter brands like Jif and Skippy. Nevertheless, the spread is thicker than the latter peanut butters, and would require some light elbow grease and attention to spread evenly on a piece of bread such as white Wonder slices.

Taste: A strong peanut butter taste with a decadent underlying flavor from the white chocolate is present. The white chocolate taste is not overpowering, but exerts enough oomph to notify the eater that it is sweet, buttery and means business. I appreciate the fact that it is not too sweet, and would be delicious smeared on a banana or an apple slice.

Price: At six dollars a jar, this is on the pricey side of peanut butters.

Overall grade: B. The peanut butter was very smooth, but it was thick. I liked, but not loved, the white chocolate flavor, however, this is personal preference. I would like to taste other flavors; The Bee's Knees, Mighty Maple and Cinnamon Raisin Swirl look tempting.

MaraNatha No Stir Raw Maple Almond Butter

Smothered between two pieces of bread, spread on an apple slice or eaten straight from the jar, I love nut butters. It is the perfect snack or even small meal when in a pinch. Nut butters also deliver a slew of healthy fats, vitamins and protein. Unfortunately, many common nut butter brands use soybean oil as an ingredient.

At health foods stores, an assortment of nut spreads made without soy are available to purchase. But how do these fare in the Sans Soy test?

Product: MaraNatha No Stir Raw Maple Almond Butter      

                             

Quality: The jar of almond butter looked less than appetizing on the grocery store shelf. The oil had separated from the remaining contents which resulted in a white layer on top. However, I decided to try it because almond butter is healthy, right?! After some vigorous stirring of the contents inside the jar I noticed there was a substantial amount of thick almond paste at the bottom of the jar which was similar to that of crunchy and old flax meal. The almond butter was too liquid like and runny at the top of the jar, but too dry and clumpy at the bottom.

Taste: Surprisingly, the almond butter taste was not bad. The maple syrup gave it a hint of sweetness. Once stirred for a few minutes, there is a mostly uniform consistency that does not require excess chewing or lip-smacking to swallow.

Price: A jar of this almond butter was a bit on the pricey side. At 12 ounces, the same size of an average soda can, the almond butter costs $11.79 from the MaraNatha website. However, in comparison to other almond butters lacking soy, MaraNatha rests on the inexpensive side.

Overall grade: C+. An awful lot of stirring preparation was needed for a brand that maintains ‘no stir’ on its label. Also, the inconsistent texture of contents made the snacks made with the dry butter at the bottom of the jar less tasty. Bonus points for glass jar packaging as this helps limit exposure to harmful BPA and other chemicals, and is environmentally friendly, too.