The truth about "The Shire"

Well, it is no secret that most Worcestershire sauces are non-vegetarian. Lea & Perins Worcestershire sauce is no exception. Their FAQ contains the details. Their honest statement in the FAQ is in clear and unambiguous. Always appreciated. Their unwillingness to create a vegetarian version, less so.

Here's the relevant FAQ:

"Do you make a vegetarian version of Worcestershire Sauce? No. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is made to the original recipe created in 1837 and contains anchovies - a type of fish. We believe that altering the recipe to exclude a key ingredient such as anchovies would mean that Lea & Perrins would no longer be the 'original and genuine' Worcestershire Sauce, as claimed on the bottle. "

Worcestershire and anchovies are big Vegetarian 'gotchas' for folks looking for off the shelf barbecue or hot sauce in the average grocery. Many sauces throw in tiny bits of them in rendering useless for the watchful vegetarian.

For those interested Annie's Natural makes a Veggie version of Worcestershire. I've never tried this brand but have found other brands to be perfectly good for the home kitchen. (Should it get one of those 'oh so catchy' veggie names like Best-o-shire)(maybe not)

Review: Breakstone's Sour Cream Fat Free

Breakstone's Sour Cream Fat Free...What would I do without you?


Anyone who has followed my reviews knows full well I am a card carrying ovo lacto vegetarian but not a vegan. In case I have not been fully outed as a non-vegan, this post will leave no doubt. I am about to extol the virtues of Breakstone's Sour Cream Fat Free.

Generally speaking, Mexican cuisine lends itself very nicely to a vegetarian lifestyle. Beans, rice, tortillas and cheese can be combined, mixed and matched into all sorts of concoctions. This fare get even better when spiced up with good old salsa or some other sauce. Here's where we get to the sour cream.

Sour cream on top of cheesy spicy hearty fare really adds contrast and coolness. Real sour cream also adds tons of fat.

I find the BreakStone's Fate Free Sour Cream to be a truly great substitute for its fatty cousin. You get all the flavor and coolness without the fat and guilt. You may not end up like me, but I have come to prefer the fat free variety over the real thing. Real sour cream just seems too heavy to use. It is so thick and so rich it is almost feels like butter now. It overwhelms the food rather than just complimenting it.

I have tried a few different fat free sour creams and Breakstone's stands out. It is thick and creamy and, again, without the fatty weight or real sour cream. Some other brands run a little like Yogurt. The Breakstone's can really stand up on a spoon. The 'sour' comes through and provides the flavor contrast to your meals when desired.

So while this is not strictly a vegetarian product, it is quite yummy and useful

• Overall Rating: 4
• Similarity to meat (but in a good way): n/a
• Similarity to actual food described: 4
• "Worth it?" Rating: 5
• "Would I get them again?": 5

Ingredients: CULTURED PASTEURIZED GRADE A NONFAT MILK, DRIED CORN SYRUP, FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED, CREAM, LESS THAN 2% OF STARCH, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, MALTODEXTRIN, XANTHAN GUM, NATURAL FLAVOR, VITAMIN A PALMITATE.

Serving Size 32g Servings per package 14
Amount Per Serving
Calories
30
Calories from Fat
0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g

0 %
Saturated Fat 0g

0 %
Cholesterol 5mg

1 %
Sodium 25mg

1 %
Total Carbohydrate 5g

2 %
Dietary Fiber 0g

0 %
Sugars 2g

Protein 1g

Vitamin A 4 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 4 %
Iron 0 %