Café specialties at home; Frozen favorites go vegan; Protein-packed pasta

Frozen favorites go vegan
Ben & Jerry’s introduced its first line of Certified Vegan frozen desserts. The Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy line is made with almond milk and other Fair Trade Certified, non-genetically modified ingredients, including vegan brownies created specially by Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, N.Y.

“We wanted a blank canvas to build our euphoric flavor profiles around,” explains food scientist Kirsten Schimoler, who created the flavors. “Almond proved to be the best option to go with compared to other bases like coconut or cashew. We created everything fans have come to love and expect from Ben & Jerry’s, just without the cow.”

Four flavors are available: Chunky Monkey, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Coffee Caramel Fudge, and P.B. & Cookies. Pints can be found in grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $5.69.

Café specialties at home
Keurig Green Mountain introduced Green Mountain Coffee Coffeehouse, a line of Fair Trade coffee pods that let users create café-inspired beverages at home. Would-be baristas simply pour the separate froth packet into their cup before brewing the accompanying Espresso Coffee K-Cup pod. The froth becomes foamy, floating atop the beverage.

“Green Mountain Coffee takes pride in its roots as a local Vermont roaster and coffee shop that created distinctively delicious coffee house beverages,” says Tom Ferguson, senior vice-president of U.S. Hot Beverages at Keurig. “With the new Green Mountain Coffee Coffeehouse collection, we drew on that longstanding coffee expertise and the innovation of Keurig simplicity to create the barista experience you love, at home, at the touch of a button.”

The coffee pods, which are available in Salted Caramel Macchiato, Cappuccino, and Vanilla Latte, come nine to a box. They can be found online and in select retailers for a suggested retail price of $11.99.

Protein-packed pasta
MXO GLOBAL launched TOLERANT Foods Energy Legume Blend, a line of gluten- and allergen-free pastas made from legumes and peas. The pastas are available in three varieties—black bean, green lentil, and red lentil—and a range of noodle shapes, including spaghetti, penne, elbow, and rotini.

“TOLERANT Foods Energy Legume Blend is a plant-based protein, with no corn or rice fillers and an emphasis on the addition of [the] pea ingredient,” says Shawn Pinsky, vice-president of MXO GLOBAL. “The pea and legume ingredients make it a more nutritionally dense, high-protein, affordable pasta alternative.”

The pastas cook in 8–10 minutes and contain 281 calories, 18–19 grams protein, and 13–16 grams of fiber per 3-ounce serving. They will be available in retailers beginning in May for a suggested retail price of $4.99.