January 26, 2006

Amy's Organic Refried Beans with Chiles

Once upon a time, I purchased, and rather religiously I might add, any old brand of refried beans with reckless abandon. I didn't care that texture and color were an afterthought in their creation. I just plopped the molded can shape into the pot to heat, doused it with Tabasco, and spread it on under the guacamole.

Then I found Amy's Vegetarian Organic Refried Beans with Green Chiles.

Who knew that refried beans could taste like... well ... beans! They actually have whole beans with a distinguishable shape, rather than what I'd come to expect as the standard of just a pile of pasty brown. Amy's Vegetarian Organic Refried Beans have a texture and a smoky bean taste that is delightful and surprising. And with no meat products in the mix I'm not even afraid to eat them cold!

The little chiles are a wonderful addition. Now, I leave the Tabasco for my eggs. The spice of the chiles is subtle and it isn't until 3/4 of my bean burrito is missing that the tingle in the lips starts to spread.

Thank you Amy's Kitchen for creating wonderful tasting refried beans that are completely organic and don't have any questionable meat ingredients. I'm now a brand loyalist! You make eating nachos feel like doing a good deed.

About Amy's Kitchen:

Amy's Kitchen is a family business that started in 1987 in the Berliner household and barn in California. At the birth of their daughter Amy, Andy and Rachel began creating organic, vegetarian meals for people that wanted the taste of homecooking, but didn't have the time for the preparation. They started with vegetable pot pies and today they reach annual sales of over $125 million. Last year they donated $800,000 worth of food to hurricaine survivors.

Amy's uses certified organic ingredients and no genetically modified organisms (GMO). All dairy ingredients are made with pasteurized rBST hormone free milk and do not contain animal enzymes or rennet. There are no meat, fish, poultry or eggs in any product. Amy's products do not contain hydrogenated fats or oils.

Ingredients: organic pinto beans, filtered water, organic onions, organic bell peppers, organic tomatoes, organic high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, organic green chiles, sea salt, organic garlic, spices