Hey guys! In regards to my subscribers not getting emails, I have been told it was due to a malfunction in the plug-in I used to send out the emails. But a new version was released that is supposed to have fixed this bug so I sincerely hope you are all receiving my emails again. Some have already told me they are, so fingers crossed everyone is!
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Sometimes a company just blows you away. With it’s quality of ingredients, commitment to sustainability and generosity, Alter Eco, is one of those companies.
It was quite a while ago when I first mentioned Alter Eco company on my blog. I had received one of their chocolate bars in a pen pal swap with the lovely Shelby and just loved it! It wasn’t too long after I was contacted by the company and we’ve been talking ever since, just waiting for a good time for me to try out some of their other products and host a giveaway. Well my friends, the time has come!
Firstly, I just want to thank Alter Eco for their generosity! They sent me a very generous package complete with Rainbow Quinoa, Thai Sticky Purple Rice and 5 different kinds of chocolate bars! Crazy right?
Yes I know there are only 4 bars pictured here, but the roommate got to one before I could take the picture!
I have a lot of respect for this company. With a focus on providing equitable and sustainable products, they strive to provide us with organic, heirloom, minimally processed foods while giving back to the farmers to ensure a more socially just planet. You can really feel good about buying and eating these products which can be tricky to come across these days.
Now onto the products themselves. First we’ll start with dessert. Or amazing decadent chocolate that is. Now I’m a chocolate person, but I dare anyone to dislike these bars! The quality is superb with a rich, smooth chocolate base that makes one square more than enough to satisfy a craving. Here are the 5 bars they sent me:
47% cocoa with coconut nut toffee, butter and sea salt. Now I didn’t try this one since it had dairy in it, but my roommate sure downed it pretty quickly which I take as a good sign ;)
63% cocoa with crunchy cacao nibs. This was a bittersweet bar with rich sweetness coming from the chocolate and a bitter crunchiness from the cacao nibs. I loved the flavour and the antioxidant punch that comes with the nibs. They added great texture.
60% cocoa with slow roasted almonds. This was probably by favourite. Toasty, nutty crunch from the almonds complimented a deep dark chocolate beautifully.
60% cocoa with toasted quinoa. The quinoa provides a nutty crunch, similar to a rice krispy that makes this bar like a high-quality, super-amazing version of a Crunchy bar.
85% cocoa, straight up with nothing added. This was very intense and dark with fruity undertones. One of my favourites since I just love dark chocolate! Scroll down for a recipe using it!
Next were the grains.
This rice was simply gorgeous! It cooked up to a beautiful purple colour and was just as sticky as you would expect! It made eating dishes with chopsticks very easy and just soaked up loads of delicious sauces. Amazing when dry toasted before cooking.
It is for these reasons, I highly recommend making a curry to go with this rice.
See that beautiful colour? Doesn’t it just brighten up the whole plate?
Easy Weeknight Curry with Thai Purple Sticky Rice (Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free)
Ingredients (Serves ~4)
- 1 cup Thai Purple Sticky Rice
- 2 cups water
- oil for sautéing (I used coconut)
- 1 small onion (1 used 3 tiny Dutch onions)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp red chilli flakes
- your favourite veggies (I used yellow pepper, orange pepper, carrots, broccoli)
- 4 cups of the green of your choice (I used kale), it sounds like a lot, but it will wilt down
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp good quality curry powder (I used the one Alexia sent me!)
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- diced tomato for topping (optional)
Instructions
First, get your rice cooking! Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Dry toast the rice over medium-low heat next in a medium saucepan, until it becomes nutty and fragrant and the grains are almost dry. Add the water to the pan, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 25 min, or until all the water is absorbed.
Melt your coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent and just starting to brown. Next add the garlic, chilli flakes and cumin and sauté for another minute. Add the rest of your veggies, next, starting with the ones that will take longest to cook (like broccoli and carrots), cook for a few minutes then add faster cookies ones like bell peppers). Sauté for a minute.
Now pour in the can of coconut milk and stir in the 2 tbsp of curry powder. Turn up the heat on the pan and bring the liquid to a simmer, stirring in the curry powder. Once simmering add the kale, or whichever green you are using, stir to incorporate then turn the heat down to low, cover and simmer for ~10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve the curry over Thai Sticky Purple Rice and use the rice to sop up every last ounce of the sauce!
![Royal Rainbow Quinoa [alt-000458.jpg]](http://i2.wp.com/shop.alterecofoods.com/img/heros/alt-000458.jpg?w=560)
This combination of white, red and black quinoa was simply fantastic. I loved the colour this quinoa gave to dishes and it helped me to incorporate some of the other quinoa varieties into my diet besides the white. For some reason I have never been a fan of red quinoa on it’s own- something about the texture, but as a part of this mix it was lovely! Plus it’s organic, sustainable and equitably traded with a focus on small farmers. which made me feel better about eating it. Have you guys read about all the problems with producing quinoa these days? Read this article about Bolivia, it really makes you think twice about this nutritious grain. Alter Eco’s methods help to combat these issues which is admirable.
When I was thinking about a recipe to make with the quinoa, I really wanted to go for something different and I wanted to include another of Alter Eco’s products in it- the chocolate. I know I could have done a chocolate dessert quinoa version of a rice pudding but I wanted to take it in a different direction. What resulted in a delicious rainbow quinoa pilaf with a flax-citrus dressing and chocolate chunks that is so intriguing in it’s flavours. The citrus dressing compliments the chocolate gorgeously and the quinoa provides a delicious, nutritious back drop to tie everything in. I used beets and green beans as my vegetables, but feel free to mix it up with whatever you have!
Rainbow Quinoa and Chocolate Pilaf with Flax Citrus Dressing (Vegan, Gluten-free)
Ingredients (Serves ~6)
Pilaf
- 1 cup Royal Rainbow Quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 a red onion, diced and submerged in ice water for 10 minutes. This helps reduce it’s pungency! Thanks for the tip Caralyn!
- 1 cup (ish) chopped green beans
- 3 large leaves red swiss chard, chopped into bite sized pieces
- 2 golden beets, peeled and grated
- 1/2 a bar of your favourite dark chocolate (I used Alter Eco’s Dark Blackout), chopped
- 3 tbsp – 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Citrus-Flax Dressing
- 1/4 cup flax oil
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Bragg’s
- 1 tbsp coconut nectar (or maple syrup)
- juice of 1/2 an orange
Instructions
First, rinse the quinoa until the water runs clear in a fine-meshed strainer. Then, dry toast the quinoa in a medium saucepan until it’s fragrant and almost dry. Then add in the water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. About 2 minutes before it’s done add the chopped green beans and stir in to combine. When the quinoa is done, remove from the heat and add in the swiss chard. Stir and cover, then allow it to sit for a few minutes. This will soften the chard without overcooking it.
Add the quinoa mixture, red onion, and golden beets to a large bowl. Cover and allow it to chill in the fridge until completely cool. If it’s too warm the chocolate will melt when you add it.
While you’re waiting combine all dressing ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk well.
When the quinoa is chilled mix in the chocolate chunks and the dressing. Allow it to sit in the fridge for a few hours so the flavours combine. Just before serving add the pumpkin seeds.
I am submitting this recipe to Allergy-Free Wednesday!
This was so satisfying! The sweet chocolate is balanced perfectly from the sourness in the dressing, the bitterness of the chard and pungency of the onions. The dressing alone is amazing- I can’t wait to make it again!
I highly recommend supporting this company! Not only are their ethics totally in line, they make delicious products that are incredibly versatile and nutritious. Check them out!
Now because they are so awesome, Alter Eco has offered to send one lucky reader some goodies! Just enter the giveaway below. Leaving a blog comment is mandatory, but everything else is optional. Good luck!
is that quinoa chocolate I see? Love!
(and love all those other goodies too!)
combining 2 of my favourite foods :)
The toffee bar looks so good – I am so checking out this company, you haven’t steared me worng yet with your reccomendations!
I love the sounds of your Rainbow Quinoa Pilaf – it sounds so bright and amazing :)
Toffee bar is the only one that’s not vegan :( It’s funny that that’s the one everyone wants to try! Oh well, maybe one day! But yes it’s a seriously awesome company you should check out!
And thank you- it’s so delicious!
Wow, I’m totally craving the quinoa crispy bar! YUM! Such pretty rice and quinoa!
Hehe isn’t it gorgeous??
Hi Gabby! I’m Gaby too! I love your blog but not sure I’ve ever commented before…but to win free chocolate? And eco frriendly chocolate that looks delicous? Heck yeah! These look so good but I usually have to just get what’s on sale :\ I think I”d deal with the belly ache just to try a square of that toffee one.
And putting it in quinoa is genius. I think I’d make a purple sticky rice with toasted coconut, chocolate chunks, and maybe cool it off with some coconut milk drizzled on top. Like a rice pudding!
Hey Gaby! So glad you like my blog :) Haha yes commenting for chocolate is definitely worth it ;)
It’s funny, when I was trying to think of a recipe to make for this review I almost made the exact same thing but with the quinoa. Great minds think alike!
the purple rice looks awesome, and i love your recipe!
Thank you Meredith!
gabby! i am so happy you enjoy using the curry powder and have come up with lots of different ways to include it in your recipes! i just love that powder so so much- BUT recently I have found a ton of new ones.. there is a great cookbook store in vienna – and they have a 3 course meal every week that you can enjoy there – its quite cheap and basically a new cookbook review every week. they sell all the spice mixes too and i just bought a new FANTASTIC one.. i think we need to do another foodie exchange!! so want to come over to canada and have a foodie “camp” with u… haha
Yes I have been reall enjoying it Alexia! It’s so delicious! Wow that cookbook store sounds so cool! Another foodie swap at some point sounds amazing! As does you coming to Canada and us cooking up a storm- so much avocado, tahini, dates and coconut I have a feeling ;)
The Dark Blackout bar
good choice!
What unique treats! I’ve never seen these chocolate bars before, but I’d sure love to try them. Crunchy quinoa chocolate sounds incredible, and you can almost pretend that it’s a healthy snack, right? ;)
Oh absolutely! You can totally justify eating the whole bar that way ;)
what what.. theres chocolate in the quinoa! awesome
and theres toasted quinoa in the chocolate. :)) .need to try that one!
Hahaha LOVE this comment :) It’s very cool to have the quinoa in chocolate- makes you feel all healthy for eating it!
Oh my gosh – all the chocolate bars look so yummy! I love dark chocolate – especially artisan flavors! Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!
I love dark chocolate too- always so much more than milk even before I went vegan!
I’m not sure if Canadians may enter, but just in case: I’d love to try the Blackout chocolate bar.
Of course Canadians can enter! How could I deny my fellow country men and women?! (In case it wasn’t clear by that I’m Canadian too!)
Clearly, I pay too much attention to the food and not enough attention to anything else.
Haha I can totally understand that!
I’m already a huge fan of the Alter Eco rainbow quinoa! In fact just restocked my cupboard with some more this past weekend. I would LOVE to try the purple sticky rice – looks yummy!
Awesome Devon! Ya they have some killer products, glad you agree :)
Yummm! I’ll take a toffee please and a quinoa bar! ;) They sound delish – I haven’t tried any of their products. Are they Canadian? The pilaf looks delish! Wish you were my neighbor girlie!
Good choices Heather :) They aren’t Canadian, from the U.S. but they were so good about shipping all the stuff here- great international relations ;)
If only eh? So much food sharing and gossiping over said food would happen!
I feel spoiled- 2 Veggie Nook recipes! They both look amazing (and they were waiting for me when I get home tonight), but that pilaf is killing me! That is totally my kind of meal!
Great recipes and great giveaway, Gabby! That Dark Blackout looks killer!
Aww you are so cute Kristy thank you! Anyway I can squeeze more chocolate in ;)
I would love to try the chocolate–it looks so good!
It’s really tasty! Good luck :)
everything looks wonderful! the chocolate sounds good but so does the quinoa!
It’s good to mix in a little healthy with the decadent :)
I definitely need to try that bar with the quinoa. And that pilaf looks so delicious. Anything that sneaks a little chocolate in is fine by me!
Haha yes Reia, chocolate is never a bead idea :)
I love Alter Eco, but I’ve never even seen the sticky rice. That looks amazing!
It’s so delicious, definitely pick it up if you see it! It’s so fun and colourful too!
I’m already a big fan of Alter Eco chocolate, but I’d love to try the purple rice! It looks beautiful!
Isn’t it gorgeous? Just brightens up any plate!
I have never tried purple rice…what are the benefits of it over brown rice? I think I have heard black rice is supposed to be better for you than brown rice too but I don’t remember why. And yes, chocolate PLEASE! Thanks for the review and giveaway Gabby!!!
Yes Laura, I should have discussed this! Purple rice gets its unique colour from anthocyanins which are anti-oxidant nutrients! Plus they also have a thicker bran, increasing the fiber :)
Good luck with the giveaway!
By the way, I hope you’ll consider linking this up to my Green Giveaways Linky Party – it’s a great fit! http://living-learning-eating.blogspot.com/2012/10/green-giveaway-linky.html
What a great idea for a linky party! All linked up :)
Wow! All these products look amazing, but if I had to choose hands down the dark cocao chocolate bar! I love the idea of using quinoa though for an added crunch!
Good choices :)
Both of these recipes sound so yummy, and even better they sound not too difficult! Thanks Gabby! Are these products available in BC?
Thanks Becky! You know I’m not sure, but I’m pretty certain you can order online!
This purple rice looks amazing. Love the bright color!
I know isn’t it beautiful!?
Dark chocolate quinoa bar is amazing!
it really is!
I’ve had the rainbow quinoa and it’s delicious but I wasn’t aware that Alter Ego makes so many other products. I can’t wait to start trying some of them; along with your recipes.
Thanks for the giveaway, it’s always good to give.
Peace.
Ya they are quite a versatile company! Good luck with the giveaway!
I absolutely love Alter Eco – they are a wonderful brand and their quinoa chocolate is one of my favourites :) I do with that the coconut toffee one was dairy free but other than that they are pretty perfect in their range!
If only it was dairy-free eh? It sounded so amazing! Oh well, maybe we will just have to try and recreate it ;)
I recently reviewed the Alter Eco quinoa chocolate on my blog, but I’m actually not sure whether I’ve ever talked about their other flavours. Might keep an eye out now that I’m here in Toronto!
Definitely! I've never actually seen them in a store here, I'll have to keep my eyes peeled!
yum!
indeed!
Looks wonderful Gabby! I am craving that chocolate :) Happy Wednesday!
Thanks Shira! It's definitely craveable, I wish I had some left! Happy Wednesday to you too!
I want some goodies! ;) It all looks delicious! I think I’ve tried that quinoa chocolate before. My co-worker brought some in one day and I got so excited!
Good luck Lindsay :) When is chocolate NOT exciting?
id love to win!
good luck!
Oh, I was wondering how come I didn’t receive any updates from your blog, now I know! Man oh man, those chocolate bars look GOOD! I would totally scarf the coconut toffee! :D
Ya it was so frustrating! But at least it's fixed now :)
I love their chocolates as well – yum, the quinoa one is awesome!
Totally agree!
I love all things quinoa, so the chocolate bar with the quinoa in it sounds DELICIOUS :)
It really is! I love knowing I'm getting some good nutrition in with my chocolate :)
Oh my, everything looks delicious! All that chocolate…and that purple rice looks so tasty. I may have to try that curry tonight since the meat-eating hubby is at work… ;-)
I hope you like it! It's so easy and satisfying!
These look fabulous, Gabby! The coconut toffee peaks my interest and the Dark Blackout too! Love a dark chocolate! Would love to try all their products – thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kibby! Good choices, you really can't go wrong!
Wow, those products look so great! The purple rice is so pretty and I prefer sticky rice over any other kind of rice so that would be amazing to try! Your rainbow quinoa pilaf is beautiful too yum! All of those chocolate bars look really delicious, I’d love to try any of them. Yum! This post made me hungry, ha! Thanks for the review, everything sounds amazing!
Thanks so much Sarah, I'm glad you liked the post! Try the chocolate if you see them, or hopefully, you win them ;)
I’ve been wanting to try the Alter Eco products every time I pass them at Whole Foods – their packaging always gets my attention. I think I’d most like to try the dark blackout bar – I love super dark chocolate!
Definitely try it next time you pass by them. SO worth it!
Id love to try the dark coconut toffee!!!
Good choice Kammie!
Looks crazy yum, Gabby! Chocolate in a quinoa salad? I must try that out. There chocolate quinoa bar looks like fun, too. :)
Thanks Janet! It's definitely one of the stranger things I've tried but it totally works!
I have never tried rainbow quinoa! I want to try these products. I have never heard of Alter Ego. I will have to look for their stuff!
Alter Eco is a great company, definitely try the products if you see them! And I am loving the rainbow quinoa- so colourful!
Getting your emails again, Gabby! Phew! Have to admit that the Dark Cacao and the Dark Quinoa stopped me in my tracks! Yum! Two great recipes, too! Awesome review.
That's so great Annie :) So happy to have you back in the loop! Those are 2 awesome bars, definitely try them if you see them! Thanks so much!
Wow! Amazing company, amazing products and some amazing, super creative recipes to boot :) That pilaf with chocolate chunks sounds so interesting – I bet I would totally dig it!
Thanks so much Lou! You would totally love this, it’s different and unique, savoury and sweet :)
Wow, that chocolate looks delicious – I need to try Alter Eco chocolate ASAP! Especially the blackout :)
Yes! If you like dark chocolate, that is a must-try!
It’s working yay my friend :D
Now has anyone told this company of this genius? Or this recipe of yours? Too delicious for words :)
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
haha you're welcome!! isn't crazy how well the ice water works?! that quinoa dish looks *SO* delicious. oh my gosh i want to do a face plant into it!! haha
Ya it works so well! Definitely becoming a regular trick around here. Thanks so much Caralyn!
Awesome Uru! So glda you like the look over everything :)