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Do you like Tofu? How about Pate? If you asked me those questions about a month ago my answer would have definitely been "No." Then I attended Seattle Veg feast, a local event that caters to vegetarians. I am not a vegetarian, but I wanted to see what kinds of foods were available. I have to say I was a little skeptical, but I wanted to keep an open mind and sample as many things as I could. Let me tell you I'm so glad I did, because I found Toby's Tofu Pate.

Toby's tofu pate is freshly made (no preservatives) and is a tasty addition to any cracker, bagel, apple or sandwich. The options are endless! And for those of you who hear pate and think goose liver, you have nothing to worry about here; Pate is just a fancy French word for "spread." I didn't even think of tofu when I was eating it. It reminded me more of a cheese spread like boursin. The texture was creamy and full of flavor. And since the main ingredients are tofu and herbs, it's actually not that bad for you.

This amazing spread all started with a woman named Toby from Oregon. She is a mother of three, all of whom were the inspiration of her tofu pate recipe almost 30 years ago. She began producing tofu pate in her licensed home kitchen and selling it to local health food stores. In 1994, Toby's son Jonah joined the family business and expanded Toby's Family Foods to distribution in Portland and Seattle (Thank you Jonah!).

I prefer supporting small, local, family-owned and operated businesses especially when they offer such a fantastic product. If you enjoy eating tofu this is something I am sure you have already tried (if not, I highly recommend that you do). And for those of you who look away when you're offered tofu, this is a product you should definitely try. It might just change your mind. It definitely changed mine!

I love cooking, but like many people, I often don't have the time to prepare a huge meal. For those occasions, I have found some great prepared meal options available from Bertolli. I was a bit skeptical at first, but after only 10 minutes invested in total preparation, I was sold. These meals are so easy to prepare and they taste great. Not only did I save time in meal preparation, I saved time doing dishes. I have found that there is more than enough in these meals to feed two. My personal favorite is the Chicken Parmigiana with Mozzarella and Penne Pasta. It is official, the days of the dreaded frozen pizza for dinner no longer exists.

For the times I want a healthier alternative, I turn to the old reliable Amy's Kitchen products. They are awesome. Their products are not only made with organic ingredients, but also vegetarian. And for those with special dietary needs, there is a great selection of gluten free. I have grown strangely dependent on these items and have dedicated space in my freezer at home specifically for these quick meals. I always have a case of the Bean Rice and Cheese Burritos on hand. Talk about saving time and money, these are perfect for lunch or as a quick snack for the kids. Nothing beats a home cooked meal, but for the nights (or days) you don't have the time, consider these wonderful alternatives.