Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Artisana: A Review & Giveaway

Hey everybody! I'm back. If you missed Katie's coconut butter post from yesterday, you should really check it out. It might give you a few hints about what to do if you win this week's awesome giveaway!

You see, months and months ago I sent Artisana an email asking if I could review a few of their nut butter products on my blog. I couldn't find any Artisana products in Memphis at the time, and I was desperate to try some. I wasn't ready to take a chance and order Artisana coconut butter or nut butters online without trying some first. An Artisana rep agreed to send me a package, but months passed before anything arrived. I'd all but given up, and then finally two weeks ago, I received a mystery package. I ripped it open to reveal this:

A big ole jar of Artisana's new Cashini Butter (that's cashew and tahini), coconut butter, coconut oil, and raw Cacao Bliss (coconut chocolate butter):

And wait ... that's not all. There was also this:

These are single-serving Artisana go-packs! They're new, and I suppose Artisana was holding out so I could review their newest line of products. These convenient packs are so handy for packin' a lunch or a road trip snack. Throughout the past week, I've tried one of each go-pack on bagels and toast. My favorite was the Walnut Butter:

This stuff tastes exactly like eating straight-up walnuts schmeared on toast! I actually tried adding strawberry jam to my first batch of walnut butter and toast, but the jam masked the delicate flavor of the walnuts. I quickly determined that raw nut butters are best enjoyed unadorned.

Tying for a close second fave was the Pecan Butter and the Macadamia Butter, both of which I ate on a whole grain bagel:

Though not pictured, I enjoyed a generous schmear of the new Cashini Butter on some homemade whole wheat bread, and it was melt-in-my-mouth amazing. The delicate flavor of the cashews is the perfect complement to the sturdy tahini flavor. This stuff would make some damn fine hummus.

During the time it took Artisana to get the samples to me, my Whole Foods started selling the coconut butter. They still don't sell their raw nut butters, but at least it's a start. I knew this raw Cacao Bliss was going to be amazing, and I was right. What's better than raw coconut combined with raw cacao? Yep, nothing:

Since I can now purchase Artisana raw coconut butter in Memphis, I thought it'd be nice if I used the eight-ounce jar they sent for a fun giveaway!

For a chance to win, leave me a comment at the end of this post about your favorite way to use coconut butter. Feel free to reference Katie's post for hints. If you'd like to double your chances, tweet about the giveaway (and link back) and let me know you did in a second comment. If you want to triple your chances, post a link on Facebook and leave yet another comment for a total of three entries (comments) per person.

I'll leave the contest open until next Tuesday night at 10 p.m. (CST). And if you're not a blogger who can easily be reached through your blog, please leave an email address where I can contact you if you win. I'll randomly select the winner. Good luck!

122 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like mine right out of the jar.
mmmmmmmmmm



starfish@marenhanna.com

Anonymous said...

I've honestly never tried coconut butter but I'm sure it would be great on whole grain toast with Earth Balance. :)


~Midnite (harrypotter_rox (at) msn.com)

Anonymous said...

Shoot, you're so sweet! What a coconutty fun giveaway!! I would definitely use coconut butter for a batch of brownies. Mmmmmmm!

littleblackfox said...

Oh, what can't you do with it?! My favourite things to do with it is add it to curries (a spoonful stirred into lentil dhal is really yum!), to Persian rice (again, a spoonful, this time added at the start when you're browning the onions, just before adding the rice) and when you're baking sweet bread rolls (and scatter the top of the rolls with toasted coconut). I also add it to body butters & lip balms too!

Nachos said...

Hi Bianca,

This isn't an entry, just a comment. Haven't been on your blog in ages and just noticed that you got a BOOK DEAL!

WOAH!!

Congratulations, girl! Can't wait for you to be published xx

JL Goes Vegan said...

Great giveaway! I'm a simple gal, I put a dollop of coconut butter on a baked yam. YUM! I also add it to a green smoothie.

JL Goes Vegan said...

Doubled my chances! Tweeted your giveaway (I'm JLgoesVegan on twitter)

Erica said...

My favorite way to use coconut butter is on GF millet toast sprinkled with cinnamon! YUM! Also love it in smoothies!

erica@discoveringraw.com

Erica said...

Tweeted here! http://twitter.com/discoveringraw/status/22695731153

erica@discoveringraw.com

Erin said...

Oh heck yeah. I have never tried coconut butter, so first I'd just like to have some on sliced apple. Then put it on some muffins...pancakes...Katie's carrot cake looks good...

Rebekah (clarity in creation.) said...

as a starving college student, i haven't forked over the cash, but i am imagining it would be heavenly in a coconut and cashew butter sandwich... holy crap.

Rebekah (clarity in creation.) said...

i tweeted it!

Jen said...

Like Katie, I enjoy it best "straight-up."

Anonymous said...

I have never tried coconut butter before! If I had some though I would try using it in baked goods.

Lauren said...

I didn't know they had nut butters now?!

Mmm I think a dollop on top of a scone would be nice.

The Health Sensei said...

i like to add some vanilla extract and pure raw agave or coconut nectar to the bottle, mix it up vigorously, and let the flavors mingle for an hour or so. then i proceed to eat a ton of it, right out of the jar, like i used to do when i was a little fat kid w/ betty crocker icing :D

The Health Sensei said...

also, i'm not a fan of the single-serving packs of nut butters...a lot of waste is made...

radioactivegan said...

I'd love to try coconut butter, but I can't find it anywhere here. I also tried to contact artisana, but no luck on my end ... I'd love to try it pretty much any way, just because Katie raves about it so much!

Chocolate-Covered Katie said...

hehehe you already know my favorite way to eat coconut butter :)

P.S. Don't enter me (not that I wouldn't LOVE another jar of coconut butter, but it wouldn't be fair to take the chance away from someone who can't find it).

Kristina said...

I love to mix coconut butter with any nut butter..the combination is awesome! :) Also, straight up is quite nice.

SweetKaroline said...

my favorite way is definitely on top of my oats in the morning;)

Kara Hadley said...

I've never eaten coconut butter, but oh m'gosh, do i want to now. From Katie's post the best way to me looks like schmearing it atop some raw carrot cake. Or with a spoon.

Kara Hadley said...

And I just tweeted it:
http://twitter.com/KaraHadley

Unknown said...

i love katie's babies! theyre a great way to always have a healthy vegan snack on you so you can keep up with your omni friends when vegan dining options aren't available.

....and theyre so dang good!

Kelsey said...

I love using it to make the chocolate coconut cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar! So much better than samoas.

kreed1287 @ gmail dot com

audrey said...

Hi there!
Though I've never commented on your blog before (I think?), its the first one I check every day :) I've never had coconut butter before, but I imagine my first experiment (after trying some unadulterated, right outta the jar;)) would be to make Katie's coco-babies! They look amazing!

Millie said...

I love all the products you have there ...they are so good.

Dianne said...

I got my first jar of coconut butter a while back...I tried it once on toast with chocolate, a couple times with oatmeal, and proceeded to polish off the rest with a spoon (over time, of course)! So I guess that's my answer :-)

Sarah L. said...

I like my coconut butter best straight up... on a spoon. But it also makes a wicked addition to my morning oats.

singerinkitchen said...

Thanks for that nice giveaway! I love making my own raw chocolate sauce for dipping and making my own candy.

singerinkitchen said...

I tweeted! http://twitter.com/singerinkitchen/status/22705304424

miriam said...

i haven't yet allowed myself to spend ten bucks on a jar of smushed coconut, but i imagine i'd enjoy it on just about everything. i bet it would be really good in my favorite smoothie, which as of now consists only of peaches and coconut water.

Unknown said...

For the record that cocao coconut butter looks like heaven on earth!!! If eating that is a sin I don't wanna be right! LOL

I've never tried coconut butter but since you said jelly sort of masked the taste of it I'd love to use the coconut butter to make raw coconut truffle balls!!!! Add a few ingredients, blend away then roll around in a coconut party and viola!

Unknown said...

I posted on my FB :)

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747858323

2Snaps said...

My favorite way to enjoy coconut butter is with a spoon and my mouth!! It's soo good on it's own, there's no need for anything else! :)

Although I do enjoy using it to make a coconut cashew creme filling for banana crepes! Yumtastic breakfast!

CPNC said...

I eat oatmeal every morning, and I love to swirl different kinds of butters into it on cool winter mornings. Or straight out of the jar!

Shannon said...

I tried it with roasted veg. YUM!

Sarah S. said...

What an amazing artisana bounty!! Thanks for giving away some coconut butter, and good timing, I just ran out. My favorite use is spooned on top of a steaming hot baked sweet potato with cinnamon. BEST!

Evelyn said...

I have never had coconut butter, if you can believe that!

I think the best way I would enjoy it would be straight out of the jar... :)

Eric said...

raw macaroons for sure.

Punkin Nerd said...

i would love to try coconut butter for vegan buttercream frosting

sara said...

i've never had coconut butter! i keep meaning to but it's pricy. i'd make an icing out of it, like katie did with her carrot cake!

Meg said...

I've never had it but I think I'd just eat it straight from the jar. ;)

Jessica said...

I've never had it, so I'm guessing my first try would be on toast. Then on sweet potato fries. And then go from there.

BlissfuLife said...

Never tried it but now I want to! I think my first taste would be straight from the jar with a spoon though!

Dana said...

I haven't had it before, but I think my first try would be on a toasted sesame bagel. Mmm. OR, a warm English muffin.

Anonymous said...

Wow, cashini butter?! That's so cool! Though I could just make it myself now that I have a Vitamix, haha...

I like coconut butter on sweet potatoes...or on spoons. ;)

Peter and Kassi said...

I would love some for my oatmeal! :)

reedie 4 life at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/prideandveg

Peter and Kassi said...

I tweeted!!

reedie 4 life at gmail dot com

allison said...

I LOVE coconut butter on a sweet potato! Best!

allison said...

I tweeted, too!

Jess of Midwest Vegan said...

I haven't actually tried it yet... My podunk town doesn't carry it, but I already know I'd slather some of that deliciousness on some buckwheat pancakes!

And probably everything cause I'm obsessed with coconut and butters!

Joi said...

I love making popcorn with it.

Junghwa said...

i love using it to roast vegetables with :)

HD said...

**raises hand to try**

balconyscreams at gmail dot com

Ali - YumVeggieBurger said...

I've actually never tried coconut butter... but now I'm curious!
How similar is it to coconut milk? I used to use that a lot in cooking, but noticed that it was so fatty I always felt slightly ill after eating it, so I stopped.

sarahjbard said...

I like substitute it as the "fat" in most recipes, but for straight eating, I like stuffing dates with it. So filling, but so delicious!

Just Us said...

I've never had coconut butter, but I bet it would be great smeared on some pancakes. btw...the Cacao Bliss sounds amazing!

Leslie Richman said...

I've never had coconut butter, but I'd love to give it a shot! Wonder if it would be good in a spread or sauce for samosas?

The Kuntrageous Vegan said...

My favorite way to use coconut butter is in raw desserts; the coconut butter really gives the dessert a depth of flavor that you can't accomplish with anything else.

Sarah W. said...

I've never tried it before, but I'm pretty sure one of my favorite uses would be to slather it on top of a muffin. yum!

Heather said...

Obviously when making raw chocolate truffles!

Jenna Z said...

I love baking with it. And making raw tasty treats like the recipes from Averie (http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/).

Anonymous said...

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm dying to make the whipped topping from Katie's blog!

Animal-Friendly said...

I've never tried coconut butter but have been wanting too for soooooo long. I would love to try it on a toasted slice of homemade bread for a simple breakfast.

Anonymous said...

I have never used coconut butter before, so I don't have a favorite way, but I would love to discover one!

Courtney

Amy said...

I like mine in oatmeal. yum!

Amy said...

tweet! http://twitter.com/amyceleste

formulafuel@Hotmail.com said...

I love it on top off an ice cold protein pudding shake!

Anonymous said...

I've never tried coconut butter so I have no idea what my favorite way to use it would be.. but I'm thinking.. in oatmeal or a smoothie!

Lowen said...

Bryant Terry's 'Vegan Soul Kitchen' has several delicious recipes that utilize coconut butter. At first, I honestly didn't know the difference between coconut butter and coconut oil and then I finally tasted Artisana's raw coconut butter and it was just incredible. I have since enjoyed those 'VSK' recipes so much more. I especially like Terry's recipe for pie crust and coconut butter drop biscuits! mmmmm!

Mara said...

My favorite way to eat it is with some agave and vanilla flavoring on muffins and cupcakes as frosting. Oh my!...

Anonymous said...

Ohhh pick me :)

I really want to try this stuff and I can't find it anywhere!

So if I did try some I would picture myself using it on some apple slices or in some oats!

I am updating my facebook now to link this post! (no twitter)

That's 2 entries :)
-Whitney

Katie said...

I've never had the opportunity to try coconut butter... but I'd love to give it a try! :D

Anonymous said...

Here's FB link to see I did so:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/WhitneyReddy

Anonymous said...

I love coconut butter in oatmeal, toast, smoothies and so much more!

That cashnini makes me so excited. I've seriously got to try that.

Melanie - idreamoftahini@yahoo.com

Emily N. said...

I've never had any coconut butter before, but I'd probably like it straight out of the jar.

Emily N. said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/prizepuzzle/status/22762175269

Anonymous said...

By the spoonful!

amybuzby@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I left a tweet !!

idreamoftahini@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I left a FB comment.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001504308299#!/profile.php?id=100001504308299&v=wall

Rachel said...

delicious coconut macaroons!

Rachel (tea and chocolate) said...

I've never had coconut butter, but I would definitely put it on oats!

Casey said...

I love putting coconut butter on Ezekiel bread with some blackberry jam! SOOO good!!

HeyitsBeth said...

My god, those little packets look awesome!

I've never used coconut butter before, but I'm definitely thinking I'd try it as a moisturizer for the dry winter we have coming up.

Ricki said...

Are Canadians eligible? If so, count me in! I love to eat the stuff blended with almond butter. . . a yummy twosome! :)

maya938 said...

Katie's post coconut butter inspired me too!

I have been enjoying raw pecan butter, fresh from the grind your own grinder at Whole Foods. I scoop it up with small pieces of dark chocolate.

Melissa said...

I've never tried it before, but I'd love to mix it into oatmeal!

Chenzia said...

I like the raw artisan coconut butter on a baked sweet potato with some pumpkin pie spice on top!!

Ashley Johnston said...

I'm a bread and nut butter kinda girl! :)

tout said...

I would really like to make those delicious looking raw macaroons!

I have always wanted to try coconut butter! :)

Jessica said...

I tweeted!

Unknown said...

I would be great on toast or as icing on a muffin!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

LONG LIVE GOJI BLISS! I wish it was still around.

Zee said...

I've never had it! Please let me try!

Kelly said...

Mmm, coconut... I'd definitely work it into a frosting for some sort of yummy carrot cake.

Amanda said...

I like it melted with syrup to top waffles or pancakes. Yum!

My fave Artisana nut butter is the walnut too. :)

Jess - The Domestic Vegan said...

I loooove Artisana products. Those little to-go packets look so great!!! How convenient. Also a smart way to try new nut butters before committing to an entire expensive jar.

My favorite way to eat coconut butter is to stuff it inside a pitted date, with or without a chocolate chip. DIVINE.

Jess - The Domestic Vegan said...

I tweeted about the giveaway, too! I'm @DomesticVegan.

Amey said...

hey, a fun giveaway!
I don't have a favorite way to enjoy coconut butter, because I've never even tried it! Is it the kind of thing I could use for baking instead of Earth Balance, or is that more like coconut oil? I'm sure I would have a fun time finding out my favorite uses for coconut butter!

Melissa said...

I havent tried coconut butter, due to how expensive it is, but I think I would probably eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon!
I love coconut :)
mnegelsp AT email.arizona.edu

Damjana said...

My fav way to use coconut butter is on pancakes well also right out of the jar ;)

Mari said...

What a silly question...Mounds Bar Babies of course :)
mariannaclark@att.net

Alexa said...

I would use it to make Raw Carrot Cake. I just made my first Carrot Cake from scratch, and would love to make another one with a different spin!

Cake said...

I want to try raw brownies.

Sistastrong said...

I love to use coconut butter in baking as a margarine alternative...ex. Using coconut butter in ginger cookies...yummy!

rivka said...

My favorite way to enjoy it . . .

I don't know!

I've never tried it yet!

(anna.rivka@gmail.com)

Anonymous said...

I've been making a lot of vegan frozen desserts lately using my ice cream maker. The recipes often call for coconut milk -- but I'd like to try it using the butter...!

artofpatience (AT) ourprairie (DOT) net

Heather said...

I've never had coconut butter! I wanted to try some after reading Katie's blog, but I haven't found any yet. I have to assume some exists here in Austin since I believe that's where Katie lives. I'll keep searching!

Anonymous said...

Just passing this on, in case it may be of interest -- a 'groupon'-type deal (limited time): 16$ for $40 worth of shmancy gourmet VEGAN chocolate bonbons(http://www.premiumchocolatiers.com/)....

http://www.eversave.com
(or, in your case ;-)
http://www.eversave.com/memphis

mia said...

I don't know how I would like coconut butter...but as a "new" vegan, I'm sort of dying to try it!!

Unknown said...

I have never tried it, but i want to try ALL of katie's yummy looking recipes. My husband would prolly love it if i used in Indian dishes and such....

Natalie said...

I love love love chocolate coconut butter swirled into my banana soft serve ^_^

natazria@gmail.com

Crissy said...

I would love to try it as frosting as Katie suggested!

Anonymous said...

Well I have never had coconut butter but after reading Katies post I would want to try it as frosting on some banana muffins I make.

Becca said...

I prefer it right from the jar ... even though it makes my bf kinda sick to his stomach. He's a coconut hater.

Anonymous said...

oooh! read this just in time. i've only used coconut butter once and i made my first truffles for my pookie's birthday!! hope to try some again soon ;)

bluephelia26@hotmail.com

kimberly said...

i've never had coconut butter, but i can never get enough of pumpkin butter. and i love me some coconut!

Emily said...

I've never had coconut butter because of its $7 price tag at Fresh & Easy.

But when it's free, I'm sure it will taste good on everything!

Urban Cyclist said...

On toast. I've been obsessed with the idea of coconut butter melting into a hot piece of toast, maybe some jam on top, since seeing it on eatliverun.com

Anonymous said...

Mmmm... I'd love to try some coconut butter mixed into hot oatmeal!