Ya never saw it coming, did ya Borat?
It’s the return of the Banana Hammocks! Remember those scary things?
This particular banana hammock uses Artisana Cashini Butter, the newest creation by the delicious folks over at Premier Organics. Basically, cashini butter is a blend of raw cashews, sesame seeds, and sea salt. Now, I’ve never been keen on tahini, so I searched for an unbiased source to give y’all an honest review.
Enter the incredibly-helpful Mr. Handsome Dinner Date, who also happens to like breakfast.
My dislike of tahini certainly wasn’t helped any by the Tahini meatballs! 😕
Dearest dad is a former breakfast-skipper who mended his ways after mucho nagging by his well-meaning daughter. Having travelled the world, he’s an extremely adventurous eater. Therefore, when I asked yesterday, he was more than happy to sample the cashini butter for me. So, I made up a Cashini banana hammock, topped with raisins, coconut, and kamut flakes. Daddy loved it; I guess that bodes well for the cashini butter. He did say, though, that he couldn’t really taste a difference between this butter and regular tahini. Perhaps the cashews simply make the butter creamier, without adding anything to the actual flavor. (P.S. I also had a banana hammock, but mine was with regular cashew butter.)
As for the other Artisana flavors:
- Cashew Butter: Creamiest-ever cashew butter! It’s good on its own, it’s good with bananas, and—oh yeah—it’s good in tomorrow’s raw cheesecake recipe. Quite sticky, though. You literally cannot get it off the roof of your mouth.
- Walnut Butter: This is flavorful, but a bit boring. It tastes exactly like crushed walnuts, which isn’t surprising, considering that’s mostly what it is. The texture is neither smooth nor creamy. Not bad, but nothing in comparison to the cashew, macadamia, or coconut butters.
- Pecan Butter: See walnut butter. This is also ok, albeit a little too grainy (not creamy) for my liking.
- Almond Butter: Yumlicious, but pretty similar to other almond butters I’ve tried.
- Macadamia Butter: Squeal! Another favorite. But this is from the girl who loves those macadamia-filled Wild Bars. So it’s no surprise I adore this flavor.
- Tahini: Official taste-tester man (Dad) says it tastes the same as the cashini.
- Cacao Bliss: Chocolate and coconut. Need I say more?
- Coconut Oil: Looooooooooooove this oil for making Homemade Chocolate 🙂
The macadamia nut butter made a previous appearance in the form of Piña Colada Breakfast Pie.
I haven’t seen big jars of it, so I don’t often use this butter. But I highly recommend it. The smoothness is off the charts! And now, going back to something that stemmed from yesterday’s discussion: Do you think that, as a society, we’re obsessed with others’ lives?
I feel like, in many cases, our obsession with others’ lives hinders how we live our own lives. People have forgotten how to think for themselves. (Do you really like those boots, or do you only want them because Kim Kardashian wears them?)
It’s not just celebrities’ lives we’re obsessed with: Andrea’s comment was spot on; people need to stop concerning themselves with things that aren’t any of their business: the overweight woman who’s eating cake, the underweight woman who’s eating a salad, the working girl who’s buying expensive clothing… you have no idea what’s really going on in their lives, so who are you to judge? It’s not your job to be the police. And the same thing goes for trying to eat, talk, dress, or be like someone else. If you’re a cross-country runner, does it really make sense to try and tailor your diet to mimic your sedentary best friend’s?
As Rihanna says, Live your life! And come back tomorrow for cheesecake. (No, Rihanna doesn’t say that part.)
Jessica (Fit and Clean) says
My least fave is the macadamia nut butter. I don’t know if it was the flavor, or the texture, or a combination but it just didn’t do it for me 🙁 I am currently working my way through an Artisana box that was sent in the mail to me…and that was as far as I got, LOL! Can’t wait to try the rest (some I’m already a fan of anyway!!) 🙂
ecogrrl says
great. now i think of cashini butter and penises all at the same time. thanks kate! 🙂
and yes, i think if we stopped to think ‘how much do we know about this person’s life and what they are going through’ before we pass judgment based on one small action (someone driving too slow, a comment we didn’t like) and got to know the person, it could make a huge difference, not to mention help us think before we rush to judge.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh goodness, I’m sorry. Hey, at least I didn’t say “teeny cashini hammock.” I thought about it… Hehe I guess my mind’s never far from the gutter :-?.
Your driving comment made me laugh! True story: my uncle was on the highway one day (before I was born) and someone was driving reeeaally slowly a few cars in front of him. Of course he was cursing and yelling. Anyway, when he finally got to pass the car, he saw that it was my great grandma! So now, every time someone’s going slowly in front of us, we have to laugh and remember, “Hey, it could be someone’s old grandma.”
MoniMeals says
What! not a big fan of Hummus, R U Mad!? 😉
Great comments going here Katie! Yes, many folks judge, like to see others fail, build you up, to then take you down, why the obsession? I don’t get it, I do think the happier you are-well then the happier you are! and you are not so ivolved (or obsessed) with other peoples lives. Trust me I see Paparazzi on a weekly basis out here in LA.:)It is nuts!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh, it’s so true that some people like to see others fail. I don’t understand it :(. Maybe it makes them feel better about their own shortcomings? Misery loves company? Personally, if I see someone else miserable, it just makes me MORE miserable!
(M.S.)^2 says
I really like the last couple of paragraphs on your post! It is so true, and I really needed this!
See, for college, I was comparing myself with all my friends/people who were going to a “better” school than me. But now that I’m actually at the school, I love the people here and their attitudes! I knew I shouldn’t have compared, but I couldn’t help it, and it really doesn’t get you anywhere. So this means a lot to me. Thanks for the point!!
P.S: My boyfriend and I started a new blog, in case you don’t recognize who I am. Come see my page and you’ll know who I am! (if you have time, that is)
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hehe my poor genius friend got into Harvard… but it took her self-esteem DOWN a notch or to, not up. Once she got there, she didn’t feel so smart anymore, because suddenly SHE was the one making Cs! (She’s still a genius to me. It’s scary that there are people smarter than her in the world lol.)
jodye @ 'scend food says
As if I didn’t love Artisana products already, you’ve just convinced me to go out and buy more of them! I’ve never had macadamia butter but it sounds to-die-for, especially when it’s part of a pina colada breakfast pie. Could you please tempt me even more?!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Well, if you insist 😉
Andrea says
Hey Katie! How do you make cashew butter? I have a Vita – I’m assuming you can just do it like you make peanut/almond butter? 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t yet made homemade nut butters in my Vita. But yes, you’d do cashew the same way as peanut butter or almond butter. And, depending on your taste preference, you can use roasted, salted, or even raw cashews :).
Barbara says
Update: This cashew/tahini blend is no longer available, but I’m sure you could easily make your own by combining tahini with cashew butter 50/50….. which, I think I will do, cuz this blend sounds awesome!