Glowing Love Letter about Turtle Mountain Products

Starting this Spring, I have noticed Turtle Mountain's dairy-free frozen desserts popping up in stores other than Huckleberry's Natural Foods, or occasionally Fred Meyer. First came a couple of Albertson's, then one Safeway that I've noticed, and then the other day, I couldn't believe it. Wal-Mart was actually carrying the So Delicious vanilla and chocolate soy ice cream quarts for around $4.50 apiece. Amazing! Recently, someone told me that they even spotted some of their products at the Spokane Valley Grocery Outlet-- something I've yet to check out, but really should, even if they might be gone by now.

You're not just stuck with standard ice cream flavors. Here's what I've tried of their products so far:

So Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream-- A great mix of the two flavors. My husband, who really isn't much of an ice cream fan in general, even said he liked it. My mother, who is a "real" ice cream fanatic, said that although it didn't quite taste like what she would normally have, it was still pretty good.

So Delicious Neapolitan ice cream-- To be honest, not my favorite of the bunch. The strawberry portion is probably the weakest part and is heaviest on the soy taste, so that may not please anyone trying to fake themselves out over what they are really eating. The flavors are swirled together a bit unevenly too, so sometimes it's really heavy on one of the three and has hardly any of one of the others. It's not bad at all-- and I'd still pick it if I wanted ice cream and that was what was there besides maybe plain vanilla-- but there are better.

So Delicious Mocha Fudge ice cream-- I haven't had this one in awhile, but like the description says, it's hard to put down. I love coffee-flavored things, and the added fudge is great.

So Delicious Vanilla Lil Buddies-- I've about died of happiness having found these ice cream sandwiches. It's been a long time since I've had a "real" ice cream sandwich, but I'm not sure I can tell the difference. They come in both a regular (6 to a box) and mini size (8 to a box), and I've seen one or the other in the stores that carry the products, but not both at the same time. If you buy the mini ones, you usually end up eating to a time, let me warn you! I've yet to see the Lil Buddies filled with other ice cream flavors, but I hope to see them pop up soon!

Purely Decadent Mocha Mania Sandwiches-- Described as "coffee-flavored non-dairy dessert sandwiches between two crispy oatmeal cookies and coated in rich dark chocolate," I have to admit I was pretty excited when I saw these in the store. At $4.99 a box though, I was glad that I had a $1 off coupon, especially when I realized that you only get 4. They were good. I didn't love them more than the Lil Buddies, for whatever reason, but I can see myself buying them again if they were on sale or I had another coupon. They are one of the items mentioned as being at the Grocery Outlet, I believe, for $1.29 a box-- they're definitely worth that price.

Purely Decadent Chocolate Brownie Almond ice cream-- One pint of this was definitely not enough for me. I polished that whole thing off in an evening. This is the only Purely Decadent ice cream flavor I have yet to try, but if the rest of them are as good as this one, I may be blowing all my money on ice cream this summer.

(Edit 6/11/07)
Purely Decadent Peanut Butter Zig Zag-- This is one of those things you eat and can hardly believe you're allowed. Think Reese's Peanut Butter Cups blended into chocolate ice cream. It is seriously wonderful, even better than the Brownie Almond.

While soy ice cream products are generally more expensive than regular ice cream, I think that when you're used to not being able to have it at all, paying a little bit more is worth it. However-- some of the pints go on sale regularly for $3, and that's not any more than you'd pay for a pint of Ben & Jerry's, really.

Luckily, if you go to their website, there are coupons you can print off, as well as contests to win free products, with bonus entries if you refer a friend. And here I am, referring you all on my own!

Anyway, do check your area grocery stores and even outlets for these products. You won't be disappointed.