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Sparkling French Lemonade

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:58 +0000

With the temperatures reaching the 90’s two days last week, my thoughts turn to refreshing summer beverages. A favorite of mine is Lorina’s Sparkling French Lemonade – that was voted Best Sparkling Lemonade by Julie Bean (from Every Day with Rachel Ray). The sparkling lemonade is kept carbonated by a special metal bottle cap that can be reapplied and the bubbles will remain captured inside – making your first sip as tasty as your last! The beverage has a tart lemony taste, but is not overly sour that your lips will pucker. I prefer this over a standard lemonade because of the carbonation, it lightens the taste and makes it even more refreshing. You can purchase a 25.4 oz bottle for $4.39 plus shipping.

Dilly Carrots

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:00:55 +0000

Last year when my sister and her husband were in Maine, they made the rounds of many local gift shops, including The Blueberry Patch in Bar Harbor, ME. It was there that they found these crunchy and delicious Dilly Carrots – and became instant fans! The baby carrots are preserved in a dill mixture and are a great snack. The Dilly Carrots are a unique creation by the owner of Pickles-N-Things, and she has a number of other homemade products to choose from – including pickles of various flavors, salsas, relishes and chutneys. Many of her recipes have won accolades at various fairs and trade shows. The crunchy dilly carrots sell for $6.95 per jar, and if you order 6 jars from the website you receive the 7th for free!

Marionberry Jam

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:25 +0000

With a powerful flavor and dark color, the marionberry is one of the most popular varieties and has sometimes been called the “Merlot of Blackberries”. Because of it’s popularity, legislators are even trying to make the marionberry the official Oregon State Berry. We would agree with Oregon, because the sweetness and depth of flavor in this jam make it a favorite in our home! Country Heritage Farms offers a 24 oz crock of sweet Marionberry Preserves for $15.95.

The website where I found these preserves – www.madeinoregon.com – has a virtual treasure trove of regional specialties, including cheese, wine, syrups and chocolates. I have only hit the tip of the iceberg with this website, so expect to see more reviews of gourmet foods that I order from this site.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:00:55 +0000

Featured in Oprah’s signature magazine, the Sticky Toffee Pudding Company is owned by Austin businesswoman Tracy Claros – who was born in England and began creating desserts at a very early age. A traditional British dessert, hot puddings have become a favorite of many American diners and the desserts offered by the Sticky Toffee Pudding Company have won national tasting awards!

Tracy’s signature dish – Sticky Toffee Pudding – is a combination of a light, moist chocolate cake baked with sticky dates, vanilla and espresso. The pudding is then soaked in a buttery toffee sauce and can be served warm, chilled, or at room temperature – although it is most authentic if served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A 6 pack of individual puddings can be ordered for $30 plus shipping.