Products that piqued our interest
CoverMate Food Covers has a new small size product that helps keep food fresh. The food covers stretches from 2-inches and expands to 5 inches to fit ramekins, glassware and aluminum cans. The covers are BPA-free, PVC-free and made from FDA food safe materials. They are microwaveable safe, waterproof and sanitary.
Opal apples are non-GMO and available organic and conventional. Opal apples are naturally slow to oxidize preventing them from browning after slicing. Great to slice and pack in kids' lunches. Each apple contains about 130 calories, 260 milligrams potassium, 5 grams fiber and 25 grams sugar. A portion of Opal’s proceeds goes towards the nonprofit Youth Make a Difference Initiative, funding youth who learn about leadership, nutrition, food and agriculture. These apples are available from November to April at selected grocery stores nationwide.
Fiber One Protein Granola Cereal is available in two flavors--Maple Brown Sugar and Cranberry Almond. The Maple Brown Sugar cereal is made with maple brown sugar, granola and pecans; the Cranberry Almond cereal with almonds, cranberries and granola. Each 1 cup serving has about 220 calories, 0.5 grams saturated fat (of 5-6 grams total), 140-150 milligrams sodium, 16 grams sugar and 6 grams protein. Kelly Sloan, Bite of the Best Intern: This cereal is a good source of protein and fiber, proving 20% daily value. I liked both flavors and the texture the granola added to the cereal.
The two new belVita Breakfast Biscuits are soft, not crisp like the originals. They come in two varieties — Banana Bread and Cinnamon. They are made with whole grains and are high in fiber. Each 1.8-ounce serving has 190 calories, 0.5-1 gram saturated fat (of 7 grams total), 5 grams fiber, 3 grams protein, 150-160 milligrams sodium and 9 grams sugar.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones new soups are available in four varieties — Spicy Black Bean, Loaded Potato, Fire Roasted Vegetable and Southwest Style Vegetable. Each 8-ounce serving has about 60-170 calories, 0-2.5 grams saturated fat (of 0.5-6 grams total), 420-550 milligrams sodium, 3-5 grams sugar and 2-8 grams protein. You'll find them in the freezer section of your supermarket.
Weight Watchers introduced two new Smart Ones frozen entrees. Fish & Chips is made with Alaskan white pollock fillets with salt and pepper crinkle cut french fried potatoes. Each 5.1-ounce serving has 310 calories, 2.5 grams saturated fat (of 14 grams total), 660 milligrams sodium and 11 grams protein. Chicken Strips & Fries is made with white chicken meat patty strips with ranch seasoned french fried potatoes. Each 4.7-ounce serving has 310 calories, 3 grams saturated fat (of 15 grams total), 510 milligrams sodium and 14 grams protein.
Dole Chopped Salads are available in four flavors, each chopped Kale. Three are kits, containing dressing (Chipotle & Cheddar Chopped Salad Kit, Bacon & Bleu Chopped Salad Kit, BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad Kit); two are blends (Asian Chopped Salad Blend and Summer Garden Chopped Salad Blend). Each 3-ounce serving of the salad blends has 20-25 calories, 0 grams saturated fat (of 0 grams total), 20 milligrams sodium and 1 gram protein. Each 3.5-ounce serving of the salad kits has 120-150 calories, 2-2.5 grams saturated fat (of 0-13 grams total), 310-390 milligrams sodium and 2-4 grams protein.
Avuá Cachaça, a single-estate, limited-production spirit comes in two flavors: one unaged (Prata), one aged in Brazilian wood (Amburana). Cachaça, Brazil's national spirit is used for famous classic peasant cocktail, the Caipirinha. It is distilled from fresh sugarcane. Avuá Cachaça Prata rests in steel tanks for six months before bottling; Amburana is matured for up to two years in casks made from wood indigenous to South America.
Lindt just introduced their first baking mixed in two varieties — Lindt Classic Chocolate Brownie Mix and Lindt White Coconut Brownie Mix. Each 2-inch brownie prepared has 170-190 calories, 4.5-6 grams saturated fat (of 8-11 grams total), 15-25 milligrams sodium and 3-5 grams sugar.
Honey Bunches of Oats Morning Energy Cereal introduced two varieties — Chocolatey Almond Crunch, Cinnamon Crunch — with contains whole grains, protein and fiber. Each 1 cup serving has about 220 calories, 0-1 gram saturated fat (of 3.5-4 total), 150 milligrams sodium, 33-35 grams whole grains, 12 grams sugar, 6 grams protein and 5 grams of fiber. Plus each is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals.
Lindt has two new products — Lindor Coconut Truffles and Classic Recipe Caramel with Sea Salt bar. The Classic Recipe Caramel with Sea Salt bar is made with milk chocolate, caramel pieces and sea salt crystals. Each 1.5-ounce serving (10 squares) has 230 calories, 8 grams saturated fat (of 13 grams total), 105 milligrams sodium and 22 grams sugar. The Lindt Lindor Coconut Truffles has a milk chocolate shell with a white chocolate center and a coconut flavor. Each 1.2-ounce serving (3 balls) has 230 calories, 13 grams saturated fat (of 18 grams total), 35 milligrams sodium and 14 grams sugar.
Vermont Creamery introduced Crumbled Goat Cheese, available in four varieties — Classic Chèvre, Tomato & Basil , Cranberry & Tarragon and Apricot & Thyme. The crumbled goat cheese will last 90 days refrigerated. Each 1-ounce serving has about 70-100 calories, 3.5-4 grams saturated fat (of 6 grams total), 90-120 milligrams sodium and 4-5 grams protein. Use in vegetable or grain salads; on pizza, paninis, quesadillas or flatbreads; or to stuff chicken, pasta, roasts or veggies.
Jaaili Bean introduced the Cardamom and Currant Lentil and Brown Rice Kit. Their other kids include Creamy Coconut Lentil, Warmly Spiced Lentil, and Cumin and Pea Lentil. One serving has 190 calories, no saturated fat (of 5 grams total), 390 milligrams sodium, 5 grams protein and is a good source of iron and fiber,
For wine snobs and newbies alike, soireehome offers you the Opus gift pack with three wine accessories — the soiree, tempour and stopair. The soiree accessory instantly aerates the wine. The tempour — pictured here — contains four gadgets in one. There's a pourer (no more drips on table cloths), a filter (no more grit in the bottom of your glass), chiller (keeping your wine at optimal temperature), and a bottle stopper. The stopair bottle stopper is like having a built-in vacuum pump to keep your wine as tasty as the first time you opened it. Although the items are sold separately, the three-piece set sells for $60.
The micro-roaster Booskerdoo roasts beans from all over the world, including their two newest varieties" Mexico Chiapas Fair Trade Organic and the Papua New Guinea West Highlands Kimel Estate.
The Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes is a new variety with purple-hued skin and deep purple flesh, high in antioxidants. The dense flesh of this potato takes a bit longer to cook than most other sweet potatoes, specifically about 1.5 to 2 hours at 350 degrees. Each 4-ounce serving of has 130 calories, 4 grams sugar and 2 grams protein.
BenRiach recently introduced four new whiskys to the US market, including Horizons 12 Year Old Triple Distilled; Solstice 2nd Edition 17 Year Old; Septendecim 17 Year Old Peated Single Malt; and Authenticus 25 Year Old Peated Single Malt. Horizons is distilled three times before it is aged for 12 years. It has huge nutty characteristics balanced by a slice of sweet, creamy oak and honey. Solstice is distilled from both styles of malted barley – peated and non-peated. – and thereby capture the defining taste and aroma of peat reek. It has dry roasted nut notes with heavy peat and subtle hints of dried fruit. Septendecim has a peaty aromas [...]
Lundberg Family Farms Multigrain Chips — made with organic brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, corn, millet, garbanzo beans and chia and flax seeds — are available in four varieties: Mendocino Tomato & Herb, Mojave Jalapeño, Redwood Smoky BBQ and Shasta Chipotle Lime. Each 9-chip (about 1-ounce) serving has 130 calories, 0.5 grams saturated fat (of 6 grams total) and 150-170 milligrams sodium.
While wandering on the Lower East Side shopping, be sure to stop in at the Whynot Coffee Shop and Art Gallery on Orchard Street for a rich cups of Blue Bottle coffee, delicious pastries from Mille-feuille Bakery (552 LaGuardia Place), free WiFi and friendly personnel. The gallery will rotate the work shown on the walls, beginning with artist, Jeremy Penn. If you're a West Village person, you're already familiar with the growing coffee shop, as their first location is at 14 Christopher St. Invited to sample their goodies, I indulged in both coffee and baked goods. They make both regular coffee ($2.5 per cup) and single estate pour over ($4.5) [...]
Have a small kitchen? Consider the space-saving Dexas Turbo Fan Collapsible Salad Spinner that not only is easy to use, but it collapses to 4.5" in height making it easier to store.
