I received a package in the mail today filled with goodies to review containing, among other things, several packages of Cranberry Raisinets. The timing was good as they came at snack time and I had two seven year olds standing by to give their opinion – The Boy and his friend who, for this study, we will call “The Friend.”

I gave each boy a package of Raisinets and stepped back to catch their honest assessment:

The Boy: Tasty!

The Friend: It’s good. What are they called again?

Me: Cranberry Raisents.

The Boy: They’re like regular Raisinets but different.

The Friend: That doesn’t make sense. How can they be Cranberry Raininets?

The Boy: The should call them “Cranberryets.”

The friend: “Cranberets.”

The Boy: “Cranboogers.”

The Boy and The Friend: “EWWWWWW!!! Gross!!”

The Friend: I wouldn’t eat them if they’re Cranboogers.

The Boy: Me either. We can give them to Matthew. He has peanut allergies. He can eat boogers.

The Friend: EWWWWW!!!!

Me: So what do we think guys, do we like them?

The Friend: Yes. They’re good. You should buy more and give them to me when I visit. My mom won’t buy chocolate because she says it makes me crazy.

Me: I can totally see that.

The Boy: Are they going to make them in big boxes for the movies?

The Friend: No they can sell Cranboogers at the movies for the allergy kids.

The Boy and The Friend: EWWWWWW!!!!!

As you can see, I don’t ask my son and his friend to do product reviews very often. However, the Cranberry Raisinets people sent me some samples, and it’s my duty to give you my honest opinion. They’re good. They’re just what you’d expect. They don’t taste like boogers and they’re healthy-ish. They’ll make a good lunch box snack for The Boy, and they’re in hundred calorie bags for me. They’re tart and sweet and the flavors work well together. If they had a dark chocolate variety, they’d totally rock. They’re like regular Raisinets but different.

My family would totally eat them again.

Full disclosure: Reps for Nestle/Cranberry Raisinets sent me this product so I can do a review. This is my honest opinion.

Tracy Iglesias -I would put out an assortment plate of all New York Style’s new Focaccia Sticks flavors coupled with assorted pairings including spinach dip, vermont cheddar cheese dip, brie and other cheeses and put out some wine for a pre thanksgiving nosh

Donna K – I would like the roasted garlic and herb paired with cheese.

and Barbara(oink moo – you know who) – I love rosemary, so the Rosemary & Sea Salt will probably be my favorite. I might eat them with tomato soup or with fettucine alfredo.

Thanks to everyone for participating, we loved all of the suggestions.  When you are out searching for something to put out with your dips and spreads this holiday season, take a look at New York Style’s Focaccia Sticks.  I think everyone will enjoy it!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

BearNaked says they are made with 100 percent pure ingredients straight from nature, these new granolas contain no preservatives, artificial flavors, trans fats, cholesterol, hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. They are packed with hearty ingredients including whole nuts, seeds and dried fruits that provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, heart-healthy fats, fiber and protein.

The Yumberry Goji Currant tastes like it was dipped in berry juice.  Yumberry Goji Currant contains whole grain oats, honey, yumberry juice and sweetened dried goji berries and dried currants.  

The Mango Agave Almond has a really delicious cinammony nutty flavor, that I am enjoying a lot.  The dried mango pieces are chewy and sweet. Mango Agave Almond combines whole grain oats, agave glazed almonds and dried mangos. Hints of coconut, honey and cinnamon add to this flavorful mix.  

Last month I told you to send your kid a cookie.  This month, send your kid some Bear Naked Granola.  Bear Naked will make it easier on you too.  You could have a sample of fruit and nut granola sent to them. When you visit, bring your Bear Naked Granola and secretly swap it for that junk cereal.  We raised them better than that, didn’t we?

She played for the alumni band at the high school where my son was also playing which was cool.  She and her friends stayed for the game and then later they cooked out over a fire and had s’mores in the backyard.  We took time out for haircuts and stock up.  There were things Dorm Girl needed to replenish and things she found she wanted. 

Stock ups for DG:

• Single Serving Mac&Cheese(s)
• Single Serving Drink Mixes to add to water.
• Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
• Powdered Milk
• Peanut Butter and Saltine Crackers
• Organic Cereal
• Hot Dogs & Buns
• Ice Cream – pints
• Salsa & chips
• Meatballs and my homemade spaghetti sauce
• Jiffy cornbread mix
• Microwave popcorn

Some of these things she requested, some she filched from the house, and some she found in the store.  I noticed that now she pays more attention to prices and reasonableness.  I tried to make some of it like the salsa and chips organic because I prefer it, even if it’s not in her price range.   I paid, so it was okay. 

I cooked a really satisfying Sunday breakfast with eggs over medium (dippy eggs) and sausage.  She’s tired of scrambled because it’s all the cafeteria serves.  Later we dropped her off at the school and even though we could have eaten in the cafeteria, we went out for another meal instead.  She had a doggie bag to stuff in the fridge for later or the next day if she wanted it. I think she loves us even if it’s just because we provide her with good food. 

Fruitabu Smooshed Fruit Twirls

 Fruitabu also has Smooshed Fruit Splooshers which are like applesauce in a tube.  When my son was young he came home and asked me to make sure I put a spoon in his lunch.  I asked what was wrong with using a cafeteria one and he replied that they don’t like having to give him a spoon when he is bringing a lunch and he has to wait until everyone in line has their food before they ask to have hands raised for utensils. With the Sploosher you can just eat the applesauce from the packaging by squeezing it into your mouth.  No spoon needed.  I think these are great treats, and I wouldn’t mind my kids having them after meals or as snacks after schools, but get those twirls for Halloween, they’re perfect.  Maybe you can swap Fruit Twirls for a less desirable candy, I’ll bet they’d do it. 

Fruitabu can be found at local stores like Kroger’s and Giant Eagle. 

Tomatillos grow on plants and they hang down covered in a papery husk (my husband says they’re lanterns).  The tomatillos are in the plant picture, but it’s like a where’s waldo you need to look closely to see them.

The tomatillo grows into the husk and then the papery husk splits open which is when we usually pick the tomatillo.

Then the tomatillo needs to be rinsed off because it will be sticky between the husk and the tomatillo.

   Salsa Verde

• Tomatillos -  enough to fill a serving bowl
• 2 or 3 Green Onions -  chopped
• Parsley(or cilantro) -  a big handful chopped
• 2 Jalapenos – deseeded and chopped
• Place the tomatillos on a cookie sheet and roast until soft.

  Add all the ingredients into a food processor, or a bullet and pulse until slightly chunky.  That’s it.

NOTE: My husband likes his to be slightly hot and doesn’t want to get really big bites of heat, so he will pulse the jalapenos in the bullet until it is pretty much liquid before adding it to the other ingredients.  You can increase or decrease your heat accordingly.

Here’s a jar of salsa that I made and we’ve finished.  My husband’s family loved the salsa too.

We were sent some Kashi Pocket Bread to try out for Dorm week and I’m here to tell you that it is the perfect dorm food.  The individual serving box is compact in size.  There is one Kashi Pocket Bread in one box, so you don’t fill up your little freezer.  It is microwaveable – 2 minutes on high, so it’s fast.  Kashi Pocket Bread is delicious, absolutely, totally delicious.  The bread itself is soft, but not chewy and not thick, just the right thickness, and made from whole grain.

It’s packed with meat (unless it’s vegetarian), and vegetables with just the right amount of sauce.  Our favorite was Turkey Fiesta, which was like a burrito packed into a roll.  We loved the flavor.  It had a little bit of a kick, but not overwhelmingly spicy.  My daughter had the Veggie Medley, and said it was very flavorful with lots of veggies.   I brought the Chicken Rustico to work for lunch and had it along with a side salad. It was easy to handle and eat at my desk. My daughter agreed that it would be great to take to school and said she would eat them especially the Turkey Fiesta.

I’ve tried Kashi before and trust for their whole grain products to be healthy and delicious.  Kashi Pocket Bread comes through once again.  A couple of these stashed in their dorm freezer and you will feel comfortable knowing you are leaving them with something good for them that they will actually eat.

Kashi Pocket Breads are nutritious.

Hola Fruta sherberts aren’t your usual icy, fruity fare. It’s a creamy decadant treat – the kind you want to hide in the back of the freezer so the rest of your family can’t find it. I was all set to cut and paste from the press release – about how the product is all natural and contains nothing but good -for -you stuff without chemicals and ingrediants you can’t pronounce. Instead I just want to tell you Hola Fruta is good. No it’s wonderful, even for people like me who never really cared for sherberts. Man oh man, am I digging this.

One thing that bugs me about product reviews is that often times I’m sent a wonderful product but I can’t buy it again because it’s not available in my area. Hola Fruta is available in many nationwide chains including Shop Rite, Walgreens, Krogers and more. You can buy it by the bar, quart or by the pint- and you will most certainly be happy you did. My family tried both the mango and pina colada flavors and though the pina colada was very good, we loved the mango.

Do yourself a favor and try Hola Fruta’s sherberts. It’s low calorie, low fat and big on the good stuff.

Like many people, I’m always on the lookout for food with health benefits.  And, like many more people, I absolutely love love love garlic and put it in practically everything I make.  So I was delighted to find out that not only does it ward off vampires, but it is good for you too.

Certain culinary traditions, such as some Asian and Mediterranean diets, have often been promoted as healthy.  In addition to having lots of plant based ingredients in common, these diets are rich in garlic.  Recently, scientists pointed out that garlic consumption stimulates the body’s natural production of hydrogen sulfide which relaxes blood vessels.  Further study is needed, but the connection between hydrogen sulfide and garlic has many positive implications for cardiovascular health; it may lower blood pressure and protect cells during heart attacks.

The research was done on the equivalent of two cloves a day.  That is no problem for a garlic addict like myself, but, for a garlic novice that might seem like a daunting amount.  Here are three garlicious ideas for getting more garlic:

• STUFF IT!  I can’t get enough garlic stuffed olives (pictured above).  In fact, when my local Wegman’s decided to no longer offer them at my olive bar, I called around until I found a Wegman’s that stocks them.  I now shop in the next town over.  With gas at $4 a gallon, this is a serious garlic/olive commitment!  Find them in your supermarket’s olive bar (hopefully nearby!) and you can probably source them jarred at your local Italian foods market.
• PICKLED GARLIC?  My brother recently got some as a gift.  Even my garlic loving self was hesitant to try a pickled garlic clove.  But one bite put my fears to rest.  The pickling vinegar definitely mellows the garlic’s tanginess, making the cloves smooth and delicious.  And they’re surprisingly kid friendly!  Available online here or you can make some.
• GARLIC SPREAD.  1 head garlic, roasted.  2-3 TBL olive oil.  Pinch salt.  Freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil.  Squeeze the cloves and mix with the olive oil using a mortar and pestle or a mini food processor.  Stir in cheese and basil to taste.  Spread on fresh Italian bread for a snack or appetizer.

Don’t forget to brush your teeth!