A Few of My Favorite Things–2013 (Salad in a Jar)

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m still recovering from all the cooking and eating done last week, and maybe you are too, so it seems like a good time to share some of my favorite grocery store finds this year. I’m currently working on a new bread machine recipe I hope to have ready for your consideration the next time we meet.

An iced vanilla latte is my “dessert” every day after lunch. I carry it to work in a covered, quart-sized Mason glass jar. I cold-brew my favorite German coffee by Jacobs, add the concentrate to an ice-filled quart jar, then fill the jar with milk. I personally prefer 1 part coffee to 2 parts milk.

Since I require sweetness in my iced latte, sugar-free french vanilla-flavored Torani Syrup is my pick. Get it from World Market or buy it online here. ($6-7)

Olive oil is my preference for sautéing veggies or meat. More often than not, garlic is part of the recipe. I find I can use this garlic-infused oil instead of peeling fresh cloves and save washing my garlic press, not to mention the off-putting smell of garlic fingers. Garlic Gold Oil is available at Central Market and Whole Foods in my neighborhood or buy it online here. ($9-10)

The Roasted Garlic Olive Oil sold at Costco is also quite good, and some cheaper, although you have to buy a large bottle.

Most people use this oil/flour aerosol spray for cakes and muffins. However, I discovered it’s perfect for bread– especially bread with cheese or anything sticky added to the dough. Prepare your loaf or muffin pans with this convenient spray for a finished product that dumps out of the pan easily. This is an absolute necessity for my family’s favorite Cheesy Dinner Rolls. Available at most grocery stores on online here. ($4-5)

So many of you have asked about adding other things to a vacuum-packed jar of chopped Romaine lettuce. You can read my answer here. Since I don’t do it, I’m always looking for additions to my salad that will be quick and nutritious and require almost no prep. What I like about these particular mixes from Good Sense is the small size of the seeds, nuts, and fruit. Visually, it makes a small portion seem larger. It’s also kinder to your teeth than eating whole nuts which always seem to startle my teeth when encountered in a salad. Available at Braums or online here. ($3-4)

While we’re on the subject of salads, let’s talk dressing. I NEVER vacuum-pack dressing with my salad but instead, add it when I get ready to eat. My new favorite this year (if I don’t have any homemade dressing) is a combination of Olde Cape Cod’s Poppy Seed Light and Ken’s Fat Free Raspberry Pecan. They are each delicious by themselves, but together, they sing a new song. Add a packet of water-packed salmon or tuna and some of the Cranberries and More mixture seen above, along with Fiber One for crunch, and you’ve got my latest favorite salad. I get the dressings at Krogers but they are also available on Amazon.

Vanilla Bean Paste is a luxury I would hate to live without. Little black specks suspended in a thick vanilla-y syrup add decadence, interest, and sophistication to homemade yogurt, cream fillings, and ice cream. Available online or at Williams-Sonoma. ($10-11)

Have you tried these Better Homes and Garden candles available at Walmart? I love the way they come in a lidded glass jar. Feels safer on the outside chance somebody forgets about it and the whole candle melts because it burned too long. The glass container keeps it from running all over your furniture or countertop. Their aroma is more intense than the average cheap grocery store candle, at least to my nose. Makes me want to start baking to satisfy the taste buds that have been deceived into thinking something delicious is about to pop out of the oven. ($5-6)

Just so you know, none of these items were given to me and I have not been compensated in any way.

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Paula Rhodes

A Few of My Favorite Things–2013