Grate improvements
GrillStone brushes from Earthstone are designed to clean food and grease from hot or cold grill grates. They really get the job done, and make quick, efficient work out of a tedious chore. The name’s a bit misleading: These “brushes” are really blocks of recycled materials that provide a chemical-free, nontoxic scrub. The cleaning process grinds them down; one block is good for about 10 uses. You can buy blocks for $4 each at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores; a fancier starter kit, which includes a plastic brush (not necessary but handy), is sold online at goearthstone.com for $6.
Kid-friendly snacks
Chicken nuggets and breaded fish sticks from Ian’s Allergen Free Products earned taste kudos for their good, natural flavor. Neither product contains wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, nut or soy ingredients, refined sugar or trans fats. They cook up quickly too. Each 8-ounce box costs $4-$5.50 in the freezer case at Sunset Foods, Wild Oats in Evanston and Hinsdale, Sherwyn’s Health Foods (chicken only) and Whole Foods Markets.
Flour and flowers
Nicole’s Divine Crackers’ Heaven is Lavender flavor delivers a heady fragrance and herbal/floral taste. A hearty crunch comes from organic stone-ground corn and wheat. Nicely salted and speckled with lavender buds, they’re great nibbles on their own but also provide a distinctive foundation for cheese. A 5-ounce box costs $3.50-$3.80 at Sunset Foods, Treasure Island and Sam’s Wines & Spirits in Chicago and Downers Grove. By mail, visit nicolescrackers.com or call 312-640-8883.
