Fruity crunch
We really liked the flavor and crunch of Nature Valley Fruit Crisps, baked apple pieces that satisfy on many levels. Regular and cinnamon-flavored varieties are available in lunchbox-friendly snack packs; each bag equals 1 serving of fruit and has 50 calories. A box of five bags costs $3.20-$3.50 at Sunset Foods, Treasure Island and Tischler’s Finer Foods in Brookfield.
Two to brew
Obsidian, a new ultradark brew from Caribou Coffee, impressed us with its robustness as well as its smooth finish. Have to bypass caffeine? We also enjoyed the pure flavor of Caribou’s decaffeinated varieties, which are now all processed with a chemical-free water system. Obsidian and any of the five decaf blends cost $13 per pound at Caribou outlets and online, cariboucoffee.com.
A snug scrub
The Palm Brush from Chef’n, like its earlier Palm Peeler, fits snugly and comfortably in the hand, making it easier and more effective to scrub potatoes and other root vegetables, or whatever else needs a thorough cleaning. Just as appealing is its $5 price tag. The red brush is at Sur La Table stores in Chicago and Naperville; a green one is sold by mail at kitchenkapers.com (800-455-5567).
