Playoff fuel
Tasters kept reaching for Fisher honey-cinnamon almonds, chubby nuts generously coated in an addictively sweet mixture. They’ll make a nice addition to playoff spreads, provided you can show more restraint than we did. A 9-ounce can costs $5.50 at Butera stores in Algonquin, Elgin, Harwood Heights, Norridge, South Elgin and St. Charles.
Easy-does-it desserts
We loved the Tastefully Simple dessert mixes we baked. They’re very low-maintenance: Add butter and eggs (some don’t even require that), and you’ll need just a bowl, mixing spoon and pan. The products baked as directed, with terrific results. The winter line includes a gooey Chocolate Ugly Cake ($8), Absolutely Almond poundcake ($6) and Truffle Fudge Brownies ($6). The items are sold at Tastefully Simple in-home parties, but they’re also available online at tastefullysimple.com or directly from a consultant; call 866-328-6673.
Nice cubes
Dorot frozen crushed or chopped herbs, conveniently packaged in cubed trays, make it easy to add a burst of flavor to cooked dishes. The lineup includes basil, garlic and cilantro. Each package contains 20 teaspoon-size cubes and costs $2 in the freezer case at Trader Joe’s.
