Sweet Olive Oil Tortas
Years ago while living in Madrid, Spain, sweet olive oil tortas (tortas de aceite) were a common snack that was often referred to as a “merienda” – a light snack in the late morning between breakfast and lunch or in the late afternoon between lunch and dinner. Although each neighborhood seemed to have their own bakery version, Ines Rosales was the most popular national brand simply because her tortas tasted the best. Read more 
Frontier Bites
Frontier Bites were created several years ago when two brothers (Nate and Matt) challenged each other to a baking competition to see who could come up with the best alternative to the overly processed energy bars that they regularly ate. The rules were simple: no refined sugar, no dairy, no gluten, no soy and no more than 10 ingredients that could be found in the pantry. Read more
Just Cookie Dough
Just Cookie Dough is better for you and the world – so go ahead and grab a spoon.
Sticking a spoon into a bowl of cookie dough and eating it raw is more than a right of passage from childhood to adulthood. In fact, most of us never outgrow our passion for cookie dough. We claim we’re making cookies for our kids and we eat the dough when no one is looking. We mix cookie dough in ice cream and of course, we scoop spoonfuls onto cookie sheets to make cookies. But, sometimes we don’t have time to make cookie dough from scratch (and we don’t want a commercial cookie dough made with artificial colors, flavors, or even dairy products). So what’s a cookie dough addict to do? Buy a jar of Just Cookie Dough by Hampton Creek at your local Super Target. Read more
Le Pain des Fleurs Crispbread
Just the words “Le Pain des Fleurs” make me think of the South of France where rolling fields of lavender and flowers always seem to be in bloom. Meaning “the bread of flowers,” Le Pain des Fleurs are organic, gluten-free, low sodium, low-fat, dairy, egg, wheat, and soy-free crisp breads that are crunchy, wholesome, and delicious as is or topped with tapenade, jam, chopped vegetables, cheese, hummus, tabbouleh, or your favorite spread. In a few words: France’s answer to Melba Toast. Read more
Mediterranean Crackers
Indulge in the savory flavors of the Greek Islands….
Mediterranean Crackers are delicious crisp crackers made with extra virgin olive oil and the freshest ingredients by bakers in Greece. Top with your favorite spread, nut butter or simply enjoy these flavorful crackers straight from the box. With four flavors to choose from – Original Sea Salt, Leek & Onion, Roasted Tomato and Basil, and Feta & Oregano, Mediterranean Crackers bring the authentic flavors of Greece to your table. Read more
Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar
Keep it simple, have fun, and achieve balance in life through nature, activity, nutrition and community.
When I was a child, Fig Newtons were considered “healthy” cookies but when I grew up and realized these treats are made with not only high fructose corn syrup but also corn syrup, sugar, artificial flavors, and sulfur dioxide (sulfites), they were no longer worthy of shelf space in my pantry. Then, one day my daughter told me about the Fig Bar by Nature’s Bakery: whole grain fig bars with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, artificial colors, dairy, or trans fats. Certified non-GMO, vegan, and kosher, Fig Bars are the healthier choice when the craving for a fig bar hits. Read more
Top Picks at Trader Joe’s
With more than 430 stores across the United States, Trader Joe’s offers a shopping experience that keeps customers loyal: great products at competitive prices. Most of the retailer’s packaged products are under their own private label although some well-known manufacturers (i.e. the French chocolatier Valrhona) are also available.
Smaller than the average grocery store (12,500 square feet compared to 50,000), Trader Joe’s has a limited selection but one that brings shoppers back time after time. Some of the best products available at Trader Joe’s include: Read more
Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market
Many people start thinking about Farmers Markets during the early days of summer but Iowans living in the central part of the state have been patronizing the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market since early May. They haven’t forgotten about meat and potatoes (the market has plenty of these items) but instead celebrate the fresh local harvest of fruits and vegetables every Saturday from May thru October in the capital city on the west bank of the Des Moines River. Read more
Raincoast Flats
Raincoast Flats are the newest creation by Canadian extraordinaire food maker Lesley Stowe Fine Foods. Well known for their Raincoast Crisps that redefined the cracker market by using dried fruits, seeds, nuts,and spices in their recipes, Lesley Stowe Fine Foods continued that same idea to come up with a flatbread that is flavorful, crunchy, and just plain delicious. Read more
Nairn’s Scottish Oatcakes
Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people. ~Samuel Johnson
The world has both changed and stayed the same since Samuel Johnson (a writer famous for publishing “A Dictionary of the English Dictionary” in 1755) graced us with his wit and talent. Although England has since embraced oats in their diet, the Scots have continued to revel the grain that is well suited to Scotland’s short, wet growing season. Read more
Paddock Post 