(Some of the) Best of 2010

Going out on a limb, here are a few of our Bests of 2010: Best chewing gum--bar none--Orbit Mist from Wrigley. This gum really does last and comes in enough varieties of mint or fruit to keep any avid gum chewer satisfied.  Best product--there really are a  few in this category but the electric Smart Kettle  from Chef's Choice is still going strong and lives up to is promises. We also want to mention Cuisinart's Smart Power Blender, which has un-complicated the art of blending and looks smart, too. For noteworthy foods we have to list Jovial Foods Einkorn Pasta, Morningstar Farm's Riblets and Lasagna, and  Gardein meatless entrees as well as Smart Life's Vegan Hot Dogs and Sausages (vegan) , Amy's Breakfast Burritos, Quorn meatless entrees (vegetarian). Where would we be without Tabasco Sauce to give zest to meals or Rice Select's varieties of couscous and grains or the lovely teas from The Republic of Tea--all make cooking and enjoying a bit more pleasurable.

Green Mountain Coffee Delivers

    Perhaps by now you have been convinced of the fabulousness of single serve coffee brewers. There are a several different makes and each one brings something different to the cup. One of the benefits of the  Keurig single serve brewer is the impressive selection of different beverages that its parent company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, has available. Some of the newer offerings include the  Emeril’s Vanilla Bean BAM, an infusion of lush Vanilla in a coffee that is bold enough to start with. There are other flavored coffees that are bold as well as flavored. And if you drink decaf, there are quite a few decaf brews to choose from, including a few that are strong enough to almost make you forget you are drinking decaf. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters recently acquired Timothy’s Coffee, so now, in addition to their own Green Mountain line,  GMCR now includes Tully’s Coffee, Newman’s Own, Caribou Coffee and Timothy’s, which brings us the very strong Emeril’s coffees

GMCR also brings out seasonal blends to match the mood of a specific time of year. For summer, there is Green Mountain Coffee’s Summer Safari Blend ( a spirited blend of South American and East African coffee) and The Perfect Peach in K-Cups. These flavors may be fleeting but  a new season will bring a new blend. There are five seasons of Limited Edition Fair Trade coffees at GMC, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Holidays, which offer special coffees (usually, one regular and one flavored) created to represent the feeling of that time of year. 

    Holiday: Gingerbread, Spicy Eggnog, Holiday Blend (November through December)

    Winter: Golden French Toast and Wicked Winter Blend (January through the middle of March)

Spring:  Island Coconut, Spring Revival Blend (End of March, through May)       

Summer: The Perfect Peach, Summer Safari Blend (June through August)

    Fall: Pumpkin Spice, Autumn Harvest Blend (September through the beginning of   November)

      

GMCR also released their Limited Edition Fair Trade Spring Revival Blend featuring, for the first time, Rwandan Fair Trade coffee to support the revitalization of Rwanda.  They also recently  announced their intention to convert two of their most popular coffees – The GMC Blend and the Vermont Country Blend® - to Fair Trade by Fair Trade Month in October.

    

By signing up for regular deliveries—you can change the time frame and the selection any time—you reap even more special benefits. To find out more, visit

 www.greenmountaincoffee.com

Tassimo is Terrific

Single serve beverage brewers ensure a fresh cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate every time. If you like your lattes and other hot milk drinks, there is only one brewer—Tassimo.  The newer Bosch single serve brewer is ready when you are and gets the most out of each T-Disc—the little pre-packages of coffee, tea, chocolate or milk creamer. Tassimo, from Kraft Foods, (who sent over a Bosch for us to test)  recently introduced new Starbuck’s Latte and Cappuccino.  (Tassimo uses innovative T DISCs and this technology enables the machine to read the barcode on each T DISC, ensuring that the brew temperature and amount of water are automatically adjusted for the perfect cup, every time.)

The Bosch brewer from Tassimo, is a welcome improvement on the already pleasing original Braun brewer Tassimo is the excusive seller of Starbuck’s coffee discs  Including the new Starbucks latte and cappuccino, and Milka Hot Chocolate (Milka’s lavender signs were highly visible on the slopes at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.)

People who loved the earlier (and still available) Braun brewer will really love the Bosch. According to one loyal T DISC user: " I love Tassimo and my Braun, but Bosch fixed all the things I didn’t like about the Braun. With the Bosch, the system is ready to brew the minute you turn it on. No waiting for the water to heat. And it is quieter than the Braun…altho it does have a smaller reservoir than the Braun..."(This can be a plus, though—you are forced to add fresh water more frequently!) The Bosch is ready to brew as soon as you turn it on in the morning without waiting. It is much quieter and has a better filtering system and it tells you when the water level is low, and when the machine needs to be descaled.

There are some 40 hot beverage varieties all using the patented T DISC technology-- Tassimo brews premium coffeehouse quality beverages, including four distinct coffee blends from Starbucks®. Hot beverage choices include coffee, real milk cappuccino and latte, espresso,  Chai Tea Latte, crema, tea and hot chocolate. The Gevalia Skinny Cappuccino—a delicate blend of the intense taste of Gevalia espresso and foamed fat free milk--and the Starbucks Lattes and Cappuccinos will enable you to enjoy these creations whenever you want. Tassimo uses T DISCs, which guarantee first-cup freshness every time. The energy-efficient flow-through water heater virtually eliminates pre-heat time, the sleek and space-saving Bosch design makes it very versatile and convenient. For instance, the cleaning T DISC is stored right in the back of the machine where any excess cord tucks out of the way as well. Another important point is that Tassimo's customer service is good. They do respond and help you resolve any issue that might arise.

For a closer look at all things Tassimo, go to http://www.tassimodirect.com/ to see the brewers and the beverages. While visiting this site you can find out more about the Direct Delivery option, a way to receive regular shipments of T DISCS delivered right to your door. You choose the T DISCS and how often you want them shipped. You can always change your product or delivery frequency online. So with the click of a mouse you will be able to have perfect coffee at the push of button, whenever you wish.

The Keurig Cafe--Open Anytime

 

                                                                         
There is nothing like always having the freshest coffee possible every time you fill your cup. Single serve coffee makers are a dream come true for anyone who loves coffee (and tea and hot chocolate) and enjoys drinking fresh cups throughout the day or night. Making a pot of coffee may make sense sometimes but the reality is a good portion of what’s in the carafe becomes undrinkable in a short time and has to be (or should be) dumped.

Keurig’s new Platinum Single Serve Brewer is quiet and quick (under one minute) and with five cup size options (including one for iced beverages) it brews a fresh streaming beverage equally ready for travel mug or delicate porcelain cup.   

There are other helpful features including Auto On/Off, Digital Clock, easily removable drip tray, Adjustable Temperature Control and the "Set Your Favorite Cup Size" option. The removable water reservoir holds up to 60 oz, enough for ten cups.

So yes, the machine is great but how about what you make in it? There are about 200 different varieties of K-cups and enough brands, Timothy’s, Green Mountain Coffee (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is Keurig’s parent company), Van Houtte, Gloria Jean’s, Coffee People, Newman’s Own, Caribou, Emeril and more with enough types (dark, bold, mild, medium, flavored, decaffeinated--good selection of dark and bold decaf types--we may not want the caffeine but some of us still want rich flavor--, half-caff, Kona, Seasonal, Fair Trade, Organic, etc) to please anyone. Brewing tea in the Keurig is also a pleasure. The tea comes out delicious and there are teas from Celestial Seasonings, Bigelow, Twining’s, and hot chocolates in white, milk or dark.

Another option we especially like is the My K-Cup. Sold separately, you can spoon your favorite loose coffee into the My K-Cup and brew just like you would the disposable K-Cups, only you can wash it and re-use it.

The Keurig Platinum lives up to expectations and more.

Suggested retail price: $169.95

If you are short on space you might consider the mini-Keurig—right at home in  vacation homes, cabins, college dorms, boats, RVs, or home office desktops. This machine is simpler than the larger models but the principle is the same. The mini-Keurig heats and brews an 8 ounce cup in under 3 minutes. (You add fresh water for every cup.) This very portable brewer is available in black, white and red.

Suggested retail price: $89.95

 www.Keurig.com

Making the Perfect Cup of...

... green tea, herbal tea or coffee requires starting with fresh water that has been heated to the right temperature for the type of brew you are about to make. If you are used to just boiling the water for your hot beverage, here’s a better option: The Chef’s Choice SmartKettle from EdgeCraft.

This is a cordless electric kettle that represents a new generation of electric kettles. You plug it in and then set the temperature that is best for your drink: 203°-212° for Herbal teas; 155° – 168° for delicate Green teas; 185° - 194° for Oolong teas; 167° – 185° for White teas; 185°- 196° for Coffee, and so on. (You can adjust the unit to show the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.)

There is also a Keep Warm setting that automatically keeps the water at a set temperature and the unit remembers the last programmed setting. So right from the start you know that this is no ordinary electric kettle. And in addition to the precise heating temperatures, the unit itself is nice to look at and easy to use. The lid opens with a touch of a button and the kettle fits snugly on a circular base that allows the kettle to be swiveled easily. Even filled to the maximum water level the kettle is light enough to handle.

You will use less energy than a stovetop and the kettle takes less time than a microwave. The advanced electronic controls are precise and easy to set. There is a low water level warning and an automatic water shut-off when the water boils and an electronic boil-dry shut off protection. The concealed heating element is never in contact with water, so there will never be mineral deposits and buildup.

The Chef’s Choice SmartKettle makes a very useful addition to any kitchen and a very thoughtful gift.

Sugg. Retail price is $99.99 and is currently available at select department stores, on-line retailers and major catalogs. For more information go to www.chefschoice.com.

Choco-Luscious!

It is always time for chocolate and Chocolations delivers very special creations fashioned from delectable chocolate and other complementary ingredients. Chocolations specializes in Specialty Truffles, and they are the luminaries of their divine line of custom made Chocolates.

Focus for a minute on the Truffles—There’s White, Milk and Dark. Then there’s three kinds of Coffee Truffles—Latte, Cappuccino and Espresso.

Prefer tea? How about Earl Grey Tea Truffles or Green Tea or Jasmine Tea Truffles?
Then there are Fruit Truffles, including Cassis and Toasted Coconut; Amaretto Truffles, Peanut Truffles; Concord Grape or Crème de Menthe or Peppermint—these are just some of the Truffle flavors and they concoct new flavors every week.

There are other chocolate creations—for instance—a “Good For You” patty –Dark Chocolate with dried blueberries and salted almonds—giving you extra antioxidant power in addition to the dreamy taste—the salted almonds lend an intriguing note to this delicious treat.

Here’s a fantastic gift idea--Take a peek at their website and find out more about the Chocolate of the Month club—Imagine getting 12 shipments of chocolates on a regular basis (no shipments in July and August but you get 2 in December and another month you choose)--

http://www.chocolations.com/

Ask them about Gifts ( that is a chocolate “Tea Set” pictured above), Party Favors, Wedding Favors, and Holiday Specials.

Chocolations—the place for chocolate for anyone who adores chocolate and what can be created with it.

One note—if you have a severe allergy to peanuts or nuts, they recommend you refrain from eating their truffles and other products.

Teas As You Please, and Help Plant Trees

Honey Vanilla Chamomile, Mint Magic, Sweet Apple Chamomile, Tropic of Strawberry, Country Peach Passion, Bengal Spice.

Vanilla Strawberry Rose, Perfectly Pear White Tea, Powerfully Plum White Tea, Chocolate Raspberry Bliss, Almond Sunset Dessert Tea, English Toffee, India Spice Chai, Decaf Sweet Coconut Thai Chai, Honey Vanilla White Chai…..These are just some of the tantalizing 90 tea concoctions from Celestial Seasonings.

So many varieties--An actual blend master, Charlie Baden, oversees the development of new blends. And every one of them is a box full of the promise of a satisfying, tantalizing aroma and taste all infused into a health-full beverage—herbal or not. Even the packaging is delightfully inspiring. Celestial’s bestselling tea in the entire specialty tea category is Sleepytime. Says a company spokesperson: “People can’t get enough of the tea and the Sleepytime bear!”

Celestial Seasonings earth-friendly approach to making tea includes a focus on sustainable harvests, ethical trade practices and minimal packaging, which saves more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills annually.

All this is great but add a little something for the environment and you have the perfect blend of personal enjoyment and responsibility. By simply purchasing tea or clicking on a mouse, Celestial Seasonings tea drinkers can support the planting of trees in developing countries and help promote environmental and economic sustainability around the world. Celestial has partnered with the non-profit Trees for the Future to support the planting of more than one million trees in developing countries. These trees promote economic and environmental sustainability in nations where it is desperately needed.

If you love tea and respect the environment, all you have to do is purchase Celestial’s all-natural teas between now and March 31, 2009. You can also visit www.celestialseasonings.com/trees, where can participate in a free, interactive, Web program that turns “virtual trees” into reality.

There are regional favorites and so many varieties that even some very good things must come to an end so on their website is a page --
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/discontinued.html showing discontinued teas but also suggesting replacements for your retired favorites.

So sip and click.

Tea with Pizzazz

Here is a beverage that has the kick of soda but the benefits of tea—and flavors to delight. TeaZazz is a sparkling tea available in four varieties—Green Tea Lemon, Green Tea Mint, Peach and Original.

It has a dual personality-- mixer or a stand-alone refreshing soft drink.

Also nice is that each bottle contains 2.5 servings, 20 to 25 calories and 6g or less total carbs.

Teazazz the company was founded about two years ago in California by two enterprising women who merged their business backgrounds and experiences in the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries to create a healthier beverage that was fun to drink.

Suggested retail price for a 20 oz bottle is $1.69 As of this writing it is available on the West Coast or by ordering online at www.drinkteazazz.com

Have Your Green Tea and Like It, Too

We know that drinking Green Tea is good for us.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/green-tea-000255.htm

“Green tea has been consumed throughout the ages in India, China, Japan, and Thailand. In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, practitioners used green tea as a stimulant, diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart health. Other traditional uses of green tea include treating flatulence (gas), regulating body temperature and blood sugar, promoting digestion, and improving mental processes...

The healthful properties of green tea are largely attributed to polyphenols, chemicals with potent antioxidant properties. In fact, the antioxidant effects of polyphenols appear to be greater than vitamin C. The polyphenols in green tea also give it a somewhat bitter flavor.
Population-based studies indicate that the antioxidant properties of green tea may help prevent atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease. Research shows that green tea lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL ("good") cholesterol in both animals and people…. Several population-based studies have shown that green tea helps protect against cancer. For example, cancer rates tend to be low in countries such as Japan where people regularly consume green tea.”

Green tea has also been shown to help with weight loss.

But what about that “bitter flavor?” To be honest, drinking plain green tea often requires a strong will to finish the beverage as quickly as possible to get it over with. But with an assortment of naturally flavored Green Teas, you can have your Green Tea and like it, too.

Celestial Seasonings, the forty year old purveyor of teas and other natural items based in
offers about a dozen flavored Green Teas, including there newest, Green Tea Tropical Grapefruit and Cranberry Pomegranate. The boxes are all beautifully designed and the tea bags come two by two with no strings attached. The taste is sublimely soothing with just the right fruit essence to make the beverage more palatable. And both new flavors were launched in partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Lipton has Green Tea with Mandarin Orange flavoring, or Mint or Orange Passionfruit and Jasmine as well as quite a few others. These are just more options that will allow you to enjoy the benefits of Green Tea while actually enjoying drinking it.