THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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PRODUCT: Sweet Heat–Mrs. Renfro’s Fruit Salsas

There exists a fine balance between sweet and savory—too much of one and the other falls short. For those who like sweet salsa, Mrs. Renfro’s Gourmet Salsas deserve your attention. All natural, there isn’t one ingredient on the label that wouldn’t come straight from your refrigerator or pantry. Rather than dominate the flavor palette, the fruit notes in these salsas amplify the vegetable flavors and cut through the heat. The consistency is on the thick side, perfect for clinging to a tortilla chip, blanketing a bland meat like chicken or blending with yogurt or sour cream for an instant, creamy crudité dip or spread.

Tequila
Tequila adds a piquant bite to mellow, sweet pineapple. The subtle tang of fresh lime juice and a mounting heat towards the finish make for an excellent overall flavor.

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Mrs. Renfro’s Pineapple Salsa.

Pineapple
If you’re at all a fan of fresh, ripe pineapple, this is the Holy Grail of salsa for you. As proven by the popular “Hawaiian” pizza, tomato and pineapple make a delicious couple. With juicy chunks of sweet-and-tangy fruit in every bite, you barely notice Mrs. Renfro’s signature hot finish.

Pomegranate
Many products claiming to be pomegranate-flavored end up tasting like anything but. Not so with this salsa. The fruit shines clearly through the rich, smoky chipotle without so much as a peep from artificial flavoring. The lingering sweet-hot afterburn will have you immediately reaching for another chip.

The verdict: we’re more than likely to dip into these again!

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CONTEST: Spend a Night at the Smithsonian

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Spend the night with Amelia Earhart and Napoleon Bonaparte.

An important message for all fans of “From The Mixed–Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”: The Hershey Company wants to make your childhood dream come true. To promote its sponsorship of the newly released movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Hershey is hosting a contest that will grant five winners the opportunity to spend a night at the Smithsonian Museum. We imagine there’ll be some chocolate involved in the arrangement, as well. Read more about the contest rules and prizes. Enter by October 31, 2009.

  • Read our recent review of Hershey’s line of gourmet chocolates, Cacao Reserve.
  • One can never have enough chocolate, or knowledge of it. Learn more with our Chocolate Glossary.

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PRODUCT: Sunkist Naturals Smoothies

There used to be a time where smoothies could only be had fresh out of a blender at home. Then, beginning with the iconic Orange Julius, chains like Smoothie King, Jamba Juice and Robek’s began popping up all over the place. Now, we have become a nation of smoothie drinkers.

We recently tasted Sunkist Naturals’ line of premium, all-natural smoothies, featuring fruit juices sourced from small regional farms—juicy Marion berries from Oregon and Michigan, sweet strawberries from coastal California and legendary Alphonso mangoes. They have no added sugar, preservatives or any artificial ingredients and are laden with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. Flavors include Berry Blue Bountiful, Berry Cherry Bountiful, Glorious Greens, Golden Mango, Orange Cream, Pomegranate Sunshine, Strawberry Dream and 100% Valencia Orange.

Sunkist Naturals are not as thick as smoothies from Odwalla and Naked Juice, and as a result, a few fewer calories. We liked them all (like ice cream, has there ever been a smoothie flavor anyone didn’t like?) With eight delicious flavors we’re sure you’ll find one to call your own. Suggested retail price is for $2.79 for 15.2 ounce bottle and $3.99 for 1 liter.

Sunkist Naturals

Sunkist Naturals’ smoothies. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE.

See our recipes for healthy homemade smoothies.

– Check out super juice from China.

– Discover the many benefits of natural fruit juices.

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PRODUCT: You Say “Goodbye,” We Say Hello!

Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road

Ben & Jerry’s limited-edition tribute

Ben and Jerry’s, the socially concerned Vermont ice cream titan that created such hits as “Cherry Garcia” and “One Sweet Whirled,” has done it again. The company is now helping the world-renowned Elton John AIDS Foundation by reviving Sir Elton’s signature tribute flavor, “Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road.” This mix of chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle (similar to toffee) and white chocolate chunks will blast you off like a “Rocket Man,” with no “Sacrifice” of flavor. You’ll be “Restless.” It’s “Madness.” “Are You Ready For Love?” Because “It’s the Greatest Discovery.” You’ll feel no guilt with every spoonful, because a portion of the sales from this creamy, chunky “Return to Paradise” treat benefits a great cause. So, buy a pint or three, because “That’s What Friends Are For.”
Take it from us, after the sugar rush has left you and you’re finally out of Elton John song references, gazing into the bottom of the pint, “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” Oh wait, we’ve got one—“The Batch is Back!”

-See our Gourmet Ice Cream section for reviews of our favorite ice cream.
-Read The History of Ice Cream.
-What’s the difference between ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt? Learn the definitions.

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CONTEST: The Kettle Brand “Create-a-Chip Challenge”

Concocting the next “it” potato chip flavor: right up there with professional baseball watching and test-driving Ferraris as far as our dream jobs go. Now, thanks to Kettle Brand, you can buy your very own flavor factory and live a day in the life with four bags of “blank canvas” plain Kettle Chips, and a zesty palette of seven all-natural seasonings like caramelized onion, roasted tomato and lemon butter. Just open a bag of chips, add a healthy dusting of cheddar or sweet chili with additions from your kitchen, shake well and let the artistry begin!

With an astronomical 1,750 possible combinations (though Kettle recommends keeping it to two or three flavors per bag), you’ll be turning out your own masterpieces like Spicy Ketchup with Dill and Grown Up Mac ‘n Cheese chips in no time. It’s a tasty project for foodies, or an appropriate addition to any college dorm room for ubiquitous late-night snacking.

Kettle Brand "Create-a-Chip Challenge" Kit

Kettle Brand “Create-a-Chip Challenge” kit

Buy a kit at http://www.kettlechipchallenge.com, and submit your stroke of sweet-spicy-sour-salty genius online for a chance at flavor immortality. Your online “pantry” contains 27 ingredients, soy sauce and honey included…so, let’s just say the possibilities are endless.

-See more of our favorite chips in our Snacks Section.
-For more information, see The History of Potato Chips.
-See more flavored potato chips reviewed by THE NIBBLE.

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