[1] Tasty snacks from a French company that has set down roots in the U.S. (photo courtesy Bakerly).

[2] Perfectly flavored rice sides are now a cinch (photo courtesy Royal Basmati).

[3] The Thin Mint cookie finds a new expression in yogurt from Yoplait.

We buy lots of products to try, and we are sent samples as well.

As with aything, some of these are nice but not newsworthy; others become part of our weekly shopping list.

Here’s our latest collection of winners.
 
 
1. BAKERLY: BRIOCHE BREAD & BREAKFAST BREADS

We discovered the Bakerly line at a natural foods store. A brand from France, the products are now also made in the U.S.

We first took home a loaf of brioche—our favorite bread.

We enjoyed the loaf so much, we went back for the rest of the products on that shelf (photo #1): regular and chocolate chip croissants, jam-filled crepes and petite cakes (little sponges filled with chocolate or strawberry).

There are also item on the website we haven’t yet tried, including brioche rolls and burger buns.

For those who enjoy a breakfast pastry, or something sweet with a coffee break, look out for Bakerly.

You can use the store locator at Bakerly.com.

Food Trivia: The expression, “If they have no bread, let them eat cake,” commonly misattributed to Queen Marie-Antoinette, is a translation of the phrase, “S’ils n’ont plus de pain, qu’ils mangent de la brioche.”

But was the insensitive (to say the least) remark actually said by the over-indulged queen?

Perhaps not. The quotation was attributed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau to “a great princess,” possibly Maria Theresa of Spain.
 
 
2. ROYAL BASMATI: GLOBAL RICE MIXES

All of this company’s rices are premium:

 
Now, Royal Basmati has created a line seasoned basmati rices in global flavors: Argentinian, French, Greek, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Moroccan (photo #2) and Thai.

You can cook them on the stovetop or in the microwave. The result: aromatic, well-seasoned sides to serve with anything from plain grilled chicken to Moroccan lamb stew to a Thai-inspired feast.

Here’s more information.

Discover more at AuthenticRoyal.com.

Beginning this month, Girl Scout Cookie fans can enjoy Yoplait yogurt flavors inspired by their favorite cookie flavors:

 
The flavors are produced under a license from Girl Scouts Of The USA.

We received samples of all three, and were thrilled with Thin Mints: a mousse of minty chocolate. We could eat a case of it.

Yoplait products are both naturally and artificially flavored. The other two flavors will have their fans, but we were sensitive to the artificial taste peeking through.

Learn more at Yoplait.com.

What’s next? Stay tuned.
  

There are plenty of chocolate Christmas trees and tree-shaped holiday cookies.

But these two treats from Orange Glad Box, which is a box delivery service for gourmet sweets.
 
 
1. CHRISTMAS TREE BROWNIES

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. BAKE your favorite brownie recipe and cut out tree shapes with a cookie cutter.

2. USE an ice pick to create an opening for thin candy canes. Break off the crook tops of the candy canes and insert the straight portion into the openings. You can crush the crooks and use them to decorate the “Christmas trees.”

3. DECORATE the trees with a piped icing garland and “ornaments”: small round candies, confetti, round sprinkles or edible glitter.
 
 
RECIPE: PEANUT BUTTER CHRISTMAS TREES

This recipe was inspired by one from Delish.

Ingredients Per Tree

 
Preparation

1. USE soft icing to adhere the peanut butter cups: small, regular, small. Affix the kiss on top.

2. DECORATE the tree with a piped icing garland and “ornaments”: small round candies, confetti, round sprinkles or edible glitter.

[2] Peanut butter cup Christmas tree (photo courtesy Delish).

[2] Peanut butter cup Christmas tree (photo courtesy Delish).

[2] Nacho Tuesday substitutes for Taco Tuesday (photo courtesy Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).

[3] This recipe makes from-scratch hummus (photo © DeLallo).

[4] As a time-saver, you can purchase plain hummus and layer on the flavors in the recipe (photo © Sabra Dipping Company | Pepsico).

You can combine Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday with meatless tacos, like this recipe for Veggie Hummus Tacos (photo #1) from Mountain Mama Cooks.

You get a nice portion of mixed veggies, along with nutrient-packed* hummus.

And, you don’t have to be literal on Taco Tuesdays. You can serve taco chips with a hummus-nacho dip, as in the recipe below.

If you don’t want either vegan or vegetarian† tacos for your main course, try this starter from our colleague Hannah Kaminsky of Bittersweet Blog. She serves it with a selection of tortilla chips, plain and flavored.

“Nacho hummus,” Hannah says, “delivers all the cheesy, spicy decadence of a good queso dip with the more substantial heft of a chickpea spread. The two rivals compliment and contrast one another: a natural union that has been long overdue.

“Whether you smear it in pita, thin it out to drizzle on tortilla chips, or just set it out with cut vegetable crudités, it’s a foolproof formula.”

> National Nachos Day is November 6th.

> International Hummus Day is May 13th.

Below:

> Hummus nachos recipe.

> Tortilla chips, taco chips, corn chips: the difference.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of nachos.

> The history of tortilla chips.

> The history of hummus.

> The history of Taco Tuesday.

> The year’s 25+ Mexican and Tex-Mex food holidays.

> The year’s 18 sauce, dips, and dressings holidays.
 
 
RECIPE: HUMMUS “NACHOS”

You can substitute store-bought plain hummus as a time saver.

Serve on small tortillas, or as a dip with tortilla chips.

Ingredients For 6-10 Appetizer Servings

 
Plus

 
Preparation

1. ADD the chickpeas, roasted red pepper, tomato paste, chipotle, and garlic and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse to breaking down the ingredients, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

2. ADD the tahini, mustard and all the seasonings and spices, starting with just 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne.

3. PURÉE, and while the motor is running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil, until the mixture is silky-smooth and it reaches your desired consistency. If you’d like it to be more of a sauce than a spread, follow that with water or vegetable stock, as needed.

4. ADJUST the spice level to taste. Top with sliced scallions and dip the day away!
 

Tortilla chips and corn chips are cousins, are made in very different ways.
 
Corn Chips

 
Tortilla Chips, A.K.A. Taco Chips

This ancient process was developed by the peoples of what is today Mesoamerica.

 
________________

*Hummus contains crucial nutrients, most of which come from the tahini: a high content of important minerals like copper and manganese, along with calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. It is relatively rich in vitamins C and B6, and also contain vitamin E, K, folate (B9) and thiamin (B1).

†The difference, in this recipe, is sautéeing the vegetables in oil (vegan) or steaming or roasting them, versus sautéeing in butter (vegetarian).

[4] Nopalito’s handmade tortilla chips at (photo courtesy Good Eggs).

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