Inko’s White Teas made a refreshing impression with their subtle flavors — original, mint and white peach — and low-key sweetness. Each 16-ounce bottle contains fewer than 60 calories and costs $2.50-$3.
It fits us to a tea
We’re happy to see 12-ounce versions of The Republic of Tea's ready-to-drink unsweetened iced teas, which previously were sold only in much larger bottles. Nine flavors of green, black and red tea are available, as well as the newest, honeydew white tea (very subtle, and not enough to tear us away from the fruitier ginger peach); additionally, these calorie-free teas have no added sugar or sugar substitute. Each bottle costs $1.30-$2.30 at grocery stores.
Rice at the ready
We had good results with Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice, a microwave-to-table product that clocks in at 90 seconds. We preferred the original long-grain, whole-grain brown and blend of long-grain and wild rice to the Spanish and roasted chicken varieties. Each 8.8-ounce pouch costs $1.70-$2.
Chips off the old block
Organic Kettle Chips come in a lot of flavors, but we really liked the newest: Roasted Red Pepper with Goat Cheese. Sounds fancy, and it tastes fancy; the thick chips have a pleasant, crisp crunch. A 5-ounce bag costs $2-$2.20 at select grocers.
Top fowl to win $100,000
Aw, don’t be chicken. Sharing your favorite recipe for fowl could net you $100,000 in the National Chicken Cooking Contest.
Recipes must be original, and chicken is the only required ingredient. Grilling recipes are not allowed.
Pluck up your courage and send your recipe by Oct. 15 to: NCCC, P.O. Box 27997, Washington, D.C. 20038-7997. Contest rules are available from the same address or on the Internet at www.eatchicken.com.
Posh nibble
Il Bosco Trecce breadsticks, imported from Puglia, are hand-braided and have almonds nestled within the twists; the flavor is rich with olive oil and a hint of white wine. The initial crunch soon yields to a buttery texture, and — trust us — soon you’ll be reaching for another. These are pricey but we think they’re worth it: A 17-ounce bag costs $9-$13; to order by mail, call 866-394-7652 or go online at isolaimports.com.
Certifiably blueberry
R.W. Knudsen’s certified organic blueberry nectar, with its robust berry flavor and a citric tang balanced by mellower apple juice, earned raves from tasters. (Both as a fruit juice and, because we think this way, a cocktail mixer.) A 32-ounce bottle costs $3.45 to $4.20 at specialty grocers and health food stores.
Sustaining idea
EcoFish frozen entrees feature ecologically responsible seafood with chef-designed preparations. We tried wild Alaskan salmon with Asian ginger marinade and wild South American mahi mahi with Caribbean marinade; both turned out beautifully, tasted good and preparation was easy. Seven varieties are offered; availability varies by store. Each box contains two servings (which might constitute one serving for heartier eaters) and costs $7-$10.45 in the freezer case at select markets.
