A Roundup of Fun Foods

Most of my reviews here are cooking gadgets and small kitchen appliances, but once in a while I get food products to sample. Mmmmm food. Here's a roundup of some of my most recent noshes.

Noosa Yogurt

I love yogurt. Sometimes I make my own. Other times I buy it. But mostly I buy plain yogurt rather than flavored. Noosa sent me some samples including a Colorado-only yogurt that I'll admit I was a little skeptical about - blackberry serrano.

Boy, was I surprised! The blackberry serrano had just the right amount of heat to match with the fruit. I made a frozen yogurt with it, and it was outstanding.

The blood orange and key lime were also winners.

But the real winner was the small containers of caramel yogurt. I ate all of the yogurt they sent me and I've bought it again and again and again. It's a perfect little dessert or late-night snack. I've also bought several other flavors, including the pineapple, which was also pretty amazing.

If you haven't tried Noosa yet, look for it at your local grocer.

Cocoa Tango Tea

It's not a dance, it's a tea. With cocoa flavor. Nibs, I think. I tend to drink more herbal teas than black teas, but this one is quite tasty. Besides the cocoa, it's got a tiny hint of citrus and a little kick from chili.

If you're looking for a new tea, this is different and good and refreshing.

Brio "Ice Cream"

First, sorry for the photo. The product has disappeared and I didn't check the photos before that happened. Brio isn't exactly an ice cream - it's a frozen dairy dessert. If you think of it that way, it's a tasty product. If you think about super-premium ice cream while you're eating it, you'll have a "huh?" moment.

Brio has added things that are good for you, like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. So if you're looking for a sweet dessert that's not just fat and sugar, this might be the one for you. Or your kids. Or whatever.

Wild Garden Hummus Snack Packs

These little boxes contain a bag of chips or crackers and a squeeze-container of hummus.  The hummus is enough to put a generous portion on each cracker or chip, or you can be skimpy about the hummus and find more crackers.These really are the perfect size for a snack. Not a meal, not a lunch, but a little snack - just enough for that after-work nosh or that late-night nibble. Or maybe part of a lunch.

I haven't made my way through all the flavors yet, but so far I've liked the ones I've tried. There are gluten-free options as well as some that have wheat, and there are different hummus flavors as well, so you have choices.

Since they're shelf-stable, you can store the in the pantry, your desk at work or bring them along on a trip - no need to refrigerate unless you open the hummus and don't finish it. Nice nibble!

Eight O'Clock Coffee

Eight O'Clock has been one of my favorite brands for quite some time. I like the flavor, but it's not a billion dollars for a precious little bag. When I'm budgeting, that's a big deal.

Recently, they relaunched their 100 percent Colombian Peaks coffee that is 50 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified, and that's what I got to sample. As usual, really good. Possibly better than their previous. Strong enough, but not crazy. I brewed it in my cold brewer and also in my regular coffee machine, and I also made a batch of ice cream with it. All good.

Check out your grocer and see which versions of Eight O'Clock they have in stock.

New Zealand Salts

New Zealand salts are supposed to be better for you, but you can read up on that at the manufacturer's site. Let's talk for a bit about those flavored salts.

They're really good. First, I sniffed, then I sprinkled them on meat, added them to soup, and threw them about on all kinds of foods. Nice on eggs, too. And avocado.

The large container is a fine salt that's good for your salt shaker or for cooking. I'm using it for more important tasks than flavoring the water I cook pasta in, though. Seems appropriate.

New York Pita Chips

Who doesn't love something that's crunchy? New York Pita Chips were a little thicker than the usual chips I buy. Good or bad? It depends on what you're using the chips for. These would hold up really well if you're assembling them in advance with toppings where thinner chips might fail. Or for any other use where you need a sturdy chip.

As far as flavor. Yes, please!

Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer

Ginger beer is a strange critter. It's more like ginger ale than beer. And it's usually non-alcoholic. Except when it's not.

Crabbie's is a brand of alcoholic ginger beer that's brewed in the UK, and it's been around since the 1800's, according to Wikipeidia. It's got a nice ginger bite that's a little stronger than your average ginger ale, but it doesn't really taste boozy. This would be a good cocktail for folks who don't really care for the taste of alcohol and also for those who don't like a super-sweet drink.

I was considering making a recipe using this ginger beer, or maybe a cocktail, but I liked it too much as-is. It's a lovely drink all by itself.

I received these products from the manufacturers for the purpose of doing reviews.