Seeds of Change

I got a chance to sample several products from a company called Seeds of Change - two types of grain products in pouches, and Jalfrezi sauce.

The Jalfrezi is supposed to be a medium-hot curry sauce, It had a little spice, but I wouldn't call it hot. But that's okay. You can always add more heat if you want, but you can't take it away.

The curry flavor wasn't an in-your-face sort of thing, so people who are wary of strongly-flavored Indian curries or super-hot Thai curries might like this one a lot. I don't dislike those other curries, but I have to say that I was really smitten with this sauce. It's got great flavor, it's different from the usual suspects in my kitchen, and it makes dinner really simple. So far, I've used it for cooking chicken thighs in my slow cooker and for braising some pork shoulder.

Those grain packages are precooked, so you just need to heat them, either in a pan or in the microwave. If you're microwaving, you just tear a corner of the bag and heat right in the bag - great if you're taking this to work.

So far, I've only tried the Seven Whole Grain, and it was really flavorful as-is. I ate a small bowl of it for lunch one day, and I added some tomato chunks and feta cheese and ate it as cold salad later.

Who's it for: Folks in a hurry who want food that's good for them.

Pros: Easy. Really easy. And I love the Jalfrezi sauce.

Cons: Let's face it. Cooking from scratch is always going to be less expensive.

Wishes: So far, none. I'll be looking for other sauces to try.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Vacu Vin Multi Jigger

Vacu Vin is probably best known for their vacuum tools for wine that remove the oxygen to keep wine fresh.

But that's not all they make. Much of it is barware related, like the cute little multi-jigger that's taken up permanent residence near the rum and vodka portion of my life.

First, let me be honest. I have a weird fetish for measuring tools. I have two scales, more measuring cups than should be legal, and a whole lot of measuring spoons.

But that doesn't stop me from ogling even more measuring tools.

Funny thing is that except for a couple of shotglasses with no measurements at all, I didn't have any sort of dedicated cocktail measuring tools. So I was more than happy to take the Vacu Vin Multi Jigger for a test pour or two.

With jiggers, you really don't need a lot of measurements, and generally you're measuring by ounce. This measures 1 1/2, 1  1/2, and 1/4-ounces and also shows the measurements in mililiters.

But no tablespoons or teaspoons to get in the way of proper drink mixing.

To measure, you tilt the glass in different ways to get the three larger measurements. The bottom side of the glass measures 1/4 ounce.

Yes, it's a little gimmicky, but it's also fun. And once you remember which angle is which measurement, you don't need to look to see the lines at all.

Who's it for: People who like fun, unique, yet useful bar tools.

Pros: It works. It's different. Relatively unbreakable.

Cons: Because it's different, it might befuddle guests at your bar until they use it.

Wishes: Measuring lines in color, maybe? Just for the fun of it.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Numi Tea in Single-Serve Realcups

Numi teas; Cosy mug courtesy of Duralex.

I've been enamored with Numi teas since they came up with the idea of the "blooming flower" teas that expand in the hot water to form a beautiful presentation.

Their newest offering is about as far from those blooming teas as you can imagine. The single-serve Realcups are designed to work in a Keurig coffee maker.

But, unlike the cups that are filling up landfills, these are recyclable. So you can have easy tea and not feel so guilt-ridden.

I like tea a lot, but I'm prone to leaving a teabag (or loose tea in a holder) in the water for too long. It's just too easy to get distracted and walk away from it and forget about it.

With the Numi Realcup, it's just brew, and drink.

I was given all four flavors to sample - Aged Earl Grey, Jasmine Green Tea, Moroccan Mint, and Rooibos Chai.

Of the four, the Moroccan Mint was my favorite, but that's simply because I love mint tea. It's a perfect warming drink on a chilly evening. I liked the Earl Grey more than I expected. Not that I dislike it, but it wouldn't be my first choice. This one, though, is a nice morning tea.

The Rooibos Chai had the spicy chai flavors, but it wasn't overwhelmingly strong, so it would work well with food or by itself. The Jasmine Green was my least favorite, but only because one of them had to be last.

Overall, I liked all of them, and I liked the convenience of being able to just pop one into the machine and have the tea brewed correctly. Oh, and Numi teas are organic, if that's important to you.

If you don't have a Keurig machine or don't like the cups, even if they're recyclable, Numi also sells loose tea, teabags, and those crazy flowering teas. And other stuff.

Who's it for: Tea lovers who love their Keurigs

Pros: Easy to use, recyclable.

Cons: If you're intense about recycling, you'll want to tear the cup open and compost the tea, so that lessens the convenience factor a bit.

Wishes: More flavors!!! More! More!

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.