Can't Live Without This!

I think I've discovered the key to happiness and it lies in a small 1.5 ounce tub of Roasted Garlic & Herb Butter Spread from TJ's! I'm not kidding; I am 100% in love with this product. Made by a small creamery exclusively for Trader Joe's, this is in fact the trifecta of compound butters. Believe me, and I know you do, I've  tried them all, and this one is the winner! Creamy butter is mixed with roasted garlic, puréed garlic, and garlic salt to create  this fabulous spread. Parsley, oregano, basil, and chives complete the mixture with onion salt and black pepper added for seasoning. The spread is fantastic on grilled salmon, chicken, pasta, and of course; a baguette. For A memorable meal, pick up a tub; you'll be glad you did!

Trader Joe's Roasted Garlic & Herb Butter Spread...about $3.25

I was lucky enough to sample some High Brew coffee this weekend at the Yelp Elite Badge event and boy I'm glad I did. I'm hooked on it and I'll tell you why! Let me tell you a short story about High Brew. Founder David Smith owned the company, Sweet Tea Leaf until 2011, when he got the brilliant idea to homeschool his kids afloat and set sail to the Caribbean to find out all he could about coffee. Needless to say, Smith became the founder of the first cold-brewed canned coffee. I got to try two flavors, Salted Caramel and Vanilla. The Salted Caramel was deliciously smooth, accented with sea salt and definitely gave me an afternoon lift! The vanilla was a bit sweeter and smelled wonderful. I would recommend both! Other flavors include Double Espresso, Dark Chocolate Mocha, and Black & Bold. All of High Brew's coffee beans are 100% fair trade too. Pick some up at your local Whole Foods or Ralph's today!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Chinese Chicken Salad lover. Now I happen to think that my Chinese Chicken Salad is better than any that I've had in a restaurant. No fears, I'm going to give you my recipe, but, you have to try this dressing and these won ton strips! These made an awesome salad even better! Now, I didn't think that was possible, but let me tell you; there was not one single bite left! The Feast From the East Sesame Dressing is all natural, kosher, contains no artifical preservatives, and gluten free ingredients! How do you like them apples? Distilled vinegar, sugar, water, soybean oil, sesame oil, salt and spices are combined to make the best dressing my greens have been treated to! For $10.50 for 32 oz., this dressing's a steal! Of course the salad needs crispy wonton strips($5) that come in thick or thin. ($5 for 4oz). so where do I buy mine? The Kitchen Outlet of course! Visit their website for these products and more fun kitchen gadgets, collectibles, and kitchen tools at www.thekitchenoutlet.com. Meanwhile, here's my recipe:

Karen's Chinese Chicken Salad (4 servings)

2 bags freshly shredded lettuce1small can mandarin orange slices, chilled1 small can water chestnuts, sliced1 bunch scallions, sliced thinly1 red pepper, sliced thinly,salt and pepper to taste, 4 fried chicken breasts or any very flavorful chicken (I use Ralph's for the excellent flavor-take all of the meat off and chop)1 cup Feast From the East Sesame Dressing (or more to taste)1/2 bag Feast From the East Wontons

Combine all ingredients, toss with dressing and wontons.

1 red bell pepper sliced thinly 

Yeah, Right. Good Health Kettle Chips. Giant Shrimp. Oxymorons. No but wait! Listen. They really, truly are good. And healthy! And they can't keep them on the shelves. Just ask the manager at my Gelson's. He sees me coming and hides, or has his speech ready. "No, we're getting more tomorrow. We're sold out." as he prepares for my sad face. I look like they are out of milk or M'n'M's or something vital. But once you try them, you'll be addicted too. And why? Because they are healthy for you!! So let's start with the healthy ingredients, because you  know I'm so all about that. Avocado oil (rich in antioxidents, unsaturated fats, and omega 3 fatty acids), olive oil (heart healthy), whole grains (fiber, omega 3) pink Himalayan sea salt (high mineral and iron content) are the ingredients in these yummy snacks. The Kettle Chips come in Barbeque, Avocado Oil and Sea Salt, Lime Ranch, and Olive Oil and Rosemary. (About $3.50) So now my great find is an open secret! How's that for an oxymoron? Available at Gelson's.

It's not often that Vanilla custard elicits that exciting of a response from me, but this stuff is good! Whoever coined the phrase "very vanilla" should try this frozen custard, because it's pretty darn good! Probably, if asked to vote, most people in the U.S. would pick vanilla over chocolate any day. After making a super duper dessert out of this stuff, or just eating it plain, you'll see why! Frozen custard differs from ice cream in that it has a high egg yolk content. Once only an east coast treat, I first tasted custard on the Atlantic City boardwalk. Now thanks to Dreyers, grocery stores all over are stocking it in the freezer section. And it's a pretty good runner-up! The rich, thick, creamy, yellow, intensely vanilla custard has become my go to dessert. Top it with caramel sauce and some finely crushed vanilla wafers for a special treat! 1 quart $4.99