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Archive for the ‘Product Reviews’ Category

A Review, RealSalt: Ancient All Natural Sea Salt

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Real Salt Photo MD Hill

RealSalt is unrefined sea salt mined from ancient sea beds.
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Delicious. Oh how I enjoy reading the ingredients list of a new product, and finding only one!  Ingredients in Redmond’s award winning RealSalt: Ancient Sea Salt.
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For our team of culinary writers there is only one word that counts: taste. As international food judges, The Tandem Tasters, we know that one small detail can alter the outcome of an entire dish.
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I had fun experimenting by taking the RealSalt taste test. I sprinkled RealSalt on a fresh farm tomato. Intoxicating. I could barely stop to try the regular white salt. It was still good, but no comparison. I also had to use more for that savory sensation. Next I sprinkled the real stuff on a caramel. It was transformed to new flavor heights. Try a pinch of Realsalt on a perfectly poached egg.
RealSalt is extracted from deep within the earth. It is crushed, screened and packaged without bleaching or refining. I enjoy the seeing the shades of pink flecks that represent more than 50 natural trace minerals.
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One of the real truths about salt is that we use too much of it. In June, 2011, The Wellness Center at The University of California recommended that we lower our sodium intake to 1,500 mg. I have learned that a few grains of RealSalt packs over double the flavor of ordinary salt.
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The easiest way to cut down, without sacrificing taste is to limit processed and packaged foods. I prefer to cook for myself with a few simple fresh ingredients, or choose a restaurant with a chef who knows and cares.

French Master Chef Herve Laurent photo: M D Hill

Recently on an IFWTWA culinary tour of Seattle and Alaska, French Master Chef Herve Laurent prepared delicious Salmon in Holland America’s Culinary Kitchen. He only used RealSalt on his fish and in his sauces for maximum flavors. He highly recommended RealSalt to his interactive audience of food lovers. Herve is a chef who knows and cares.
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If Real Salt costs a few pennies more, by using less of it, you actually save money while promoting good health and amazing taste.
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For nutritional information or other questions contact:
Heber City, Utah 84032

A Review- Kosher Medley Peppermint Crunch Bar/Almond Dragees

Friday, September 9th, 2011

I made short work of a delicious product with a long name. The name describes this crunchy treat very well. The little nuggets are filled with almonds, cacao beans, cacao butter, vanilla, dark chocolate and peppermint crunch. It is simply a delightful taste and texture. There is no way to eat only one. I devoured the entire bag, without sharing, in one night. And I do not even have “sweet teeth.”

In fact, every product that I have tested by Dodo Brands – www.DodoBrands.com has been of top quality and taste.

Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success With Writing Where And What in the World

ZSweet Apple Pie Delight and Product Review

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

ZSweet is Well Worth Trying – It Works Without an After Taste

ZSweet Packets

On our recent IFWTWA Conference at Sea, I received a packet of ZSweet products to test and review. I tossed it in my suitcase to try once I got home. Except for stevia, I’ve not had much success with zero calorie sweeteners. However since ZSweet is all-natural, I was willing to give it a try.

First came reading the support material to discover this zero calorie, zero glycemic, Kosher, gluten-free, all natural alternative sweetener contains a blend of erythitol, stevia extract and natural flavors. The erythritol, which comes from honeycomb, is cultured from sugar and infused with S. rebaudiana leaf extract from the stevia plant.

For me personally, the stevia was a clincher that this may pass the palate test and it did, with flying colors.

ZSweet Powdered

For those who need to limit or avoid sugar, this is a terrific answer.

It is available in little packets that are equal to two teaspoons of sugar, an 8.5 ounce shaker container that is granulated, and an 8 ounce or 24 ounce powdered form that measures and sweetens like powdered sugar and suitable for baking.

For me, the powdered form is a huge bonus. Most of the substitutes do not measure the same. The ZSweet website has many delicious recipes.

Since apple season will soon be approaching, I’m including their apple pie recipe.

ZSweet Apple Pie Delight

Zsweet Apple Pie Delight

Servings 8 slices
Crust Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 tbsp ZSweet
1 tsp salt
6 oz unsalted butter
6 tbsp cold water

Filling Ingredients
6 cups Granny Smith apples, sliced
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup ZSweet®
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp corn starch
5 spritzes butter spray

To prepare crust:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix together flour, ZSweet®, salt. Using a pastry
blender, cut in butter until mixture becomes crumbly (like cornmeal). Add ice water and mix with fingers until mixture forms a ball. Cover and set aside pastry until well chilled (about 30 mintues). Divide pastry into half and roll out between pieces of wax paper. Fit pastry into a 9″ pie pan and bake for approximately 7 minutes. Roll out remaining pastry dough and set aside.

To prepare filling:
Peel and cut apples evenly into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle lemon juice over the apple slices. Mix together ZSweet®, nutmeg, cinnamon, and corn starch, and combine with apple mixture. Pour apple mixture into the pie shell and spritz with butter spray. Use remaining pastry to form a lattice topping or cut a vented top crust. Protect edges of crust with foil to prevent over-browning. Bake approximately 40 minutes until crust is golden brown and apples are to desired softness (juices will bubble).

Nutrition Facts
Makes 10 servings, Serving size: 1 slice, Amount per serving, Calories   172.2, Total Carbs   44.5 g, Dietary Fiber   6.6 g, Sugars   9.9 g, Total Fat   2.3 g, Saturated Fat   1.3 g, Unsaturated Fat   1 g, Potassium   64.5 mg, Protein   2.8 g, Sodium   234.2 mg

ZSweet is distributed by the leading US Wholesale Distributor and can be ordered by any Whole Foods Market or Vitamin Shoppe location or other fine Natural Food retailer.  However, if your Whole Foods Market does not have it, you can order online at www.zsweet.com or call 866-227-9338.

After you try it, let me know what you think.

Maralyn D Hill

Big Blend Magazine JustLuxe Spa Review Magazine NoraLyn Ltd.
Member: Society of Professional Journalists















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