An addictive and nutritious snack, Hemp Hearts, raw shelled hemp seeds from Manitoba Harvest Foods, impart a slight sweetness reminiscent of finely crushed, soft walnuts. But these little power seeds feature 10 grams of Omegas 3 & 6, plus 3 grams of fiber. For those of you interested there are only 170 calories and 3grams of carbohydrates. Taste and nutrition combine in a snack that is—tempting --- and filling. For more information go to: manitobaharvest.com.

Mediterranean diets have returned as the daily diet rage. A dining staple in southern Europe, olives and olive products anchor many Mediterranean dishes. An ancient fruit, many believe some of the finest olives come from Greece. Packed in brine, the Olives by Divanos are firm and bursting with flavor. Another item, Dalmatia Fig Spread exudes the sweet exoticism of figs and combines well with Cheese, in yogurt, on toast or as an added sweetener from cereal to cookie fillings. Divina Olive Bruschetta features a traditional mixing of olives, sweet peppers and capers. The spread works in pasta, on bruschetta, and as an added flavor to many other topping choices.

Another snack touting high health appeal are the Australian grown Chia Shots by The Chia Company. Each 8-gram serving is packed with 2.9 grams of Omega 3; 1.1 gram of omega 6; 66 calories; 0.07 carbohydrates; 5.6 grams fiber and 3 grams of proteins. Resembling light and dark colored sesame seeds, Chia Seeds can punch up a salad, yogurt, and cereal or just pop them in your mouth (although they are a bit dry) to cut hunger and jack up nutrition.

For those who haven’t heard, milk is being stalked by nondairy Coconut milk. The SO Delicious product is gluten free and touts the robust flavor of its chocolate coconut milk and protein rich Almond Plus Almondmilk.

Extending the line essential pantry products, One Degree Organic Foods announced a new product, Organic Flax Seeds. The well-known health benefits are compounded by this seed’s veganically grown pedigree—that is, the company knows the seed’s friends and family members. Scan the bar code and you trace the seed’s route back to its roots. (Couldn’t help it).

Although there was much more to taste and contemplate, Better oats released Steel Cut Oats with Flax plus and a touch of apples and cinnamon plus Barbara’s High Fiber Cranberry cereal.

Finished eating--top everything off with a bright cup of tea. Believe it or not, “Get Burning” herb tea for metabolism kicks up your energy and food burning skills with a tea bag that has organic green Rooibos, Ginger, Cinnamon, and Holy Basil. The Republic of Teas Be Active Teas features multi-talented tea choices.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis

Combine one cup maple syrup with two teaspoons of Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract to top off a sweet Valentine’s Day breakfast.
Whip one cup of heavy whipping cream, adding two teaspoons of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Coffee Extract and 2 tablespoons sifted confectioners’ sugar for a lovely touch to a morning cup of Joe.
Create a kids lunchbox surprise by adding a teaspoon of Nielsen-Massey’s Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste to peanut butter for an extra sweet PB&J.
For the more adventurous cook, try this recipe: Vanilla Nougat Candy Bar Bites
From Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever
Makes about 2 dozen 1 inch bites
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey pure vanilla extract
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60 to 70 percent cacao), melted
¼ cup finely chopped salted nuts*
* Use whatever kind of nuts you like. Salted peanuts and almonds are especially good for a candy bar effect.
Lightly coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line it with parchment paper and lightly spray the parchment, too. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium high heat, stir together sugar, 1/2 cup water, corn syrup, and salt. Boil until the temperature reaches 238°F.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium speed until they hold soft peaks, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, slowly pour half of the hot syrup into egg whites, beginning with just 1 to 2 tablespoons and then gradually pouring in the rest (adding just a little syrup at first warms up the egg whites and prevents them from scrambling). Immediately return saucepan with the remaining hot syrup to medium-high heat and bring to a boil; continue beating egg-white mixture until thick, with the consistency of marshmallow crème, then turn off mixer.
When the syrup temperature reaches 275°F, turn mixer on at medium speed and slowly pour in syrup. Increase mixer speed to high and beat for 10 to 12 minutes, until mixture is very thick, heavy, and beginning to lose its gloss; the bowl should be cool except for the very bottom. Scrape mixture into prepared pan and spread it into the corners with lightly oiled hands or an offset spatula. Let set at room temperature until completely cool and firm, about 2 hours.
Invert nougat onto a cutting surface and remove the parchment. The slab should be sticky side up (the side that was exposed to the air while setting should be dry and not sticky when touched). Cut into 1-inch squares and place squares sticky side up on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Pour melted chocolate into a small zip-top bag. Use scissors to snip off the corner of the bag. Drizzle a bit of chocolate over each nougat square and sprinkle chopped nuts on top. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 5 minutes, before serving. If the egg whites hold soft peaks before the syrup temperature reaches 238°F, stop the mixer—you want the whipped whites to be ready and waiting for the syrup, not the other way around.
This soft nougat is the perfect base for all kinds of creative confectioneries. Flavor it as you like (peppermint holiday nougat, anyone?), fold in dried fruits and nuts for a riff on Italian torrone, or use it as inspiration for your own homemade candy bars.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis

Numi Tea announced some data that makes tea drinking even more appealing. Tea can benefit many health issues like cardiovascular disease, induce relaxation, and help boost the immune system. Studies are reporting these findings but they don’t have the same muscle as pharmaceutical companies so they get brushed to the side of documented medical advances.

Of course many have already heard of green tea’s antioxidant properties, but a new tea is knocking green and white tea off the top of the totem pole. Tea farmers are clearing their plots of other teas and planting Puerh tea to satisfy a growing demand. Why the interest? Because Puerh tea is proving helpful towards heart health, digestion, cancer prevention energy levels.

Puerh comes from a wild, old tree known as "broad leaf tea" found in the Yunan Mountains of Southwestern China. An earthy flavor permeates this wonder tea which will be released later this year by at least one company, Numi Organic Tea. Their promotional material states that they are harvesting Puerh tea leaves from 200 – 500 year old wild harvested tree varieties.

As for the other teas, don’t throw them out yet. Green tea has been deemed a strong scavenger of free radicals and improves memory. White tea seeks out disease producing bacteria, while black tea can impede colorectal cancer cells and lower risk of repeated heart attacks. Naturally, just drinking tea won’t do the trick if every other aspect of your daily life is unhealthy. But tea in combination with a balanced diet and exercise can improve your health odds—and do so in a tasty, calming manner.

Keep a lookout for the new category or Puerh tea. Numi will put out a black Puerh, one flavored with chocolate, vanilla beans, orange peel and spices; a magnolia scented green tea, a Black Puerh blend plus a green Puerh.

Certainly other brands will surface as well, but for more information on Numi Organic Tea go to www.numitea.com.

What attracted me to this line of pencil was the ease with which the pencil draws over the eyelid. There’s a fine selection of colors including rich grays and browns that apply with ease. It’s difficult to find eyeliners that both feel good in the hand and on the eyelids, particularly if you are prone to eye infections or irritations.

Simple but effective, PencilMeIn this particular pencil me in product works and could serve as a fine stocking stuffer gift.
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