DR. BRONNERS LIQUID SOAP--STILL ON TOP, BUT WITH THIS CAVEAT

This natural soap, which suds up from the saponification of the oils of olive and coconut, was developed by the late Dr. Emanuel Bronner, who was a chemist and supposedly a rabbi.

However, a search reveals he might not have been a practicing rabbi.

How do I feel? Probably the way Art Carney's character on The Honeymooners, Ed Norton,  a sewer worker, felt when  he dressed up for a masquerade as Francois De La Brioschi, who Norton erroneously thought built the sewers of Paris, only to find out that Brioschi actually condemned them!

LUNDBERG RICE CAKES--VIRTUALLY UNCHALLENGED

Take the "rice cake challenge"--pick up a bag of your typical store-bought rice cakes, then do the same with any Lundberg package.  It's about 50% heavier!  Kinda like picking up the $1.99 pint of ice cream, then picking up Ben & Jerry's or Haagen Daaz.

All of the Lundberg varieties are winners. Here is a sumptuous way to enjoy: spread with a schmeer of cashew nut butter, then top that off with either rasberry or strawberry jam.....bliss!! Okay, mixing fats, long-chain carbs and sweets is heavy on digestion...so what?  When you're going to binge, splurge, eat to relieve stress...it doesn't get any better than this.

ESSENE CINNAMON RAISIN SPROUTED BREAD--SLAMMIN'!

Here's another gustatory delight, one of the best products, within the means of most.

Essene Bread is sprouted before being ground into flour.  The cinnamon-raisin offering is unique in that it's more like a bread-cake hybrid.  The more you chew it, the sweeter it becomes, unlike addictive foods that make your mouth water initially, but then become unpalatable if you keep chewing.  For an excellent explanation of this, I refer you to Dr. David Kessler's superb book, The End Of Overeating.
For a hearty snack or meal replacement that will hold you over, try this combination (one of the few original ideas I've ever had):

• spread a slice with a layer of cashew butter, then top it off with a dollop of kim-chee ( spicy pickled cabbage)

It's got everything going on--the sweet moist bread, the richness of the nut butter, and the crunch and spice of the kim-chee cutting through.  Awesome!

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FOUR-CHIMNEYS HONEYDEW MOON DESSERT WINE

First sampled their Dayspring (semi-dry white) at the Souen Restaurant in New York city.  Have been enjoying it (on occasion) ever since.

A few years back, Four-Chimneys, one of the first organic wineries in the country, located in Himrod-On-Hudson, NY (Fingerlakes), came out with a line of dessert wines.  Honeydew Moon has to be tasted to be believed. A wine made from honeydew melon!!  I have given it out during the holidays, and have had nothing but stellar responses.  My friend, Daphne, one of the best looking waitresses in the state of NJ (shut up,girl, U R!!) a woman who is hard to please, was estatic. Gave it to her during x-mas. Saw her the next day. She was like, "loved the wine".  I was like, "let's take our time consuming it, lush!" (jk lol).

They've raised the price like two bucks per bottle on their whole line in the last twenty years.

Four-Chimneys--easily makes my best of the cheapbling list.  Savior like royalty and have $ left over.

BEST HAND DISH SOAP--DISHMATE ALMOND--NO CHALLENGE

the best - no challenge By Andrew Chaplowitz I am at a loss for words, why people would use dish soap that smells like ammonia covered with perfume, imitation lemon used. From the first time I took a whiff of almond Dishmate (actually, it's cherry almond) I have not looked back. And that was more years than I care to remember. The foam generated by the coconut, a distinct advantage over health with SLS and SLES may not be relevant to the masses. Fine. Just smell and use. Even at a higher price than the leading brands, the high concentration of the cost per use at almost the same level.

post-script--went undercover today and smelled some of the new offerings from the national companies, who've jumped on the bandwagon...lily scent, strawberry, jasmine.  End result--still no challenge to Dishmate almond.  They no longer list cherry in the ingredients.  Still, one of a kind.

-ac

WORLD'S FINEST HOME-MADE EGG CREAM

Sorry for the delay--sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for:

• 1/4 cup Santa Cruz chocolate syrup
• 2 0z Silk brand hazelnut creamer
• 16-18 seltzer dispensed from a siphon bottle

Directions (needs one helpin hand, unless you want to impersonate the Keystone Cops)

mix syrup and and creamer by hand, then, while still stirring, add seltzer.

Best served in glass with metal holder (a nod to nostalgia!)

HAAGEN-DAZS EGG CREAM FALLS "FLAT"

Does this color resemble an egg cream? (just checking)
Think back, for those of you who've been around, when you went to your local candy store and ordered this. For the younger bucks reading this, an egg cream is a fountain drink made from: chocolate syrup, milk and topped-off with seltzer.  It commanded a price of a whopping $ 0.75 back in the 70's.

So, I'm in the Jersey Gardens Mall, Elizabeth, which is supposed to be an outlet/discount mall. There's a Haagen-Dazs kiosk, which has egg-creams for their offering.  The damage: $4.00

Result: Att: Pillsbury (who bought Haagen back in '83)--

You cannot make this drink properly without the use of a seltzer siphon bottle. see  www.fantes.com/seltzer.html

Four bucks for watered-down-diluted chocolate milk?  Sorry, both parties need to gain from a transaction.

Thumbs down

So....what does this have to do with this blog? Wasn't this supposed to refer to "best items"?
In a follow-up, I will share a home-made recipe for The Ultimate Egg Cream
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BEST ROOT BEER--VIRGIL'S--NO CHALLENGE!

Does this color resemble root beer? Worth a try!


Besides this one-of-a-kind bev having a superior sweetener, unrefined cane, which retains the nutrients lost when processed into white sugar.....okay, you're getting bored.


Virgils Root Beer renders its competition to taste fake.  It contains real sasaparilla. No challenge!


There are two choices: a 12oz bottle in a 4pack. The prices vary, from $7, down to as low as $4.50.  In additon, there is a limited edition, identifiable by a cork held down by a metal clasp.  At $4+ per @ bottle, it is worth it, for special occasions, or just to reward yourself.


Virgils. At the top.  www.reedsinc.com/virgils     www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil%27s_Root_Beer

TREAT YOURSELF TO THE BEST IN LIFE

Mission: this is not a source for the best hotel in Monte Carlo, or the best spa under $1,000/day in Beverly Hills, or where to get the best caviar.
Rather, it is, based on my experience, the best things that we use every day and are within reach of virtually everyone.

Personal care products, food, massage (note: I'm referring to massage therapy, not the type portrayed on a "Seinfeld" episode!)

Here are some of the things I'll be mentioning:

---shampoo      ---wine      ----bottled water      -- hand dish soap    --body wash

---health food items          ---non-health food items     --fragrance

stay tuned as I post.

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