These came along… Sometimes, you’ve got to focus on the body. Here’s a roundup of some ways to make it fun. Wanna get Swealthy? Allulose has been around for decades and RxSugar wants to get clients swealthy – sweet and healthy – with its line of 0-calorie, 0-net carbs, 0 glycemic line. Look for pancake syrup, liquid sugar, organic chocolate syrup and what looks and acts just like white sugar for your coffee. The very week someone I care for was avoiding sugar, these were welcomed into my life. Sure the syrup for daily French toast cravings tastes a little different (than the high fructose poison that I label the bottle). Adjustment is worth it when you’re trying to get better. These did accomplish their reason and I’m excited about recipes at www.rxsugar.com, including one for carbonated drinks. The chocolate sauce is thin, so watch out as you drizzle, because it is actually so good you wouldn’t want to waste a drop.

Rose petals and strawberries Do you pair your syrups with coconut rice pudding, maple cake with champaign buttercream and cocktails delightfully named “Love That Hat?” Get with the times by going old school with infused barrel-aged smoked maple syrups. Vermont-based Runamok Maple has brought back Strawberry Rose Infused Maple Syrup that does more than impress your tea party guests. This flavor is both delicate and bold and instantly drops you into the past. Make it modern with your own twist. This is in the focus on health roundup because it is high-quality and a little goes a long way. It’s good for your soul. Royal Leaf Achieve more is the message on the bottle. Royal Leaf Caffeinated Guayusa Tea in original and lemon & honey are pledging to bring sustained energy, enhanced focus and enriched health to your game. Amino acid L-Theanine gives this elegantly-packaged blend a sustained, relaxed and uplifted crash-free energy. www.royalleafetea.com offers a bit the science behind your strong, cool drink. Amazonians have enjoyed this tea throughout their history and it’s becoming my own-personal buzz word. Gianluca Mech This is a whole line that keto folk may already be into. Beautiful glass bottles with a vintage apothecary look offer Slim-Kombu to support gentle cleansing; Dolce Respiro to support a healthy immune system; Lino Rabarbaro, a regulating tonic and there’s much more in the line including a mushroom soup . There’s even a Keto Lemon Vanilla Mini Cake. There’s fiber and protein and this notice on the box: “Not a low calorie food.” The Cocoa & Hazelnut Spread includes plants like pineapple, papaya and fennel. Powders become creamy warm and cold beverages that deserve your best drinkware. Zuppa al gusto di Asparagi powder, heated in water, became an intriguing soup course. www.gianlucamech.com A BOOK NOTE The Scarlet Kingfisher I met a birder who asked me if I like to read. He handed my “The Scarlet Kingfisher.” There will always be birders that are new to me, but I began to “get it.” Robert Henry Benson, the man standing beside me, was the author of this novel about discovering a new species. Our hero, Dr. Beach O’Neill, is a Texas A&M researcher who finds himself in the path of nefarious characters who want this bird that isn’t supposed to exist. The search will shut down business and take down lives. The love of birds knows no bounds for good and evil characters. Readers get a taste of campus politics, coastal locales and both the mundane and thrill of bird counting and study. I love that the author I met became something of an expert in ornithology, drama highlighted by low-battery cell phones and snakes. That’s the novel life, and that’s Texas. In real life, Benson grows native plants at his Normana-area farm, and loves birding (surprise!), photography and falconry. Darragh Castillo is a Port Arthur area foodie ready to try something new. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Runamok with your cheese, and a pumpkin update

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     Don't you love when you can pair with pears? Runamok Maple is making it even more tempting to upgrade your syrup collection. There's a set for ice cream pairing, featuring Rum and Rye Barrel-Aged; tea pairing with Makrut Lime-Leaf infused maple (have you ever heard of such a thing?); Day + Night with Sugarmaker's Cut; and what I got for cheese.          

                             For cheese you have my already-fave  creation from this company, Hibiscus Flower-infused Maple, Elderberry Infused Maple, Pecan Wood Smoked Maple and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple. Did you think your cheese game could get any better? Go with hard cheeses such as cheddar or gouda for the barrel-aged and smoked and get soft with brie or camembert for the infused goodies.          

                             This pairing collection would be a great gift and recipients could think about the larger version of the beautiful bottles thee elixirs come in. Also, consider Runamok Maple recipes that will at least make you think you've been to Vermont.

                             We love salmon and Dijon mustard, but would we Cajun-style lovers have thought to season that blend with a bit of Runamok Smoked Maple Syrup as well? I took a photo of  my family’s “sweet” cheese party featuring a pair dish a guest whipped up. Get creative.

                 

            Pumpkin update: You have to plan for lunch at my friend B's house. It's not like we hadn't already had our fill of fajitas and assorted salsas. There was Butterscotch Bomb puddings with heaps of freshly-whipped cream. Someone brought in a sopapilla cheesecake.

            Festive Hershey's chocolate bites adorned the dessert table. Then my friend pops up like a light bulb goes off over her head. "Do you like Pumpkin?" she asks. Now, what was I supposed to say?

            That's how I found out about Blue Bell's Spiced Pumpkin Pecan ice cream. It's everything you love about pumpkin pie, but cool and creamy. That's this week's update for the flavor that has dominated the season for the past several years.

            Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie ready for adventure in travel and on the plate. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Twist on the peach

                  So apparently Laura Sorkin is a mixer as well as a sugaring expert. She is co-founder of Runamok Maple and responsible for an idea sure to sweep across patios as the weather warms. This line of organic pure, infused, barrel-aged and smoked maple syrups is fancy from conception to packaging in beautiful bottles. Today I’m not even going into recipe cards featuring curried maple cashews with sausage crumbles or maple syrup and cheese paring ideas (try it on sturdy crackers). But I’m closer to the Tears of Joy idea for butter pecan ice cream with Rye Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup over sliced bananas.

                             It would be worth a Texas road trip to Fredericksburg for a peach to play with Sorkin’s Peach Sangria idea. It’s sure to pair well with the Cambridge, Vermont syrups. I tried the cardamom syrup over fruit and cheese and French toast crisped in coconut oil. Even though the sample was provided to me for the following, I’ve yet to find the perfect peach it deserves. The sample will be closely guarded in my pantry while I seek, but y’all go ahead and try the following:

Peach Sangria with Infused Maple Syrup

1 cup red wine
1 peach or nectarine, sliced, pit removed
Juice of half an orange
1 tablespoon of Cardamom or Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup (or to taste)

Add all ingredients together and stir. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for an hour to blend the flavors. Serve in a large glass over ice with orange rind garnish.

                      Clean it up

                      Austin residents are proud of their “greenness” and I’m sure they’re loving that Austin-based Lemi Shine is boasting “Clean Freak Approved” powerful formulas and safer products. They’re making cleaning a kitchen as fun as creating a gourmet mess. New to me, they’ve been at it since 1994. I’m loving the concept, the way my countertops look clean and the pleasant aromas. Look for dish soap and dishwasher pods as well.

                        According to the Austin-based company, which makes products powered by 100 percent natural citric extracts and no harsh chemicals, these are the top five cleaning fails:

• Appliances: The insides of the dishwasher and the washing machine see a lot of dirt and germs – but people rarely clean the appliances themselves. Lemi Shine’s Appliance Cleaners for laundry and kitchen handle the problem with powerful citrus extracts.
• Knobs, handles and faucets: Clean them once, but they’ll be dirty again as soon as they’re used again – probably about two minutes later. Lemi Shine’s new Everyday Cleaner with GunkGuard™ features a natural polymer that creates an invisible protective layer that actually prevents buildup for a long-lasting clean, plus citrus extracts that add polish and shine.
• Toothbrush holders: These can collect high levels of bacteria over time. Hot water and a few drops of Lemi Shine Concentrated Dish Soap are strong enough to tackle the area with no harsh chemical residue that can be transferred to brushes.  
• Laundry hamper liner: All the funk that’s on laundry – especially that workout wear with wicking technology that makes clothing retain sweat – is on the oft-overlooked hamper too. Lemi Shine’s new Laundry Booster with FunkGuard™ not only removes the odor, but also prevents it between washings.
• Sponges: When used in tandem with the heat dry cycle, the top rack of the dishwasher is ideal for sanitizing dirty sponges. Lemi Shine’s safe, powerful dual-chamber Dishwashing Detergent pods have no toxic chemicals that could soak in and spread throughout your house every time you clean.

 Lemi Shine’s line of nontoxic household cleaning products, including kitchen and bathroom cleaners, appliance cleaners, detergent boosters and more, can be purchased at grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide or online at Walmart, Target, Lowes and Home Depot.

 

Other goodies

SinkShroom is new, since TubShroom. This is a smaller version bathroom sink version of the flexible drain insert that collects hair and jewelry from clogging your sink. Just take it out and use a paper towel to collect all the hair that’s wrapped around the sink. Just imagine how this tool eases the burden and adds to the efficiency of no one’s favorite task.

A “Toast”

Servers have come to instinctively help diners photograph their meals before digging in. It’s a thing. You want to look stylish while making style at Toast Tech Covers is offering wood veneers from the Pacific Northwest that “cover” you. It’s a peel-and-stick package that puts me in the mind of the “wood” strip on ‘70s station wagons. That’s a compliment, young techies. I stuck a wooden peacock feather onto my phone and I’ve had several inquiries. Toast is available in all manner of personal styles.

Toast Tech Covers is offering wood veneers from the Pacific Northwest that “cover” you. It’s a peel-and-stick package that puts me in the mind of the “wood” strip on ‘70s station wagons. That’s a compliment, young techies. I stuck a wooden peacock feather onto my phone and I’ve had several inquiries. Toast is available in all manner of personal styles.

Darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Darraghcastillo@icloud.com