Longtime fans of Smorgasbite may recall a post I wrote about Tostitos Baked! SCOOPS! “Exclamation theirs, not mine” I clarified in the subtitle.

In the case of popchips!, graciously sent to me by Emma, a different subtitle is in order: “Exclamation deserved!”

Within a week of receiving them in the mail, my dear friend Alison happened to be at my apartment several times.  Each time, popchips! were offered as snackage; she accepted.  Each time, additional popchips! were offered for her to take with her; she accepted.  My popchips! were gone. (!) (Exclamation deserved!)

Alison emailed me yesterday to let me know she was eating her final popchips! bag as an afternoon snack and to thank me (again.  Alison is a very generous thank-er.)

I replied, “Maybe you should write my smorgasbite post about them since you ate most of them What do you have to say about pop chips?”

She replied, “Hahaha—right. (no regrets about cleaning you out of your chips . . . ): ”

Then she got on to her review: “Crisp, savory flying saucers of delight in my mouth! Immensely satisfying in the morning, the afternoon, or at night (yes—I’m living alone without a “meal routine.”) And such cool branding/typography. The next great POP in an impressive family that already includes Pop Art, Popeye, Popples, and that term midwestern people use for soda.”

Brilliant, Alison, you are now an official Smorgasbite author! Exclamation for you! And for popchips!

I love salmon.  Some people think it’s too “fishy” compared to whiter fish, but to me that’s a selling point.

I was thrilled to be contacted by Christine on behalf of Alaska Seafood, who coordinated a shipment so that I would be able to try some Alaskan Salmon and also provided the following information.

Frozen Alaska seafood is one of the highest-quality seafood choices available. It’s flash-frozen within hours of the catch—in fact, it’s often frozen at sea.

The website www.alaskaseafood.org is loaded with information about the Alaska seafood industry, including species, health and nutrition, sustainability, and cooking techniques and recipes.

When the salmon was unpacked from the box to my refrigerator, some rearranging was necessary so that the fish would fit!  I put the pear in the photo to provide a relative measure.  It was so beautifully pink, just barely thawed, with firm flesh, and skin still intact on the underside.

I baked it very simply, with a sprinkle of Fox Point dried spice mix (Penzey’s) on top.  Amazingly delicious.

Thanks to Christine and to Alaska Seafood!

This probably isn’t the most popular of sentiments among food bloggers, but here goes:

I love canned olives.

(Sidenote: I also love fancy olive bar olives.  But, they almost seem like a different food entirely.)

Canned olives were a staple of my childhood.  One distinct memory comes to mind.  When my cousin Mason and I were about six years old (me the elder by five days), we sat on the floor of my kitchen and ate a can of black olives.  We then poured the black juice between two glasses and drank it.  Well, I think I only managed a few sips of mine- salt attack!- but I’m pretty sure Mason finished off his glass of olive juice.

Suffice it to say, Mason and I were canned olive champs.

So naturally I was pretty excited to revisit the canned olives of my youth, though this time with a more natural version: Lindsay Naturals Olives.

They’re ripe and firm- not mushy at all.  Both the green and black varieties are delicious.  All of them come pitted and some of them are sliced, too, which is a time-saver for recipes.  Speaking of recipes, here’s one (though I’ll admit all of my olives were eaten straight up):

Fresh-from-the-Garden Olive Toss

Prep time: 30 minutes

Servings: 10

Directions:

In a medium bowl combine olives, celery, carrot, Maui onion, cucumber, zucchini, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, parsley and chives. Add lemon peel, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil to bowl; mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Do Ahead: Fresh-from-the-Garden Toss can be made in advance and will keep for 7 days in the refrigerator.

Makes approximately 5 cups

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Nutrients per serving:Calories: 89 Calories from fat: 72 Total fat: 8g Monounsaturated fat: 6g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 136mg Total carbohydrates: 4g Dietary fiber: 2g Protein: 1g

Thanks to Trisha for sending me these delicious olives!

There’s a new beverage from R.W. Knudsen Family, a brand whose juices I’ve sampled over the years.

It’s called Sparkling Essence and it has no calories, no artificial flavors and no sugars or sweeteners. It’s just sparkling spring water infused with organic ingredients.

There are four flavors and I’ve tried them all: Organic Lemon, Organic Cucumber, Organic Blueberry and Organic Mint.

Blueberry and Cucumber are by far my favorite.  Mint and Lemon were slightly “off” tasting to me but still entirely drinkable (as indicated by the the recycling bin full of empty cans).

I’ve been describing it to friends as mineral water with a LOT more flavor than regular mineral water.

Essences are packaged in attractive 10.5-ounce slim cans, sold individually and in handy 4-pack carriers.

Home Free Cookies are the health- and/or allergy- conscious person’s dream cookie!  They’re also likely to be the favorite cookie of bulleted-list lovers everywhere.

They are:
·         Certified organic

·         Certified whole grain – each cookie serving contains at least ½ serving of whole grains

·         Without trans fat or cholesterol

·         Free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy

·         Fine for most people allergic to wheat (not gluten-free; contain oats)

·         Fine for most people allergic to soy (most contain soy lecithin)

·         Baked and packaged in a dedicated bakery

·         Allergen tested

·         Without corn sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, MSG, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

·         Certified vegan (oatmeal cookies, and coffee cakes)

·         Certified kosher pareve

And the taste?  I tried the chocolate chip, mini chocolate chip, and oatmeal varieties.  I shared some with friends and co-workers to get their opinions, too.

Verdict?  Regular chocolate chip, chewy and moist, are the standout winner.  Mini chocolate chip were crisp, but more like a merengue than a Chips Ahoy.  Oatmeal were “not yo’ grandma’s oatmeal cookie,” according to one friend (I finished his).  But, for people whose health or allergy concerns keep them from enjoying other varieties of cookies, Home Free flavors are appreciated options!

I recently tried a new kind of bottled water: State of Mind Water.  The bottles caught my eye because of their inspirational words: Believe, Love, Compassion and Peace.

I generally avoid using plastic bottles, but these I could feel pretty good about.  The water is fancily filtered to be very safe and pure and has a balanced pH.  Plus, the bottles are 100% oxo-biodegradable.

State of Mind’s founder, Laura Thereza, says, “If you are going to carry a bottle of water, why not carry something positive?!”  Good point.

What’s more, if you passed someone on the sidewalk who was being obnoxious you could kindly remind them to exhibit good behavior by pointing to your water bottle.

Earth Friendly Products has a new phosphate-free Wave Gel dish detergent.

It’s twice the potency of regular dishwasher gels, so I only need to put in half what I normally would.

And, get this: Earth Friendly Products was the recipient of the 2007 PETA Proggy Award for Best Line of Cruelty-Free Products.

I didn’t know that PETA liked anyone (in the human world, at least), so this is quite a testimony.