Etcetera

Ideal for trick or treaters, although they may never leave your doorstep with this new range from Cococo, these individually packaged, single serve couverture fair trade chocolate bars are guilt-free at only 130 calories per bar. In eight flavours from Saskatoon Blueberry White to Habanero Sea Salt Dark or Milk, Lime or Strawberry Milk, or Green Apple Dark, you’ll want to try them all. Only $10 for 10 or individually at cococochocolatiers.com and Cococo stores.

Garchi Gourmet Garlic Condiment

Expecting vampires this Halloween? Granary Road Market cleverly held their Garlic Fest in September, and we discovered some wonderful treats there to ward them off. Garchi (GARlic- CHIli) describe their crunchy, chewy relish as ”The bacon bits of the garlic world” and we know why. We’ve sprinkled it on nachos, in soups, on salads, burgers and pizzas – and we’ve still plenty more uses for it. High praise for this one! 255 g, $8 in

Cococo Good Clean Fun Bars

stores and markets, or online at garchi.ca.

Beerfest in a Box

With no community gatherings this autumn, the clever folks at Alberta Beer Festivals have brought the experience to us with their brand new Beerfest in a box! Supporting Alberta’s burgeoning craft brewing industry, the boxes contain one beer from each of eight Alberta breweries, and each case contains a QR code that links you to a video of the brewers talking about their beers, so we can hear from the people who created them. $32-$37 at Sobeys and Safeway Liquor stores.

Eve’s Crackers, Chili Pepper Pumpkin Seed

Eve’s Crackers were developed in Eve’s kitchen and still produced as if they were being made there. From Langley, B.C., these handmade crackers are gluten-free, keto-friendly, and vegan – and they taste really good! Canadian flaxseed is a staple ingredient, along with pumpkin seeds, psyllium husk, and nutritional yeast for that umami flavour and crunch. Healthy AND tasty? We’re in! 108 g, $9, widely available across Alberta.

Going Nuts Herb & Garlic Almonds

We also discovered our new favourite flavour from Going Nuts at Garlic Fest – their Herb and Garlic Almonds. Perfectly roasted, these handmade flavoured almonds have just the right amount of garlic powder and Himalayan salt to taste the garlic and herbs without them being overpowering. They’re delightfully dry and crunchy, and we admit that we might be a little addicted to them! 165 g, $10 at farmers markets all over Alberta, and online at goingnuts.ca.

Good-To-Go Cookbook

Take-Along Food, Quick Suppers, and Satisfying Snacks for On-The-Go Families, by Kathleen Cannata Hanna, Storey Publishing. There may not be many after-school activities these days, but it seems that we’re all still as busy as ever, so suggestions for homemade, kid-friendly, and running-out-the-door meals that can be on the table in under 30 minutes, are all welcome. Great ideas abound here, like using rigatoni pasta as a dipper, and the Crazy Dipping Sauce (p.47) is a must try! $19