Snacks

PICKLE…POPCORN…PERFECT!

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I’ve spoken often of the delicious flavors of Sweet Chaos popcorn.

Most recently, I discovered one that is more chaotic than sweet, and yet I can’t get enough!

As Matt’s Meals fans know, one of my favorite snacks (other than popcorn) are pickles. So how excited was I when I found out that my friends at Sweet Chaos were coming out with a dill pickle-flavored popcorn?

As soon as the box arrived, I tore open the first bag and was pretty much done with it within minutes. The combination of dill and vinegar was perfect and I ended up going back to the bag later that night while watching a movie on TV and then to the next bag a day or so later. 

Perhaps if movie theaters used Sweet Chaos popcorn, Netflix wouldn’t have such a stranglehold on the entertainment industry. In any case, Sweet Chaos surely has a hold on this popcorn lover! And even if you do not like pickles (I’m talking to you, “Green”!), Sweet Chaos has enough flavors to satisfy every taste. From traditional kettle corn made with real cane sugar and popcorn wrapped in real white cheddar cheese to their bag-at-a-time black and white cookie and peanut butter cup drizzled varieties and such seasonal stock-ups as peppermint stick and pumpkin spice, Sweet Chaos has been a regular resident in my pantry since I discovered them and I look forward to seeing what they develop next.

All of their amazing flavors are made with non-GMO corn kernels and hand-cooked in coconut oil for a creamy flavor that actually packs a little extra nutrition. 

Pickles and popcorn may sound odd, but believe me, it will at least be a gateway to some of your next favorite snacks – Sweet Chaos popcorns.

CORN – NUTS

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When I recently interviewed Jordan Rich at the Needham Free Public Library about his wonderful book – On Air: My 50-year love affair with radio (proceeds from which go to Boston Children’s Hospital), many of my fabulous food friends donated samples to share with the audience.

And while there was an impressive spread to go along with Jordan’s impressive stories of his life and career and the many other lives he has touched, two of the most popular items were bags of Q’s Nuts and fresh-made caramel and cheese popcorn from Johnson’s.

While Qs has been a friend and supporter for many years, Johnson’s was a more recent discovery. Even so, my fans and I loved them both equally and, when the interview was over, I mixed the scant leftovers together for a delicious post-event treat! 
Since 1940, Johnson’s has been bringing the flavor of the New Jersey boardwalk to snack lovers around the world. Their air-popped, freshly-packed popcorns are available in an ever-expanding menu of flavors and come in sizes that work well for a family movie night or corporate event.

Though a few years younger, Q’s commitment to quality is no different and their selection of flavors is even greater- wrapping their fresh and nutrient-packed almonds, cashews, peanuts, and pecans in everything from maple and bourbon to garlic and an entire line of chocolate-based varieties.

While I look forward to more author talks and more great food, all you need to do to enjoy a taste of my Writer’s Block series is to visit needhamchannel.org, and please also check out Johnson’s and Q’s anytime you want a delicious snack that is made with love.

BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME

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Though I grew up in the Merrimack Valley, my writing career first took root when I lived in Marblehead.

And when you consider that my family shopped at Shubie’s all the time, it may be no surprise that I now write about great independent food makers.

As they have been around for over 75 years, it is a safe bet that I am not the first person to fall in love with the wonderful wares of independent makers with help from the Shube family. 

From freshly-prepared foods, handcrafted salads and sandwiches, and customized cakes at their recently-renovated Foodbar to candies and treats from other local legends like Harbor Sweets and a wide selection of gifts that includes great books to wine and spirits from around the corner and around the world, Shubie’s has everything you need to feed your family, sparkle a party host, and find a new favorite every time you visit! 

If you need help finding new favorites, be sure to take suggestions from third-generation Shubie, Dougy. 

If you need help finding great food for more than just yourself, Shubie’s also carters and consults on menus that are perfect for any occasion. And while a visit to the store is always fun, Shubie’s also offers online consultation and ordering and can deliver even to far-flung festivities beyond the beaches and beauty of the North Shore so you can keep enjoying even if you do not live nearby anymore (though I hope to go back soon!).

GREEK REVIVAL

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As it was once called the Athens of America, it makes sense that Boston is at the forefront of the Greek revival that appears to be running through the restaurant space like an Olympic (or Boston) marathoner.

And while many popular places have followed, the Farm Grille & Rotisserie in Newton and its sister store, Greek International Market in West Roxbury, have been leading the pack for over 25 years.

Whenever I want to get my Greek on in a fresh and friendly flash, a visit to the Grille always fits the bill(e). But when I want to get the authentic ingredients that make this family-run restaurant and caterer so great or to explore the larger realm of Hellenistic hunger helpers, the Market has all I need….and MORE!

In addition to freshly-imported Greek spices and wines (including Retsina) to imported meats and other prepared foods (including their famed octopus salad!), as well as hand-crafted cheeses and Greek yogurt, an olive bar and enough olive oils and Greek pastries for the Spartan army, the Market offers honey-based health and beauty aids, toys and gifts, and customized gift baskets that are perfect for any occasion. 

Speaking of occasions, the Market has an Aegean Sea-full of fish and a farm-full of plant-based options that are perfect for Lent or just for eating healthy! And Proprietor Katerina Iliades recently debuted a line of children’s clothing for communions and baptisms that will be on display at a VIP fashion show on March 23 at the Maliotis Center in Brookline!

Everyone seems set on catching the healthy and delicious Mediterranean diet train. As is true of so many other things, we in Boston are ahead of the curve, thanks in great part to the Iliades family and their great pair of places to eat.    

EFFIE-N GOOD!

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As I have been bringing my book on the Ivy League and my live author interview series to more venues (such as the Needham Library, where I will be interviewing everyone’s favorite radio host, Jordan Rich, on April 30), I have had to find more snacks to bring for my guests to enjoy as they linger to buy books and talk with the authors.

That is why I always have boxes of Effie’s Homemade on hand!

Based on the traditional Nova Scotian oatcake, these family recipe-based, hand-crafted cookies and crackers (ahem- “biscuits”) are made in Dorchester, MA and available all over (including at my book events!).

From their original Halifax-helped oatcake and European-inspired rye biscuits to their hearty and historically-accurate corn cakes and stone-ground wheat pecan biscuits, Effie’s are perfect for wine and cheese parties, mini PB&Js or just straight out of the box. There are also recipes at https://effieshomemade.com to inspire your next sensational snack!

For those with a taste for sophisticated sweetness, Effie’s also offers aromatic almond biscuits, bold and snappy ginger biscuits, brain-boosting walnut biscuits, and decadent cocoa biscuits.

No matter which you pick, all of their biscuits come in giftable boxes and samplers and many are also available in individually-wrapped two-biscuit servings that are just right for a satisfying snack or something special to share

While becoming a loyal customer is not hard, Effie’s even offers a reward program for those of us who enjoy their wonderful wares on a regular basis!

Come be a guest at my author events and you too will have that opportunity!

In the meantime, use MattsMeals20 to get 20% off at https://effieshomemade.com/

FA-SHIZZLE MY TWIZZLE

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During a recent trip to Scandinavia, I enjoyed visiting Hamlet’s castle and shopping at IKEA, but the best part was surely having my fill of authentic Scandinavian licorice.

I have been a fan of the sweet and chewy stuff for as long as I can remember and I always love trying new varieties and flavors. That is why I am such a fan of America’s own Wiley Wallaby!

Wiley Wallaby’s family-formed licorices are among my favorites. And as they have so many flavors – including classic red and black, as well as blueberry, pomegranate, huckleberry (whatever that is!), and their latest- lemonade – Wiley has a taste for every taste and even offer pre-mixed combo packs so you can get more fruit and fun in every fistful!

If you want big flavor in small packages, Wiley makes candy-coated licorice “drops” with sweet or super sour fruit-flavored shells. For those of you who prefer organic versions that may be closer to the flowering Fabaceae from which licorice comes, they have classic black, strawberry, mixed berry, and tropical flavors that are all made with organic cane sugar and real fruit juice and without artificial colors and flavors. And if sugar is the issue, they also offer treats with only one gram per serving! 

No matter which flavors you pick, Wiley Wallaby licorices are all filled with vegan flavor and easy on the teeth (especially as they have no high-fructose corn syrup). 

As they say in Sandanavia- Skål!

DIVERSELY DELICIOUS

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Variety is the spice of life, especially when that life includes spices and other ingredients from around the world.

While I would travel pretty far for a masterful meal or creative comestible, I recently found a company that brings many of the world’s favorite flavors not only to my door but to the palm of my hand!

Founded by one of the many ingenious and industrious immigrants who have made our country great, Unite Foods has created a multi-cultural menu of delicious protein bars that are inspired by flavors from all around the world and that can inspire anyone who enjoys them to expand their gastronomic and geographical repertoires while benefitting from a solid serving of gluten-free protein and other delicious benefits. 

From the domestic bliss of PB&J to the spicy sweetness of South American churros and Mexican hot chocolate to a heavenly Hellenistic baklava and even a bubble tea bar that Is not overloaded with sugar and that will not get lodged in your throat, these gluten-free, almond butter-based bars use all-natural ingredients like real honey, dates, chilis, and all sorts of other nutritious nuts. In addition to at least 10 grams of protein, Unite bars also include superfoods like hemp seeds and prebiotic fiber and still come in at under 200 calories per bar!

Unlike many other protein and snack bars, Unite bars do not have a rubbery or crumbly texture or leave a chalky aftertaste, allowing you to enjoy each delicious bite without regret.

So even if you are not quite ready to get back on a plane (or are against doing so for environmental reasons, which is also valid!), Unite foods can at least take your tastebuds on a worldwide excursion that will leave you refreshed and energized. 

CRAZY POP

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As I do not need to tell anyone, the world is a bit nutty these days.

The Holy Land is being occupied by New York Times reporters, the Supreme Court is overseeing its own behavior, and we still haven’t even figured out a way to make a verb out of “X” (TweXting”?)

It is – in a word – chaos.

Fortunately, the secret to the solution is hidden in the problem.

All we need is a comfy couch, a favorite movie, and a big bag (or two) of Sweet Chaos popcorn!

Much like the cinematically-inspired flavors from ArcLight Cinema (z”l), the family behind Sweet Chaos combines premium gluten-free, non-GMO, whole grain corn kernels in small batches with healthy coconut oil, real cane sugar and sea salt, and mouth-melting drizzles of chocolate and peanut butter, black and white cookie flavors, and cake batter bits. If savory is more your thing, you can get Chaotic with real cheddar cheese, and wonderfully sticky gobs of butter topping. And as they know chaos does not stop when (or is that “if”?)  the temperatures drop, the Chaos creators recently released a seasonal set that includes peppermint, gingerbread, and – of course – pumpkin spice too!

No matter what you try, however, you may not even need the movie to get your best binge on! This stuff is AMAZING!

While the fun flavors are fabulous, Sweet Chaos also offers delicious options for the popcorn purist, including kernels topped with sea salt and traditional movie theater popcorn.

As a pickle freak, I am looking forward to their forthcoming dill variety.

Armageddon may not just be a movie much longer. Either way- be ready with Sweet Chaos popcorn.             

LIKE A BOSS

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As I have been talking about food so long, I am comfortable saying again that, especially at this time of year, I often find myself drinking the amazing Maple products from Cochrane’s and UnTapped straight from the bottle, but I recently found another direct-to-mouth product of which I cannot get enough that I wanted to share with everyone!

In addition to being a maple maven, I am also a granola gourmand and I’ve talked a lot about favorites like Forij and Golden Girl and Humble Bones– all of which are great straight from the container yet some of which are not always easy to just scoop and savor.

Fortunately, I recently found a long line of delicious nut-free butters that work everywhere my beloved PB does but takes the taste even further!

Oat Boss butters were made for a little girl with nut allergies but are sure to drive any food fan nuts (in a GOOD way)!

Though they all start with wholesome oats, coconut oil, and honey, Oat Boss butters add such impressively authentic natural flavors as blueberry muffin, shortbread, chocolate chip cookie, chocolate fudge, and even a granola butter donut that deserves a call from Kane’s Donuts!

As the butters are packed with protein and fiber and still only free of nuts, gluten, and soy, they can serve not only as a sandwich starter but also – as I said – as a spoon-fed snack for anyone!

And as they come from a family-run business, I want to get behind them with as many spoonsful as I can…and you will too!

READY FOR ANYTHING (and I mean “ANYTHING”!)

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As the world continues to spiral into disarray, more people are abandoning the status quo and finding ways to survive out of the office and off the grid.

One of the best of these is Eric Christianson, a former Army Ranger who left the rat race of New York for the natural wonder of the American wilderness where he founded and runs Nutrient Survival.
Though many of their products offer nutrition that has served Special Operations soldiers and other well-prepped people, Nutrient Survival can also help everyday people prepare for every day. 

From ready-to-eat meals like oatmeal, egg scrambles, and even lasagna to powdered veggies that include all the taste and nutrition of the real thing (if not more!), to coffee and immune-boosting tea, Nutrient Survival has everything you need to survive in the canyons of the Sierras or the canyons of steel. They even offer a brain care line with a patented power pack of over 40 essential nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and other mental-stabilizing stuff that can keep you on your game and maybe get you off our meds and that can surely keep your mind as sharp and tuned as your body.

If all of this sounds a bit much, Nutrient Survival has a wide range of sampler sets that can help you prepare to be prepared at your own pace. Once you taste their delicious foods, however, you will surely be set to hunker in the bunker or just prep for your next boardroom battle.

As Matt’s Meals fans know, I LOVE to support Veteran-run businesses, but when the food is a great as this and as good for you, it is easy to enlist anyone to join me!