Spritzal Cookies are made with simple ingredients from a family recipe going back one hundred years. These bite-sized cookies are made with flour, sugar, real butter and eggs. The Spritzal story is so inspiring-the mother/daughter team built their business from their kitchen to farmer’s markets to national retailers like Costco.
Spritzal cookies come in a variety of flavors, including: Birthday Cake Shortbread, Key Lime Shortbread, Almond Chocolatey Chip Shortbread, Blueberry Pie Shortbread and Ooh La Lemon Shortbread.
Spritzal Cookies Are a Bite-Sized Treat!
The brightly colored packaging of all the varieties is cheerful, but the Birthday Cake Shortbread packaging is particularly fun. Wouldn’t this be so cute to include in a birthday surprise package? These Spritzal cookie bites contain colorful sprinkles without any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
Even if you do not have a birthday to celebrate, Spritzal cookies make the everyday special. These Key Lime Shortbread cookies are a nice afternoon treat. The lime flavor really shines in this buttery shortbread.
Did you see Like Air Puffcorn on Shark Tank? I guess I missed that episode, but it is always exciting to see a smaller company gain momentum. I believe the first time I saw their products was at Expo West. This snack is non-gmo, has no artificial ingredients and is gluten-free. It is also dairy-free and made in a nut-free facility. Unlike regular popcorn, these puffs do not have kernels. Therefore, these snacks are very easy to eat for all ages. They are lightly crunchy, but almost melt in your mouth, if that makes sense. The name “Like Air” is quite apt.
Keep Like Air Puffcorn On Hand For Packing and Snacking
This school year I have started to pack my lunches again. It is always convenient to have pre-packaged individual snacks on hand in the pantry. Like Air is a welcome addition to any lunch bag, for kids and adults alike.
This is a close-up of the Cinnamon Bun flavor. It has just the right amount of sweetness (less than 2g of sugar per serving) and the cinnamon flavor really comes through. If you are looking for a light sweet treat, this will satisfy your craving.
The savory flavors, including white cheddar and sour cream and onion are also very tasty (my kids’ favorites). They are a healthier alternative to chips.
Where To Purchase Like Air Puffcorn
Like Air Puffcorn snacks are available to purchase through their online store or at a store near you. I also want to mention that Like Air does daily giveaways on their Instagram account. There are five contest winners every day, which is pretty amazing. The best part is that in addition to winning a pack for yourself, they also give you a code so that you can send a pack to a friend. Share the Like Air Love!
Tsukiji Market was another place that I was determined to visit after missing out during our first trip to Japan. Since the earthquake/tsunami, the famous fishmongers moved to a new facility in Toyosu, Japan. What remains at Tsukiji Outer Market is a collection of small shops that continue to sell food, mainly to tourists. Although we had heard that Tsukiji has become very touristy, it was still surprising to hear more English than any other language as we walked around.
Tips for visiting Tsukiji include arriving early in the morning (ideally around 7:30 a.m.) and making sure to bring cash (yen). When I was planning my itinerary, I tried to map out the different stops I wanted to make. In the end, it was easier to just wander around while looking for the places I had researched. The market is small enough that it is easy to cover in a couple of hours.
Soratsuki
Our first stop of the morning was Soratsuki. Yes, it was early in the day to be indulging in dessert. However, how could we pass up this scrumptious-looking Strawberry Daifuku?
Red Bean and Green Tea Strawberry Daifuku-so good!
We also tried a White Peach Whipped Cream Daifuku-yum!
It is kind of confusing that the store sign says “Solatsuki” but the website refers to itself as “Soratsuki”. Which is it? Either way, just look for the cute strawberry sign! The strawberry soft serve ice cream also looked delicious, but we exercised some restraint.
Onigiri Marutoya
Onigiri Marutoya is a shop that specializes in onigiri and sushi to-go. Everything looked so good, it was difficult to decide what to try.
We ended up picking up this package of salmon sushi, which was an excellent choice.
This tempura ebi onigiri was massive and tasty!
Yamacho Tamagoyaki
Yamacho Tamagoyaki features tamagoyaki (Japanese egg omelet) on a stick.
It is fun to watch the tamagoyaki being made while waiting in line. The end product was piping hot, but a little too sweet for my taste.
k was so cooperative in being my food model.
The Japanese take sorting their trash very seriously. Check out this trash can in front of Yamacho that can only be used for their skewers. I like how they also taped on a sample skewer just to be crystal clear.
Nisshin Tasuke
This was not one of our planned stops, but we stopped at Nisshin Tasuke to try the grilled unagi. While I am not ordinarily a big fan of eel, it is something that D likes. I don’t think the kids had ever tried it, so I thought of it as a learning experience.
I enjoyed the slightly sweet, charred flavor, but the texture was too soft for me. I guess the delicate texture is part of the appeal of unagi; it’s just not something I appreciate. I am glad we tried it though. This was probably the most adventurous thing we ate during our entire trip!
Shouro
I don’t think I fully appreciated how much the Japanese like eggs and egg products. (Why are the egg salad sandwiches at the convenience stores so good? Also, is this why egg salad sandwiches were one of my pregnancy cravings? But alas, I digress). Shouro is another shop that specializes in Tamagoyaki. Since we had already tried it at Yamacho, we tried their egg pudding.
Look at how premium that packaging is! I am curious as to the story behind the squirrel with a golden egg.
The caramel sauce on the bottom reminded me of flan.
Sushi Zanmai
The owner of the Sushi Zanmai chain is known as the “King of Tuna”, so we splurged (relatively) on a tuna sampler from their outside stall. We all agreed that this was the best sashimi we have ever had. It melts in your mouth!
Matcha Stand Maruni
Everyone in our family enjoys a matcha latte, so we had to check out Matcha Stand Maruni.
This place is a chic, sparse storefront that serves hand-crafted matcha drinks.
It is interesting to observe how the matcha is prepared with such precision.
Such a lovely shade of green. Luckily, the line was not too long when we were there. If you are a matcha fan, make this one of your stops.
Tsukiji Sanokiya
Our final stop was for the Tuna-shaped “maguroyaki”. Although it is in the shape of a fish, there is actually sweet red bean paste inside. I especially liked the warm crispy outer shell that was fresh from the press.
This shop (more like a stand) is so small, it is easy to miss. There was an elderly woman with kind eyes who served us. I wonder how long she has been working there? It is amazing how many Japanese people dedicate their lives to perfecting their craft.
More Tsukiji Recommendations
Unfortunately, we did not have the time/stomach space to try everything that was on my list. Some other places to look for at Tsukiji Outer Market are Saiwaiken (shumai), Yoshisawa (menchi-katsu) and Tonboya (grilled tuna skewers)-it was closed on Thursdays. Although some might look down on Tsukiji as a tourist trap, this is the type of trap I would gladly eat my way through.
Disclosure: I received a sample box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The brief sakura (cherry blossom) season in Japan is a prime example of the concept of appreciating fleeting beauty. If cherry blossom trees bloomed year-round, they would not be nearly as cherished. Our family went to Washington D.C. a couple of years ago, and I remember being so excited that we caught some cherry blossom trees in the beginning of their bloom when I had thought we were going to be too early. They really are magnificent flowering trees, and I can see why cherry blossoms are cause for celebration each year.
Sakuraco is a subscription box that captures the beauty of sakura through Japanese snacks.
First, can we take a moment to appreciate how pretty this box is? Just looking at the outside of the box made me excited to see what was inside.
Look at all that pink! The variety of sakura goodness inside the March Sakuraco box is so much fun.
Each Sakuraco box comes with a booklet that explains what each snack is. The March edition also has beautiful photographs and descriptions of the different cherry blossom viewing locations throughout Japan. In addition, the booklet has short articles that tell the stories behind some of the artisan makers of the products that are included. The following are some of the highlights of the March Sakuraco box I received.
Sakura Candy
Look at the delightful detail of this Sakura candy. As the name implies, cherry blossom is a floral and fruity flavor that is not commonly found outside of Japan.
Anko Castella Cake
While this little cake is not sakura-flavored, the pink packaging makes it fit right in. I am a fan of red bean paste in Japanese sweets, so this was a treat!
A Lovely Assortment of Sakura Snacks
The Sakuraco box included this beautiful postcard, along with an assortment of these individually wrapped snacks. I have not tried all of them yet, but the ones that I have tasted have all been fresh and delightful.
Sakura Shiruko Biscuits
These biscuits have an interesting flavor profile. The booklet describes them as biscuit dough enriched with sakura powder and a touch of ume juice with a layer of sweet adzuki paste.
Neko Sakura Dish
I know that I overuse the word “cute” in describing products from Japan, but that is the word to describe this little dish. This bonus non-food item made the Sakuraco box feel uniquely special to me. According to the booklet, the design of this dish is a collaboration between Sakuraco, merry laugh and Bloom. I will continue to use this dish for years to come, and inspire me to recall the fleeting delights of sakura.
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For my February baking experiment, I tried Frosting & Fettucine’s recipe for Super Chewy Coffee Cookies. Like most of my baking inspiration, I came across this recipe on Pinterest. It caught my eye since I already had a jar of King Arthur Espresso Powder in my pantry, patiently waiting to be used.
As promised, these cookies turned out wonderfully chewy and with a nice espresso flavor. Contrary to what most cookbooks advise, I always use salted butter in my baking. That is just what my Costco carries, and I think that extra edge of salt brings a nice edge to sweets.
This recipe only called for one tablespoon of espresso powder, so I have plenty left for other recipes. Do you have a favorite recipe that uses espresso powder?
If only world peace could be achieved through cookies. Nevertheless, this recipe for World Peace Cookies was fun to try out.
These cookies involve rolling the dough into cylinders and cutting them into 1/2 inch rounds. My tip would be to keep each cylinder of dough in the refrigerator until you are ready to cut and bake right away. I cut the second cylinder and let the rounds sit at room temperature while the first tray was baking. As a result, the second tray of cookies spread out more. They tasted just fine, but I liked the look of the first tray better.
This recipe originated with Pierre Herme, which Dorie Greenspan then published and Smitten Kitchen then blogged about. I used mini chocolate chips as suggested by Smitten Kitchen. I like how these cookies can be made ahead and frozen, either baked, or as logs of dough. Two thumbs up!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Have you tried Ritter Sport chocolate? These premium chocolate bars frequently appear in our family’s Christmas stockings. I like how each individual square bar feels hefty in the hand. Plus, the flavor combinations (which are each assigned their own colorful packaging) are unique and tasty. I especially enjoy Milk Chocolate with Cornflakes and Milk Chocolate with Butter Biscuit & Cocoa Creme.
Ritter Sport has been around since 1912 and is based in Waldenbuch, Germany. I am not sure where the name “Ritter Sport” comes from, but it is memorable. One way in which Ritter Sport ensures the quality of their chocolate is that they started their own sustainable Cocoa Farm in Nicaragua, which is quite impressive!
These miniature size Ritter Sport chocolates are so cute and a nice size for a little snack break or post-meal treat. Which flavor is your favorite? Remember to look for Ritter Sport the next time you are in the chocolate aisle, especially during the holidays.
One of the most exciting new products I discovered at this year’s Expo West was The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips. As long-time readers know, I am continuously on the hunt for allergen-friendly snacks that contain natural ingredients. The Froot Thief checks off all of my boxes, and I cannot recommend them enough!
The tagline on The Froot Thief packaging is “No added nasties!” and they mean it. The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips are vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO. They are free of all the major allergens and contain no added sugar.
The Froot Thief is a snack that you can feel good about packing in your kids’ lunch; each serving contains one cup of fresh fruit!
The individually wrapped packets make these snacks perfect for packing on-the-go. My kids (and my husband and I) all loved the fruity flavor and chewy consistency. It is similar to a fruit snack, but in the shape of spaghetti, if that makes sense.
Where To Purchase The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips
Currently, The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips are available for purchase online. I will definitely be on the lookout for them at Costco, where they are coming soon.
The Froot Thief Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win 100 packets of The Froot Thief Real Fruit Whips!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
One of the many interesting brands I discovered at Expo West this year was Whoa! Dough. These bars will appeal to anyone who is prone to sneaking a lick of the the spoon when making cookies or brownies. It seems like eating cookie dough has become more socially acceptable, most notably in the form of cookie dough ice cream.
Whoa! dough bars improves the edible dough concept even more by offering plant-based cookie dough bars that are gluten-free, dairy free, egg free, soy free. These vegan bars use all-natural ingredients such as gluten-free whole grain oat flour and chickpea flour.
Whoa! Dough comes in a variety of appealing flavors:
Oatmeal Cookie
Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Sprinkle Sugar Cookie
Brownie Batter
Peanut Butter
Sugar Cookie
Here is a close-up of the Brownie Batter Whoa! Dough bar. It has a pleasant soft texture, and the chocolate-y flavor really shines through.
These bars are a nice addition to the stash of bars that we keep on hand for snacking on the go.
If you or someone you know enjoys cookie dough, be sure to give Whoa! Dough bars a try!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Snack bars are a way of life for me. The kids in my classroom know that I bring some type of bar practically everyday for my mid-morning snack. However, the ingredient list for many seemingly healthy snack bars are not actually always that good for you. Simple Bars are the result of one person’s quest to make delicious snack bars with only simple and clean ingredients.
Simple Bars are currently available in four unique flavors:
This is a close up of the Chocolate sea salt bar, my personal flavor. As you can see, these bars contain large pieces of fresh-tasting almonds and peanuts, as well as a sprinkling of chia seeds and a touch of sea salt. In this particular bar, the nuts are held together with just the right amount of dark chocolate. Although Simple Bars are crunchy, I did not feel like they would break my teeth like some other bars that I have tried.
Simple Bars are the perfect snack for when you need a little pick me up. They are also conveniently packaged for on-the-go snacking.
Simple Bars contain no sugar alcohols, stevia or artificial flavors. All of their bars are gluten-free, non-gmo and vegan. They are a simply satisfying snack!
Where To Purchase Simple Bars
Simple Bars are available for purchase through their online store. Hopefully they will become more widely available soon.
Simple Bars Variety Pack Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Simple Bars Variety Pack!
