2010 Foods: the Naughty and the Nice

Here are new foods I've discovered in 2010 that are so good they should make Santa's Nice List.

1.   Double Stuff Cool Mint Creme Oreos. 
      Somebody brought these to work, and they look like normal Oreos.  I got a nice surprise when the white center filling tasted minty.

2.   Samuel Adams Winter Lager.  Here's the blurb from their website, which is pretty much spot-on.
      The first thing one notices about a Samuel Adams® Winter Lager is the deep ruby color. Then comes the magical aroma which promises something special on the tongue. The cinnamon, ginger, and hint of citrus from the orange peel blend with the roasty sweetness of the malts to deliver a warming, spicy flavor. On the palate Samuel Adams Winter Lager is rich and full bodied, robust and warming, a wonderful way to enjoy the cold evenings that come with the season.

3.  Edy's Pineapple Fruit Bars.  SO refreshing!

4.  Chobani Greek Yogurt.  It's like eating luscious, fruit- flavored cream cheese!  Once again, pineapple is the winning flavor.

5.  Kuri squash.  They have the sweetest, most delicate flavor.  I quite like vegetables that can pass themselves off as desserts.  Yum!

The Naughty List

1.  Okra.  "Tasted like something only a cow would be happy to chew on" was my first response, and that's continued to hold true through the various okra recipes we've tried.

2.  Kale "Chips".  I have nothing against kale, but eating a dessicated, oven-baked form that pretends it's a substitute for fried potatoes made me feel like Euell Gibbons' city-slicker grandchild.  Honestly, one bite was too much.  I felt like I was eating a dried-up winter weed.

3.  International Delight White Chocolate Mocha coffee creamer.  Should have been called International Delight Medley of Chemical Flavors.  I love Starbucks' White Chocolate mochas, but this product was its evil twin.

4.  Asian long beans.   Even the vendors at the Farmer's Market said that mostly only the elderly, who had grown up eating this, enjoy it.  Just not my cup of tea. 

5.  Speaking of which- Good Earth Chai tea.  I love their Original Flavor herbal tea, which is packed with a wonderful orange and cinnamon flavor that is just plain comforting on a cold day.  But the Chai flavor was a big disappointment.