PORT ARTHUR —



Happy New Year

Rosh Hashana begins at sunset on Sept. 8.

So, I’m not Jewish, but I’ve loved everything I’ve ever tried from the green and orange Manischewitz label. There’s a whole new line out for the holiday including ready-to-serve soups, broth and roasted and peeled whole chestnuts. I introduced my daughter to their matzo  ball and chicken soup and I made a fabulous, nearly no-calorie, soup from a box of all-natural vegetable broth.

 Tam Tam crackers now have 20 percent more of these creamy crackers, no-transfats, crackers in their box and come in flavors such as sesame, onion, and our favorite, “everything.” I love that they’re billed as travel-type food because they’re less crumbly. I guess it could be kosher to eat these kind of crackers in bed.



Thanks, Pam

The brownie was high taste and low guilt and the pancake was about the most artistic thing I’ve ever flipped in a skillet. Pamela’s Products now offers single-serve packets of Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix and microwaveable Chocolate Brownie Mix. Even cooler for those who need it, these are wheat-free, gluten-free products. I was impressed with both. My daughter noted the brownie tastes “different” but that’s why you’re eating it. It was gooey and rich in a minute and the pancake was huge and flavorful. This line has a catalogue of all-natural sweets.



Go Barefoot with your sweetie

Sweet, sweet, sweet is the barbecue sauce I made with Barefoot Sweet Red wine. And the best part, there was plenty in the $7 bottle left over to enjoy the wine in a glass. My variation was mighty tasty.

 Barefoot’s Sweet and Spicy Sauce

  6 ounce can tomato paste

 1 cup Barefoot Sweet Red

 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

 3/4 teaspoon salt

 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic herb powder

 1 tablespoon brown mustard

 1/4 cup molasses

 1/2 teaspoon pepper

  2 tablespoons brown sugar

 1/2 teaspoon Hot Chili Sauce

 Directions:  Mix all of the above ingredients together! Use on chicken, pork or beef.

 Confession: I substituted ketchup packets for the tomato paste, honey for the molasses, much less brown sugar and it was still amazing. I asked co workers and we couldn’t exactly figure out what they meant by chili sauce, so I used  the crushed red pepper we love in Texas. It was out of this world.

ddoiron@panews.com