Moonstruck dark chilie variado

Delicious, and awesome.

But not just any soup. Yummy soup.

I took a chance and picked up some Curried Red Lentil Soup by Pacific Natural Foods, hoping it would be half as good as the name sounds. It’s awesome. (Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing about it here, now would I?)

Delicious. Flavorful. A bit spicy. Awesome.

And perfect on a cold winter’s day.

For me, farm-fresh eggs is a favorite local option.

Farm-fresh eggs

I get them from friends with chickens, or buy them at roadside stands with honesty boxes, or find them in hole-in-the-wall restaurants, next to displays of old water skis.

Not only do they taste great, I know that they don’t have funny hormones or chemicals, ans that the chickens live happy lives.

And that’s an awesome thing.

See's Awesome Walnut Square

The name says it all. See’s Awesome Walnut Square Bar is, without a doubt, awesome.

Chewy caramel and chunks of walnut wrapped in fine dark chocolate. Divine. Literally divine.

Makes a great stocking stuffer, too.  Just saying.

You can order them online if you’re not near a See’s store.

Canoli

The crispy shells are filled with beautiful, sweetened mascarpone cheese, and embellished with chocolate chips or pistachios or candied fruits.

Jake's in Portland

Calamari is easily one of the yummiest of all seafood. But done poorly, it can be downright icky. ‘The calamari at Jake’s Famous Crawfish in Portland, Oregon is always done fabulously. A light breading on tender rings. Delicious.

If you haven’t tried the calamari at Jake’s, I’d highly recommend it the next time you’re out.

Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwich

If you live in one of the 11 states that sell Ruby Jewel pre-made sandwiches in supermarkets, you’re in luck.  If you are in Portland, Oregon, you can create your own.  This one is marionberry pie ice cream with lemon cookies.  It was divine.

The company is committed to sustainability, reusing and recycling nearly 100% of its waste materials.

Ultimate Flora Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that put good bacteria back into your digestive track. Particularly important after taking antibiotics, probiotics are a good addition to your daily multi-vitamin regime.

My daughter was having frequent stomach aches after eating. An abdominal x-ray didn’t offer any explanations. I decided to put her on a daily dose of probiotics to see if it made a difference for her. Now into the second month of taking one Ultimate Flora capsule a day, her tummy aches are few and far between.

Our whole family takes them now. Everyday.

Red velvet Ding Dong

That’s right.  Red velvet cake, a dense, creamy filling, and a thick, chocolate shell.  That right there, is delicious.

Just Fruit bars

Getting 2 to 4 servings of fruit in a day can be difficult when you’re on the go. And in the winter months finding it fresh and local is near impossible.

These fabulous bars made of just fruit are a pretty awesome alternative. 100% Northwest grown fruit, there are no preservatives or added sugar in these bars.

JustFruit bars by Gorge Delights; dense, yummy and deliciously satisfying.