On the shelf!

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Holiday chocolates

Nestlé brings back seasonal elegance with its Black Magic brand of European Assorted Sweets, featuring dreamy fudge, raspberry parfait, almond crunch, orange sensation, whole hazelnut praline, and caramel caress. The chocolates are packed in a distinctive red-and-black, 188-g box, making it the perfect gift for the holidays.

Not just for breakfast

Oakrun Farm Bakery has launched a new line of savoury English muffins. The new varieties – Jalapeno Salsa, Toasted Onion & Smoked Black Pepper, and Sundried Tomato Basil – aren’t just for breakfast anymore, and can be enjoyed as a sandwich or snack anytime of the day. The muffins are available in a six-pack bag, are kosher, are less than 140 calories each, and are low in sodium and fat.

Winter brews

Muskoka Brewery has launched two new beers for the winter season – Twice as Mad Tom IPA and the limited-edition Winter Beard. Twice as Mad Tom IPA is an Imperial version of the original Mad Tom IPA, with a higher alcohol content (8.4 per cent alc./vol.) and more hops, creating an intense burst of aroma and bold flavour. Four-packs of 355-mL bottles retail for $12.95, available year-round. Winter Beard is a Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout made with 70-per-cent dark chocolate and real cocoa, and has a rich and robust flavour. Available in 750-mL bottles, with eight per cent alc./vol., the stout retails for $10.95 per bottle at Beer Stores and the LCBO from December until January.

Natural and organic

Happy Planet has added several items to its lineup of food and beverage products. As well as new resealable packaging, the company has added two new varieties to its line of internationally inspired refrigerated soup selections: Mediterranean Minestrone and Somerset Garden Pea. Other natural, gluten-free soup varieties include: Tuscan Tomato, Moroccan Chickpea, Indian Split Pea, Thai Coconut, Louisiana Corn Chowder and Berkeley Butternut Squash. In addition to soup, Happy Planet introduces Organic Coconut Water & Mango Juice, a refreshing, organic beverage with the hydrating benefits of coconut water and the flavour of mango purée. Available in a 1.89-L carton, the juice is low in calories, and contains no artificial colours or flavours, preservatives or added sugar.

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Good grains

Restaurant chain Extreme Pita has launched its first retail grocery product. Ancient Grains Flatwrapz are thin flatbreads enriched with hulled millet, barley and buckwheat. The nutrient-rich bread can be eaten on their own, rolled with a variety of fillings, or used as a crust for flat crust pizza. The Flatwrapz are available in 15 Costco locations in Ontario, and sell for between $3.99 to $4.99 for a 900-g resealable bag.

Easy-to-add flavour

Campbell’s new Stock First line offers consumers a versatile and convenient base stock with which to create a range of dishes. Available in three varieties – cream, chicken and beef – the stock line does not use artificial colours or flavours, and can be stored in the pantry until ready to use. The 480-mL cartons sell for a suggested retail price of between $2.19 and $2.49.

Sweet and delicious

Award-winning 2008 Mead Royale from Rosewood Estates is hand-crafted using wildflower honey harvested from the winery’s own beehives. Mead Royale is an off-dry beverage, with aromas and flavours of honey, Mandarin orange, ripe pears, marzipan and ginger, with 12.5 per cent alc./vol. Best served chilled, it can either be enjoyed on its own or used in cocktails, and complements sweet and savoury dishes. The honey wine is available at LCBO outlets, selling for $15 per 500-mL bottle.

Decadent dessert

Hansells Food Group’s Over the Top Molten Cakes are quick and easy-to-make treats for the whole family. Each individually wrapped cake can simply be heated in the microwave to create a rich, moist cake overflowing with sauce. The cakes are available in three flavours – toffee, banana and chocolate – and are all made with antioxidant-rich, cholesterol-free rice bran oil.

Naturally hydrating

Coconut Water Powder from Navitas Naturals offers the benefits of pure coconut water without having to carry water with you, making it ideal for on-the-go hydration. The powder is created from coconut water that has been freeze-dried to preserve nutrients and flavour, and is organic, raw, vegan, gluten-free and kosher, with 35 calories per serving. Consumers simply add 11 g of the powder to water to create a hydrating beverage.

Spice it up

McCormick Canada has expanded its line of Club House Flavourful Recipe Mixes with two new flavours: Creamy Parmesan Chicken Penne and Herbes de Provence Roasted Chicken. The two mixes are made with fresh and authentic ingredients in a coarse blend with large particulates. For more recipe suggestions for both mixes, consumers can visit www.clubhouse.ca

Robust ale

Black Creek Historic Brewery has launched Dray Horse Ale, one of the brewery’s 12 distinct beers representing different decades of Canadian and brewing history. Embodying the era between 1820 and 1829, when powerful dray horses were used to help build many of Canada’s canals, the new brew is a full-bodied brown ale with five per cent alc./vol. Dray Horse Ale sells at the LCBO for $3.95 for a 500-mL bottle.

Mini treats

Ace Bakery’s line of Mini Baguette Crisps is expanding with two new flavours: Jalapeno and Roasted Onion, and Olive Oil and Sea Salt. The all-natural, bite-size treats are tasty on their own, with dips, cheese or a range of toppings. Other flavours available include Roasted Garlic, Raisin Walnut with Cinnamon, and Aged Cheddar.

Authentically delicious

Naan bread from Stonefire Authentic Flatbreads is authentically light, naturally smoky-tasting Indian flatbread. The naan is hand stretched and prepared in small batches with Ghee, fresh buttermilk and natural ingredients, using a traditional recipe and without preservatives, additives, artificial colours, trans fat or hydrogenated oils. The naan can be served on its own, with dipping sauces or as a base for pizza or paninis, and sells for a suggested retail price of $2.99.

Cake my day

Celebrity chef and cookbook author Christine Cushing introduces a line of frozen decadent desserts made with Christine Cushing*s Bold DOP 100-per-cent extra-virgin Greek olive oil. The line includes Tender Banana Loaf, Ravishing Brownies, and Radiant Lemon Fig Bundt Cake, all of which are preservative-free and reminiscent of homemade baked goods. The cakes are available at Loblaw banner stores throughout Ontario and Quebec.

Crisp and dry

Pommies Dry Cider from Southern Cliff Brands is now available at LCBO outlets. The cider is refreshing, dry and light-bodied with a crisp, lasting finish and five per cent alc./vol. Each bottle contains a blend of five different varieties of Ontario apples, with no added artificial flavours or colours, and is gently carbonated. A package of four 355-mL bottles retails for $12.95.