Garlic and herb light mayo

That Earl of Sandwich knew what he was doing. And now, we seem to have endless ways of spicing up the standard lunch fare.

Kraft Sandwich Shop Garlic and Herb Mayo

Where purchased: Meijer
Price: $2.00 on sale
Overall rating: 4/5

As you all know, I am a big fan of the Kraft chipotle mayo. This garlic and herb variety is yet another delicious flavor in the same line of Kraft light mayos. I have really been impressed so far with these spreads. They add a great new flavor to the traditional sandwich, and the seasonings really go with almost anything. I even tried using it in tuna salad for a little "extra something". While I didn't like this particular variety quite as much as the chipotle one, my husband thought it was much better. So its just a matter of personal preference, but both are very good.

If you are a big sandwich eater and need some variety, you gotta try these. Yes, it may cause your fridge to be filled primarily with condiments. But, if it keeps you excited about ham and turkey sandwiches... why not? Especially when you aren't adding a ton of extra calories and are only paying $2 a bottle.

Don't butter me up

Ever wonder what the differences are between all the jellies, jams, fruit butters, and other spreads out there? The specifics are still a bit confusing to me, but I do know they are all yummy on some toast.

Braswell's Mango Fruit Butter

Where purchased: Meijer
Price: $3.19
Overall rating: 3/5

I found this site, which has some helpful information and links to determine the differences among the various fruit spreads. http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/fruits/a/fruitbutters.htm.  Basically, fruit butters are made by cooking whole or halved unpeeled fruit until tender, putting it through a sieve or foodmill, and adding sugar and spices and cooking it down until thick. There isn't any actual butter in it - its name comes from the fact that it is smooth and spreads like softened butter.

One of the benefits of fruit butter is that it usually has much less sugar than jams, jellies, and preserves. I think this has something to do with the sugar acting as a preservative in those methods, and also serving as a gelling agent, requiring it to be present in higher quantities. Fruit butter can also be used in baking - much like you might use applesauce - as a substitute for sugar and oil to add sweetness and moisture.

The mango butter I tried was surprisingly sweet, and I really like the way it spreads. I did find this particular flavor a little weird, though. It isn't off-putting, it just doesn't taste like mango or anything tropical at all. Maybe more like apricot. I'm really not sure, but it isn't my favorite. I think I will try fruit butter again (I have had apple butter, although I usually use that for baking), but probably a different flavor. The mango just sounded so interesting to me that I had to give it a whirl!

This product receives an overall rating of 3. It's not bad, it just isn't my favorite flavor of fruit spread. I do like that it has a bit less sugar, carbs, and calories (6g, 6g, 25) than the Smucker's Simply Fruit (8g, 10g, 40) that I usually buy, and runs pretty close in price. I am also interested  in trying it as a baking substitute... maybe some sort of mango muffins are in my future?

All kinds of nutty

Spread it on some toast, apples, celery... go  nutty!

Maranatha Almond Butter

Where purchased: Meijer
Price: $7.59 (yikes!)
Overall rating: 3.5/5

We all know about the health benefits of almonds. They are a great source of monounsaturated fats, high in protein, low in sugar, and packed full of calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients. Even though I know all of these things and really enjoy almonds, I don't regularly incorporate them into my diet. That's why finding them in a "butter" form was perfect for me. I eat peanut butter toast for breakfast at least 3 or 4 times a week, so why not switch to almond butter every now and then?

I was excited to find this "no stir" version at the grocery store, since that is the characteristic I hate most about natural peanut butter. Upon opening the jar, I don't know if I would call it "no stir" - I'd call it "lightly stir." In any case, there was some separation, but not as much as you will find in some of the nut butters. The texture is a bit grainy, but it doesn't bother me in the almond butter like it does for peanut butter. I imagine it has to do with the fact that I didn't grow up eating smooth and creamy almond butter sandwiches. :)

I am delighted with the taste - a mild roasted almond flavor that is perfectly sweet. I love it on my whole wheat toast and english muffins, and I've seen recipes that call for it in anything from smoothies to asian stir-fry. My biggest complaint about this product is the price - $7.59 for a 12 oz jar?? Yikes! I was expecting to pay twice the price of peanut butter, but not 3 or 4 times! This is a wonderful change to keep me out of my peanut butter rut, but I doubt I'll be using it in large quantities for recipes.

Has anyone tried any other nut or seed butters? Sunflower seed, macadamia nut, or cashew?

Relish the possibilities

It's Giardiniera! It's relish! No, it's both!

Dell Alpe Mild Giardiniera Relish

Where purchased: Meijer

Price: $2.69 on sale (regular $3.09)

Overall rating: 4.5/5

So it's the start of the grilling season, and a hot dog, brat, or sausage of some sort (including turkey and chicken varieties, of course) all taste fantastic. A little mustard, maybe some ketchup, some pickles or relish, and you're good to go. A month or two later... it's just another meal. You can only eat so many meats on buns with ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish before it starts getting a little old.

Enter giardiniera relish. It really is a cross between the two, as it spreads and looks like relish, but has the taste of a mild giardiniera mix. Because of this variety's mild spice level, it doesn't overtake a sandwich like a lot of regular giardiniera does. It adds a little bit of heat, a lot of flavor, and complements almost anything from a chicken sausage to a roast beef sandwich. In fact, the label even suggests you put it in salads (oooh potato salad anyone?), soups, or re-heated leftovers. It even brought some taste to the otherwise flavorless turkey hot dog I ate tonight!

This relish will set you back a little more in fat and calories than you might expect from the otherwise simple list of natural ingredients because of the oil. With 37 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per tablespoon, it's not quite the same as just using mustard, pickles, or hot sauce which have virtually no caloric value. But, in my opinion, the flavor is definitely worth it. This product receives a 4.5 out of 5 rating, with its main flaw being its secret location in the grocery store. Meijer is the only place I have seen it, and it is hidden in the international food aisle mixed in with the fancy pestos and other overpriced condiments.

Search for it at your local grocery store, and post a comment if you can direct others on where to find it!