Lidl' Dupes

 Everyone knows that Lidl can save home chefs and foodies tons of money. Yet many many not know that the store has so many dupes that are even better tasting than the original. Walk the aisles and you'll find all sorts of duplicates for the national and international brands.

I love LIDL for their wide array of international foods I can;t get anywhere else. However they have some pretty good dup's for everyday drinks and food stuffs too. I've just tried their take on Le Croix Sparkling Water.

They're thirty-two cents cheaper than LaCroix  at Wal-mart and the taste is much more refreshing and stronger. There are five flavors  such as the orange - so good  - along with lemon, lime passion fruit,cran raspberry and passion fruit. Have it during these lingering summer days in a tall ice filled glass.

ANother dup I love eis their takes on the Belgian classicLules Desptrooper's almond thins. These are buttery tuile cookies but they can be expensive. Then there;s/Lidl's Preferred Selection also made overseas. They taste exactly the same and are a dollar less than at other grocery stores.

Ritz crackers are good but Lidl's Sunny Day's version are better and two dollars cheaper too. I love these in soup and with vegan cream cheese. As you can see I also have Lidl's version version of the Parker aluminum tumbler. Mine was only three dollars over the summer and I use it at work and on trips to the shore. It;s also so cute with the oranges too.

Don;t bother with the real deal. Head to Lidl';s for better tasting dupes, You'll save money but gain flavor.

Cleansing Moments

Palate cleansers may sound like they belong in the bygone aristocratic days of Downton Abbey, but they are relevant on today's table. They provide a refreshing  break from a  course that is too spicy or too gamey.They're also  a nice way of slowing down a party dinner, giving guests time to digest and relax a bit.

This mini-course came about from the Italians who named it intermezzo. Basically it's a very small plate served halfway through  a meal of several courses.It's usually a light two  bite affair. A true Italian one features light neutral flavors such as basil, mint or parsley. It can also be any piece of fruit, sparkling wine or a sorbet. The last is usually a liqueur, wine or fruit flavor. The French, too, enjoy palate cleansers. They have a slightly different belief about them than the Italians do. In the Gallic diet, the cleansing plate is not only to wash away any lingering strong flavors from the previous course but also to aid in digestion, avoid heartburn and stimulate the appetite for the next course. In Normandy,  the French province known for their apples, apple brandy or Calvados is used. It is a strong , fiery shot called trou Normand,  Palate cleansers should work with the cuisines.. They shouldn't be overpowering and leave an aftertaste of their own  the next course.If it's a homemade cleanser, then be sparing with the flavorings.Don't go  overboard .The taste buds only have to be refreshed , not hosed down.

What is a good palate cleanser? Sometimes it's just a glass of water, well chilled with ice. Sparkling water can also be used, usually graced with a slice of lemon or lime, Surprisingly enough tea can also be used.Try a lightly brewed green, black or mint tea with the barest of sweeteners.It can be served hot or cold, but for fall and winter feasts serve it hot and save the iced version for spring and summer meals.Celery sticks or sliced Granny Smith apples make wonderful , informal palate cleansers. Serve them on a fancy plate after the first course. A sprig of parsley can also work too. Most palate cleansers are usually sorbets. It's usually lemon, lime or mint and it's easy to make. It's just taking
one cup each of water, sugar,  lemon,or lime juice for the fruit sorbets. The mint requires one packed cup of chopped mint leaves two cups of water and two and a half cups of sugar. A quarter of a cup of sweet wine is also needed.It 's simmering over a low flame and then putting the liquid into an ice cream maker . One scoop is placed in a fancy silver or glass bowl and decorated with lemon, or lime zest for the fruit sorbets. The mint sorbet usually is decorated with a curled mint leaf.

A palate cleanser is a nice way to prepare the taste buds for the next course. Make it a sorbet or a plate of celery. It will be a hit with guests who want a refreshing change of pace.