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SOURCE:	Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
DATE:	10-08-2007
HEADLINE:	Food tidbits

By Al Sicherman

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

(MCT)

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Mr. Tidbit is steamed that there remains yet more to report about what grocery manufacturers seem to believe is the nation's now-overwhelming desire to steam things in the microwave.

He will not repeat the long list of steaming products he has already described; for now he adds three:

_From McCormick, which might have started this whole thing two years ago with its two flavors of Veggie Steamers (each consisting of a microwave bag and a pouch of seasonings), come two flavors each of Potato Steamers and Seafood Steamers. Because one can now buy steaming bags from Glad and Ziploc for about 35 cents each, McCormick's suggested $1.79 for a bag and some seasonings would seem to be on the high side.

_From Freshtables, in one of the bagged-salad-greens coolers in the produce aisle, 12-ounce bags of SteamPerfect fresh vegetables or vegetable mixtures (eight of those and one fruit mixture) with sauce, in steaming bags, for $3.99.

_And from Mann, which already had bags of fresh vegetables in that same cooler, several Ready, Set, Steam vegetable mixtures, with sauce, in about-14-ounce steaming bags, also $3.99.

The Freshtables entry should not be confused (although Mr. Tidbit certainly confused it) with the Green Giant Fresh Freshtables _ yes, Green Giant Fresh Freshtables _ 16-ounce bags of stir-fry-vegetable mixes with sauce (four kinds), likewise found in a salad-greens cooler, likewise $3.99. These are fresh veggies and sauce for stir-frying (just add meat _ or don't), not for steaming. Remember frying? No steaming bag. Clear?

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A SALTY LITTLE TALE

After months of anxious waiting since he first saw them advertised, Mr. Tidbit finally saw Quaker's Sweet & Salty Crunch granola bars. He is pleased to report that, unlike Kellogg's Sweet & Salty Crunchy Nut granola bars and General Mills' Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut granola bars, Quaker's entry is not only sweet; it's actually a little salty.

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(c) 2007, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

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Highlights: Freshtables, SteamPerfect, Green Giant Fresh