KEY POINTS:
It's beach and barbie time so here's a few final morsels for the year to get you in the mood for a long hot summer.
Baker Halls Apple and Pomegranate fruit juice syrup is a grownup cordial you can share with the whole family. It's refreshing and pretty, so mix with water and pretend it's a cocktail for an alcohol-free day. A 750ml bottle makes 5 litres of drink. Recommended price is $5.75 from supermarkets.
Summer sizzlers
New Zealand's best sausages are worth seeking out. Medallists - ranging from small butcheries to big manufacturers - from the Great New Zealand Sausage Competition are now being sold with stickers, so you know you're onto a good thing. The supreme award went to Black Rock Butchery's pork sausages (stocked at Nosh). Supermarket brand Hellers did well with three medals, and Tegel's chicken sausages won the pre-cooked category, with the gourmet winner being Moroccan lamb sausages from Seaside Meats, Howick. Check out the full list of favourites on www.sausagecompetition.co.nz
Indulge
Someone's listening to the wants and needs of vegans. The kind people at Angel Food who also look after the gluten-free, are marketing marshmallows made with agar. As one who indulged says "It's like eating a sweet cloud." $6 from delis and health stores, for information www.angelfood.co.nz
Remember this
Fruju has brought back the tart Grapefruit and Lemon Fruju for summer only. The 60s favourite is on sale for a limited time at $1.70 and $7.99 for an 8-pack.
Saucy
Summer sauces for pasta, are as easy as Naked Organics new range, from $3.99 in supermarket chillers. In travel-friendly plastic pouches, the six sauces are a nice change from the often tomato-heavy versions in jars. Flavours include lemon, parsley and caper, and toasted walnut with parmesan.
