Karcher Ranch Market

As soon as you walk into the Karcher Ranch Market in Nampa, you feel like you have stepped back in time.  It looks like an ordinary produce stand from the outside, but once inside it feels like an old-fashioned country store full of interesting things.  Other than fresh fruits and vegetables, there is a wide variety of products to check out. There is a room full of bags of rice, grains, flours and seeds like Amaranth  grain, red Bhutanese rice, Scottish oatmeal, toasted wheat germ, soy protein flour, yellow quinoa and organic brown flax seed.  There are a lot of candies, including old- fashioned stick candies, honey, seasonings, spices, dried fruit, beans, lentils and peas.  And, one corner looks like an antique store complete with cast iron pans, old lamps and vintage lunch boxes.  

All that is good, but what I really came to the Karcher Ranch Market for is the Fat Daddy’s Barbecue sauce.   It is absolutely delicious on grilled meats or used as a dipping sauce.  The sauce comes in seven  flavors, but our favorites are Raspberry, Island Paradise and Mesquite.   I am thinking about coming up with a recipe using the Island Paradise poured over chicken breasts with chunk pineapple, green bell peppers and chucks of onion baked in the oven till done and served with rice.   I think that would be a great recipe!   I almost forgot to mention that the Fat Daddy’s  Barbecue Sauce is locally produced in Nampa, Idaho.

Just before you get ready to leave the market, take a look at the large variety of bottled soda pop in the wall cooler.  You will be amazed at the many flavors available.  If you would like to try a cream soda, I like the Sioux City Cream Soda or the Jersey-Crème.  Also good is the Nesbitt’s  Peach  and Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry Soda.   Other sodas that sound interesting are the Dog n Suds Root Beer, Cool Mountain Green Apple, Olde Brooklyn Orange Soda and Eli’s Blueberry or Root Beer. It’s fun to try something different  once in a while! Karcher Ranch Market: 2302 West Karcher Road Nampa, ID

Fat Daddy’s Barbecue Sauce   $6.99 

Bottled soda pop- price varies

Moscato wines

Moscato wine-what is that?  I had never heard of it until the waitress at The Olive Garden offered a free sample.  I liked it and have since then tried several different brands. Now every time we go into a store with a wine section we always take the time to search out the Moscato wines.  These wines seem to be lighter and sweeter  than  other wines which is the type  that seems to appeal to my taste buds.  The latest brand I tried is the Moscato D’Asti Bella Bolla bought at Walmart.  The label  printed  on the bottle describes the Bella Bolla as …”deliciously fruity with flavors of citrus and melon.”  They are right about the deliciously fruity part.  This one is a “keeper”.   The wine  can  be  enjoyed on its’ own  or with any entrée, fresh fruit or dessert.  My husband and I had it with a roasted chicken dinner and we  thought  it was a delicious match.   There is quite a big variety of Moscato wines in the wine section. I haven’t tried them all yet.  But, I will probably get around to it.    Some of the vineyard names are familiar, but others seem a little more obscure and even a little amusing like The Naked Grape, Lucky Duck, Yellow Tail and Flip Flop Left Coast.   I like the names and the labels can be artistic and interesting visually.   So, if you are into wine and would like to try a lightly sweet  one,  give Bella Bolla a try!

Moscato D’Asti  Bella Bolla, Product of Italy $7.97

Kitchen Smart Oven Mitt

If you need a new oven mitt (and who doesn’t?) you will like this one from Bed, Bath & Beyond.  This Kitchen Smart mitt protects against temperatures up to 500 degrees.  It has a non-slip, easy grip with a material called neoprene.  It was hard for me to choose just one because they come in 14 great colors.  So, go ahead and buy two or more!  You will be glad to have a good oven mitt when you are baking your favorite brownies or chocolate chip cookies.  I used mine for the first time when I made our family favorite brownie recipe swirled with peanut butter on top.  Other topping suggestions would be chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and chopped candy bars like Baby Ruth, Heath Bars and Snickers.  Delish!  

Kitchen Smart oven mitt  $7.99

ZOI Yogurt

I had always bought fruit or dessert flavored yogurts which are delicious (key lime pie anyone?) but, my new favorite lately is the honey flavored ZOI brand Greek Yogurt available at Winco. Other Greek yogurts have a creamy texture but, the ZOI yogurt has a “luxurious texture” (to quote the package), more like a mousse. I like taking a little bite at a time and really enjoy the flavor. It is just right for an afternoon snack.

If you would like to turn it into an easy dessert, try this simple recipe: First clean and cut in half 16-20 fresh strawberries. Set aside. Measure ¼ cup sugar and add to ½ cup water in pan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves-about 2 minutes. Add the strawberries to the sugar water and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes and spoon into dessert dishes. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the ZOI Honey Yogurt on top and garnish with a sprig of mint if desired. Another delicious way to serve the yogurt is over a mixed fruit salad. Enjoy! The ZOI yogurt is gluten free and contains probiotic cultures which are supposed to be good for you!

 ZOI Greek Yogurt $.89

Eucalyptus & Spearmint Body Lotion

I’m sure everyone loves going into the Bath & BodyWorks store, whether at the mall or at the Crossroads shopping center in Meridian.  As soon as you walk in, you can smell the most wonderful scents and the products are displayed nicely.  It’s hard to decide among the many candles, lotions, sprays, bath gels and other products which to look at first.  One of my absolute favorites is the Eucalyptus & Spearmint Body Lotion.  You might think eucalyptus and spearmint is an odd combo, but it really works.  It is a nice refreshing scent and feels good on your skin.  Printed on the bottle are the words “Relax and think clearly.  Eucalyptus oil clears the mind while Spearmint essential oil uplifts.”  I don’t know if that’s true, but it is enjoyable.  It is not a flowery or sweet scent, so the men in your family can try it too.  The green bottle is glass-not plastic-which is unusual.  The shape and look of the bottle and pump seems a little old-fashioned in a good way.  This has been my go-to lotion for several years and it also makes a great gift for relatives, friends and co-workers. So, relax and enjoy! 

Eucalyptus and Spearmint Body Lotion $13