Tidbits: Pre-schmeared bagels

By AL SICHERMAN, Star Tribune

Last update: April 9, 2008 - 4:04 PM

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Pre-schmeared bagels

New from Kraft, we have Bagel-fuls -- bagels with a tunnel of cream cheese inside. Well, make that bagel sticks; nobody would say that an item that isn't doughnut-shaped is a bagel.

They're sold in the freezer case, and they can be microwaved from frozen, but for best preparation (in a wide-slot toaster), they should be moved to the refrigerator first. Mr. Tidbit has to say that the warm, toasted-bagel outside and cool cream cheese inside (several flavors) is pretty darn close to the experience of eating an actual (round) toasted bagel to which cream cheese has been added. Mr. Tidbit hastens to point out that the latter experience is, in fact, still available.

Down-sizing, up-pricing

Because Mr. Tidbit has previously declared that Little Debbie Nutty Bars might well be nature's most perfect food (peanut butter, cocoa coating, crisp wafers, cheap), he feels he must discuss the new 100-calorie version. It appears that each of the 100-calorie little Debbie Nutty Bars is simply a single Little Debbie Nutty Bar that is two-thirds the size (smaller and thinner) of just one of the regular (two-in-a-serving) Little Debbie Nutty Bars.

Mr. Tidbit notes that you could simply eat two-thirds of one regular LDNB for your 100 calories, but the fact that the new bar is not as thick produces a slightly different texture that Mr. Tidbit grudgingly admits some people might prefer. But (surely you know what's coming): The regular 12-ounce package of Little Debbie Nutty Bars (six two-bar servings) has a suggested retail of $1.39. The 8.21-ounce package of a dozen 100-calorie bars is $1.59 -- 67 percent more per ounce!

Lime marches on

You might not have noticed the astounding variety of flavored balsamic vinegars available from various firms: strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, pear, cherry, lemon, fig. Now, from Benissimo brand (it had to happen), there's (wait for it): pomegranate balsamic vinegar.