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By Fauzia Arain, Chicago Tribune, Source: MCT News Service

GET SAUCED

Beyond Maison Le Grand's clever space-age packaging, it's what's inside these squeezable packs that has us thrilled. The spreads and sauces _ including Garden Pesto, Spicy Tapenade and Lemon Confit Aromatic Sauce _ are fresh and taste as though they were crafted with care (not on a conveyor belt). Pouches are about $7 at markets including Whole Foods stores.

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BOOK 'EM

Put pen to these embossed 240-page journals, part of the Passions Collection from Moleskine, to document noteworthy wine or food experiences. Jot down tips, observations and recipes, and add one of the included stickers for easy labeling. Reference pages in the recipe journal include a calendar of in-season foods. The wine journal has a glossary of wine descriptors. The 8-by-5-inch notebooks are $19.95 at moleskineus.com.

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SETTING THE BAR

We'll admit, the lackluster look of Marathon of Miracles' wrapper did nothing for us, but these all-natural chewy food bars are great. The two varieties, fruit and nut or dark chocolate and nut, share a substantial, crunchy base of almonds, peanuts, and pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds. Buy a box of 12 for $24 at marathonofmiracles.org/food.html.

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(c) 2010, Chicago Tribune.

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