the goods - Brief Article

Vegetarian Times, Oct, 2000 by Abigail Chipley

Bottoms Up

With nonalcoholic Soma Herbal Natural Brews, you can catch the spirit of Oktoberfest--and still remember the fun the next morning. This guilt-free libation ($6.99/6-pack) combines classic beer ingredients (malt, yeast and hops) with St. John's wort, passion flower and kava kava, herbs that help you take a load off naturally. But don't expect a light-beer taste. The full-bodied 70-calorie brew is hearty enough to stand up to any German import and comes in two flavors, regular and lemon. (888) 280-3200; www.somaherbal.com

Workin' Like a Dog

On your next camping trip, let your dog carry his own weight with Planet Dog's Trail Blazer. Made from recycled soda bottles, this rugged saddlebag comes in two sizes (medium, $59; large, $65) to fit every eco-conscious pooch. Don't miss out on the company's other doggie travel gear, which includes waterproof food bowls ($17.95 to $19.95) and camping beds ($59 to $65). All the stylish equipage is tested by real dogs--Bella, Talus and Seeger--who have full run of the company's Maine headquarters. (800) 381-1516; www.planetdog.com

Veggie Days Are Here Again

Fill up all those empty days between issues of Vegetarian Times with the all-new A Calendar Just for Vegetarians ($9.95). With 365 days' worth of healthy eating and living tips, this calendar will make even Mondays worth looking forward to. And if you need a little inspiration in the kitchen, be sure to order the Vegetarian Times Recipe Calendar 2001 ($11.95), featuring gorgeous photos and delicious recipes. Both calendars make great holiday gifts. (800) 793-9161; www.vegetariantimes.com

A Fine Finish

Now you can moisturize your skin, fight sun and free-radical damage and achieve a flawless look--all with one cruelty-free product. To fill this tall order, Zia's newly reformulated Natural Foundation with SPF 8 ($14.95) blends infusions of cucumber and aloe with chamomile, green tea and gingko biloba. Available in 10 different shades, the foundation contains no artificial colors, fragrances or mineral oil. And for a perfect matte finish, try the sleek-looking new Natural Face Powders ($14.95). (800) 334-SKIN; www.zianatural.com

Soup Kitchen

With seven delicious varieties to choose from, you'll spend more time deciding which Taste Adventure soup ($2.26) to pop open than you'll spend cooking it. These hearty bean- and vegetable-based soups are flavored only with herbs, hot peppers, sea salt, garlic and citrus juices and cook up in just 10 minutes. For a quick Mexican fiesta, try the spicy Refried Beans ($2.65). (800) 874-0883; www.tasteadventure.com

Chop Art

Slicing and dicing will be kept to a minimum, thanks to the extra-wide mouth feed tube in the new Cuisinart PowerPrep Plus ($329). And with the gargantuan 14-cup work bowl, you can finally make soup in one mess-free batch. Bakers will be thrilled with the new dough attachment (patent pending) that automatically adjusts speed to produce a perfectly kneaded dough every time. Of course, the Cuisinart name is backed by a 10-year warranty, a real boon to those of us who use the machine day in and day out. (800) 726-0190; www.cuisinart.com

Totally Tuscan

This organic extra-virgin olive oil ($10.49/17 oz.) by Bionaturae hails from the highest hills of Tuscany. The company uses only hand-picked olives--some from trees more than 300 years old--and presses them the very same day they're harvested. For a spectacularly simple salad dressing, just add a pinch of sea salt and some of the company's sulfite-free organic Balsamic Vinegar ($3.49/8.5 oz.) to this fruity oil. (207) 439-8685