My husband loves to hike mountains. Me? I love to stroll in the woods. To combine our shared passion for the outdoors, I thought why not learn what about the interesting things we might encounter during our hikes/strolls?

In the past, we trekked with a bird identification book. Instead of looking to the sky, I’m thinking we should turn our gazes to the earth.

National Audubon Society’s latest up-to-date guide, Mushrooms of North America ($39.95, Fieldstone Publishing, 2023), has caught my eye. This tome is impressively comprehensive (711 pages!), covering the mushrooms of the entire North American continent. Studying these pages provides a fascinating window into the wonderful world of mushrooms, and is probably the closest most of us will come to being a mycologist (that’s a scientist who works with fungi).

Mushrooms of North America begins with a brief introduction, including visual identification. After individual descriptions, there are write-ups of the various mushroom orders followed by a handy glossary and index.

More than 660 species are featured within this hefty book, and each is illustrated with multiple full-color photographs and detailed entries, including the mushroom’s habitat; look-alikes; range; and season. There are also descriptions of each one’s cap, gills, flesh, and taste (if applicable).

Conservation status is a welcome bonus in each entry. If, for example, you happen upon a western matsutake in Colorado, you’ll know you’ve made a special discovery as this species is commonly found on the West Coast.

I don’t see myself foraging in the woods for culinary mushrooms. Actually, this guide advises explorers to never consume found mushrooms without confidently identifying them with a spore print. Incidentally, this book teaches you to do that too.

My goal with this field guide is to have fun learning about what grows in the woods I find myself in.

For the longest time, the only conventional candy I’d touch would be those peanut butter cups covered in bright orange wrappers. Not anymore. I think their formula changed a few years back. I now find the peanut butter flavorless, and the chocolate flat tasting and greasy. Not to mention this brand is full of suspect ingredients.

But I didn’t want to forego my peanut butter and chocolate addiction. I mean, is there a better combination out there?!

Enter Justin’s Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten Free, and USDA Organic with Rainforest Alliance Cocoa, one bag contains six individually wrapped cups (each cup is .7 oz). A treat without the guilt, one cup has just 5 grams total sugar.

The formulation of these makes a chocolate and peanut butter lover like myself proud. The peanut butter filling was smooth, creamy, and not too sweet with the perfect touch of salt. The 80 percent cacao chocolate shell has an unexpected but welcomed hint of bitterness.

Justin’s was the first organic peanut butter cup out there. They’re avid supporters of the creatures that make our world special. Normally, I avoid products with conventional palm oil. Justin’s uses an organic, orangutan-friendly version. The company also supports friendly pollinators like honeybees. These essential creatures are responsible for one out of every three bites we eat! Justin’s works with local, state, and national organizations to protect and conserve them.

Justin’s Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are satisfying, high-quality candies. You can share them with your kids, but I’d save them for yourself!

The past few years I’ve noticed an increasing number of mocktails offered on bar menus. I’ve tried many of these non-alcoholic drinks. But for me, the depth that alcohol provides is sorely missing, and I find many of these options end up tasting like fancy fruit juice. 

Enter Everleaf, an award-winning, vegan, gluten-free brand of non-alcoholic plant and herb blends. Added to seltzers, they provide an unforgettable sipping experience.

Packaged in clear glass bottles that look as if they were procured from an apothecary, there are three flavors: Mountain, Forest, and Marine. Each is composed of natural extractions that mimic the complexities found in alcohol. Various combinations of vetiver, saffron, acacia gum, Madagascan vanilla, cherry blossom, sea buckthorn, dulse, juniper, and other ingredients achieve this balance.

Sample Time!

On a boring, rainy weeknight, my husband and I tried each of the three flavors in both a plain seltzer water and a grapefruit variety. I didn’t know what to expect. Wow, was I surprised. I found my taste buds were intrigued by the deep and lingering flavor profiles. 

Our two favorites were Marine, which added a bright, fresh, and clean taste, and Forest, which brought notes of citrus and earth. When combined with the sparking grapefruit seltzer, Forest pleasantly rounded away the harsh and bitter edges of the grapefruit. Mountain added a slightly floral and vegetal flavor that was uplifting. 

Also pleasing to me was how well the viscosity of alcohol was mimicked when using these blends. Thanks to ingredients like acacia tree and seaweed, the seltzer didn’t go down as thin and watery as it did on its own.

Everleaf is categorized as a non-alcohol under US regulations. It contains less than 0.5 percent alcohol, as some of the botanical extractions use alcohol as a solvent. When mixed with plain seltzer water, the amount goes down to 0.1 percent. (For comparison, an overripe banana has 0.5 percent alcohol.) 

Made and bottled in the United Kingdom, taster packs and other various-sized bottles are available at https://www.everleafdrinks.com.

Fun and festive non-alcoholic recipes featuring Everleaf’s products are available on the website.

I’ve loved this brand for years, and now Tate’s has come out with a new flavor: lemon. This new variety is buttery, crispy, light, thin, and perfectly browned, just like the Ginger Zinger cookies. 

Certified gluten free and kosher, these treats are craft baked “The Bake Shop Way.” What this means is there’s a dedication to quality, and the cookies are lovingly baked and deeply delicious.

Not too sweet, I’ve found these cookies to be a tasty accompaniment to tea. If you like a less tart lemon flavor that’s still bright and sunny, these gluten-free cookies are worth seeking out.

Available in retail locations, or online where 3 7-ounce packs retail for $18.

Chronic inflammation is a serious problem these days. Sadly, most of us are inflamed. I’m one of those and I’m constantly working on the issue, as I know that disease is associated with this condition. 

The effectiveness of Limelight Herbals Inflammation Formula has helped me in my quest to beat the bloat. This liquid tincture assists with digestive, kidney, and liver health; joint and tissue issues; and a healthy inflammation response.

Contained within this certified organic formula are highly concentrated, herbal bio-actives of turmeric root, ginger root, frankincense resin, and black pepper fruit. The herbs are sourced from bio-regional farm communities and are then blended into a 20 percent solution of sugarcane alcohol—a highly effective solvent solution for herbal extractions. 

Lessen the Swelling

I really like Limelight Herbals Inflammation Formula and feel its proprietary combination of herbs works well for me. Since taking it, I’ve noticed how much less bloated and puffy my body feels. My stomach is less inflamed and swollen too. Taking this tincture recently, I noticed an improvement in some stiff joints and back pain.

I’ve tried liquid turmeric products in the past and, wow, can they taste bitter. Thankfully I didn’t find this formula at all offensive, especially when mixed into 8 ounces of water as the instructions indicate. I like how Limelight Herbals Inflammation Formula is 98 percent bioavailable, compared to the typical 10 to 30 percent bioavailability found with tablet and capsule formulations. 

Limelight Herbals began because of the founders’ personal experiences with Lyme disease. With years of experience in biochemistry and natural herb healing, coupled with research and development, this company understands the need for highly effective and pure herbal products. For me, Inflammation Formula is definitely one of these products.

A 2 fl oz bottle, which is a 30-day supply, retails for $29.95.

There’s something about a homemade gift. I can sense the positive intention and generous thought behind it, and to me that improves the experience when using it. Brown Sugar by Kesha Janaan is a line of natural skin care that offers this kind of thoughtful, made-by-hand delight. Her specialty: body and bath products to pamper skin and hair.  

I chose a 3-piece gift set for myself. It arrived in a white envelope-style box secured with a white satin ribbon. Nestled inside were a 4 oz. soap bar, a 5 oz. organza-wrapped pouch of bath salts, and a 2 oz. bottle of infused oil—all with a jasmine and lavender theme. 

Kesha Janaan is a veteran, musician, and entrepreneur who loves helping others. Her intent with this line of minimally processed products is to go back to the basics, using organic and fair-trade ingredients in their most natural form.

And they indeed feel natural! The pleasant and light floral-scented soap bar lathered up nicely and felt very moisturizing. I was so impressed with the infused oil. It’s a combination of shea butter and avocado, jojoba, and sweet almond oils. Jasmine flowers and lavender buds are suspended in the oil for some extra nourishment from nature. The oil glided on smoothly and absorbed into my skin rapidly, making it feel soft and nourished. I don’t know if it’s the specific combination of oils or something else, but this product worked very well for me.

Aside from gift sets, Kesha Janaan’s line includes bath salts, soaps, scrubs, lip care, and whipped body butters (there’s a Hawaiian Coffee version that sounds intriguing). Items are sold individually or in sets like the one I got. 

At $25 for a 3-piece body-care set, this is an affordable gift. Or, perhaps, a not-too-expensive splurge for yourself?

If you’ve ever made compound butter, you know the work is worth the reward. Herbs, spices, and other sweet and savory ingredients are mixed into softened butter, which is then rolled into a log, sliced, and added to sauces, breads, sautés, and other culinary wonders. Compound butter is truly a chef’s secret ingredient for elevating flavor.

In my opinion, butter makes everything taste better. So I was pleased to find Churn’s chef-crafted flavored butters could effortlessly boost buttery goodness in my home-cooked meals.

These elegant finishing butters are crafted from the best grass-fed, hormone-free, organic, non-GMO butter from California. Super rich and creamy in the European style, these butters were created by a chef who wished to expand upon the limited offerings in the supermarket.

Out of the nine flavors offered by Churn, I’ve tried three so far: Cacio e Pepe, Bruschetta, and Garlic & Shallot. I melted Cacio e Pepe with its cheesy and peppery bite into one batch of cheese tortellini, and Bruschetta with its tangy tomato and balsamic zing into another. In a matter of minutes, I had two restaurant-quality meals that impressed me with their high-quality and balanced flavors.

I spread the Garlic & Shallot variety on bread, and sautéed carrots in some of the butter for a soup. The tangy garlic and shallot confits in this blend shined through in both applications. I needed no other seasonings. Not even salt. The same was true with both the Cacio e Pepe and Bruschetta varieties. When melted, both butters formed into sauces that were rich and satisfying with the need for nothing else.

Other flavors in the line include Maple & Cinnamon, Pesto, Miso, Truffle, and Everything (a buttery take on the popular bagel seasoning). I have plans for a few of these. Rubbing the Miso variety over a whole chicken before roasting will be sublime; melting the Pesto butter over grilled food will be perfect for summer; and sautéing a tablespoon or two of the Everything flavor will heighten even the simplest of vegetable medleys. It’s true: everything’s better with butter.

Each 5.5 fl oz container retails for $13. Assorted 3-packs are $35.

One of the biggest beauty problems for women in mid-life is tired-looking eyes.

I couldn’t agree more, as I have them too. 

August + Monroe’s Wake Up Call Brightening Eye Serum is a product I really like. It reduces my dark circles, lightens the redness under my eyes, and lessens my puffy under-eye skin. It helps my skin feel softer and more hydrated as well.

With its lightweight texture, this serum dries quickly and makes a solid, smooth base for under-eye concealer.

The patented metal applicator tip is shaped like a fingertip, so the product can be easily and gently massaged into the skin with a very soothing and cooling touch.

Made with clean, plant-based ingredients like coffee to brighten and aloe to smooth, this serum is also paraben-, sulfate-, and fragrance-free and it’s also vegan. 

A .47 fl oz (14 ml) tube is $52.

When the lighting fixtures where I live were swapped out, they threw away all the incandescent bulbs and replaced them with LED bulbs. I didn’t think too much about it until I noticed that after the switch I was having tremendous difficulty falling asleep.

I suspected it might be the new bulbs and learned that the blue light waves that are emitted from this type of bulb suppress melatonin production. Worse, it’s not only light bulbs that are an issue. Television, computer, and smart phone screens all send out these types of waves.

During the day you want your eyes exposed to natural blue light (from the sun and sky) to keep you alert and to trigger hormone production for melatonin. But when the sun sets and the sky darkens, we turn on our artificially lit world. For some of us, this is when the trouble begins.  

Red Skies at Night

I researched what I could do about these bulbs and my sleeping issues. Aside from changing all the bulbs back to incandescent, I learned that wearing a certain type of glasses with red lenses helps filter out the blue light that LED and fluorescent lighting emits. 

I then discovered an Australian company called BON CHARGE (formerly BLUblox) that sells blue-blocking glasses you wear at night. I bought the Galaxy Blue Light Blocking Glasses and tried them out. When I say you’ll be seeing the world through rose-tinted lenses, it’s true! Every light, inside and out, casts a reddish-orange glow when you wear these glasses. Unfortunately it also means that when you’re watching television or looking at a computer screen, the blue and green hues will be blocked out.  

The tradeoff is worth it for me. I try to limit screen use at night anyway. But if I can’t or don’t want to, these glasses are indispensable.

I take them with me when I travel, since so many hotels these days have LED lights in their rooms. I’ve even worn them out to big box stores in the evening to take the sting out of the giant fluorescent lights beaming down on me. 

Wearing these glasses makes me feel sleepy, like my body is naturally falling into slumber. The opposite is true when I don’t wear them and am exposed to artificial blue light. I start to feel awake and not at all tired.

Stylish Blue Light Blocking Glasses

BON CHARGE’s blue-blocking glasses come in many styles, and they’re available as non-prescription, prescription, or readers. The Galaxy version I bought retails for $121.95. Free shipping to the US from their headquarters in Australia is offered for purchases over $125. 

Admittedly, these glasses aren’t cheap. I see them as an investment in my health and a necessity for navigating a light polluted world. There are less expensive brands out there. But I like how BON CHARGE’s glasses block up to 100 percent of blue and green lights, and they protect the eyes from shortwave blue-violet and green frequencies. 

The first time I heard that gluten was found in some popular baking sprays, I was shocked. Perhaps I ought not have been. After all, gluten has been known to lurk in some surprising places.  

Upon learning this I thought to myself, no more cooking spray for me. It wasn’t worth the possible contamination.

So for years I’ve been greasing my baking pans and cooking vessels with a pastry brush and liquid oil. It was a messy job, and I always ended up using too much or not enough oil. I missed the ease, convenience, and speed a spray provides.

Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil Spray is my latest find, and I am happy to have it as my new kitchen companion. I already sprayed a roasting pan with it, and then proceeded to bake breaded eggplant slices. They browned up beautifully and did not stick to the pan, as they normally would have. 

I also tried the spray when prepping a glass baking dish for some salted tahini caramel popcorn bars, and the same thing: no sticking and easy clean up! 

The Heat Is On

Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil Spray has a 500° smoke point, so you can safely roast at high temperatures. You can even use the spray on foods before they hit a hot grill. 

No chemicals or propellants are used in this product. Instead, air pressure allows the product to deliver an effective coating to your cookware. The spray is also nonGMO and free of glyphosate residue.

The avocado oil in this spray is neutral tasting, so it doesn’t impart a strong or off-putting flavor. In addition to the unflavored variety, Chosen Foods offers avocado spray in the following extract-flavored offerings: Chipotle, Garlic, Italian Herb, Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread, and Simply Cinnamon.

A 6-oz bottle of Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Spray retails for $10.99.