Q: I am looking for an eau de toilette called Heaven that was sold at the Gap stores. It has such a clean fragrance. I can no longer find it in any of the stores. Pleases help. Thank you for any assistance you can afford me. — Jo Ann Comerford, Marietta
A: Gap stores stopped carrying the light fragrance a couple of years ago but, for now, it’s available online. Although there are several outlets online that offer Heaven, Amazon seems to offer a larger variety and with smaller price tags. You can get a 3.4-ounce Heaven EDT spray for $19.99.
Q: I use to buy Poland Springs water with 24 bottles per case at Walgreens and Rite Aid. They both have stopped carrying it. Do you know of any place in the Newnan area that has it? I buy several cases a time when I find it. Thank you. — Sally Myers, email
A: Sally, I’ve had several readers who are looking for Poland Springs water, which is one of Nestle waters that include Zephyrhills and Deer Park. I spoke to someone at Poland Springs and was told it’s primarily a regional item from the Northeast, where many Rite Aid stores stock the water. Some Rite Aid stores have been shipping it down South, but it’s being discontinued by Rite Aid in this area. The representative at Poland Springs checked for stock in your immediate area, but none was found. However, I located a few larger bottles at Rite Aid, 2580 Winder Highway, Dacula, 770-682-0213. They cost $1.39 each. No cases are available. Once those are gone, they won’t be replaced. I was told by someone at Rite Aid that it doesn’t sell very well, which is why it’s being discontinued at the stores.
Q: My sister has great baking recipes that call for Barbados or baking molasses. We can no longer find it on store shelves. While I know it is available online, I would prefer to find this item locally. I’m amazed at what you can find locally, and hope you can help once again. Thank you. — Sam Weintraub, Sandy Springs
A: I don’t know if you’re looking for a specific brand because Barbados is a term that refers to a first boil or mildly flavored molasses — the one used more often for baking. It’s also called light molasses, mild molasses and first strike molasses. This is the sweetest molasses with about 65 percent sucrose. In general, the second boil yields molasses labeled full, robust or second strike. It contains a little less sucrose than Barbados. The third boil is where the more bitter and overpowering blackstrap molasses comes from; it contains the least amount of sucrose — about 55 percent — but it’s high in calcium and iron, making it a favorite of health food enthusiasts. For baking, it’s generally acknowledged that most unsulphured molasses will work as long as you don’t use blackstrap. Although, there are recipes out there that call for blackstrap or dark molasses, but many of those are for savory dishes. Think baked beans or barbecue sauce. Note that even mild or light molasses is still thick with a dark, almost black color. It sounds confusing, but for your sister’s recipes, Grandma’s original unsulphured molasses with the yellow label should work perfectly. It comes in a 12-ounce jar and sells for $2.99 at Publix, 1100 Hammond Drive, Sandy Springs, 678-443-2100. The store also carries the Publix brand molasses in a 16-ounce jar for $2.09.
Q: Where can I find a deck of regular playing cards with large print? I’m tired of squinting at the small numbers on my regular cards. Thanks. — H. Milton, Atlanta
A: Check out Richard’s Variety Store, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, 404-879-9877. You’ll find Hoyle jumbo playing cards that offer large numbers and characters within traditional size cards. Each deck costs $1.79.
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