Q: Quite a while back, I received a generous bottle of dark chocolate balsamic vinegar. It was so delicious and unusual, and it ended up as my favorite topping for fresh fruits. Unfortunately, someone threw out the empty bottle before I could write down the name, and I haven’t recognized it in the grocery stores. It starts with something like “Strap.” It was an unusual name, I do remember that. Please help me find this. If I have to order it, I will. Thank you. Sue Johnson, email
A: Sue, I think you’re looking for Strippaggio dark chocolate balsamic vinegar. Happily, you won’t need to order the fragrant chocolate-infused balsamic, which is supposed to be fantastic drizzled over ice cream. You can find 375 ml bottles for $17.95 at Strippaggio, 855 Emory Point Drive, Atlanta, 404-963-5921. The store also has a second location at Ponce City Market. The shop, which offers premium virgin olive oils and exotically flavored salts, also stocks a variety of unusual balsamic vinegars, including coconut and peach. Note that some are seasonal items.
Q: My dish cloths always smell sour even after washing and soaking. Can you find a product that can help with the smell? I have tried everything. Thank you. Sandra Grella, email
A: Sandra, I’m not sure what you’ve tried, so I hope these tips will help. First, use a clean dish towel daily. Before washing, make sure to air dry the soiled towel. Hang it on a hook rather than flopping it over the side of the sink where air can’t circulate around the towel. The reason for the bad odor is because when towels remain wet (and this goes for bath towels as well as those for the kitchen) the moisture provides the ideal environment for mold, mildew and germs to flourish.
Some folks recommend boiling dish towels in a large pot, but that seems like an excessive amount of work. However, one of the most effective methods to rid your towels of that musty odor is also the simplest. Place your towels in the washing machine, pour about one cup of plain old baking soda over them, and run a heavy duty cycle with the hottest water you can get for both wash and rinse cycles. Don’t add detergent, bleach or fabric softener. And do not add vinegar, which can react with the baking soda.
Also, when you wash your towels with liquid detergent and fabric softener, your laundry ends up with a buildup of the products, which can keep them from absorbing moisture and, eventually, they won’t get as clean as they would without the product buildup. Some people have good luck using powdered detergent for towels.
Other tips include using a scoop of 20 Mule Team Borax to your wash, or adding a cup of white vinegar to your detergent.
Q: I am looking for Made in Nature toasted coconut chips that come in a variety of flavors. I used to buy them at Publix in West Cobb, but they no longer carry them. They are a delicious, high-fiber, low-sugar snack that are addictive! There are other coconut chips out there, but they are much higher in sugar. Thanks for your help. Luanne Porper, Marietta
A: Made in Nature organic coconut chips are available in several flavors, including Italian espresso, Mexican spiced cacao, ginger masala chai, Vietnamese cinnamon swirl and maple Madagascar vanilla. Each 3-ounce bag costs $4.99 at Goodness Grocery, 4500 W. Village Place, Smyrna, 770-436-8880.
Q: Thank you in the past for finding products for me. I am trying to locate Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia tablets. I have written to the company and they are no longer producing them. I was hoping you could help me locate some in our area that may still be on the shelves — somewhere. Thank you. Jo Ann Comerford, email
A: I found a box of 100 Phillips’ fresh mint tablets for $9.39 on the shelves at Little 5 Points Pharmacy, 484 Moreland Ave, Atlanta, 30307, 404-524-4466. But, the discontinued product is drying up. It’s also available for a hefty price tag — $45 — through Amazon.
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