Soft and delicious chocolate chip bars---only a few ingredients!

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (Wellman's)

1/2 cup (1 stick)cold butter (Costco)

2 cups (chocolate chips) (Costco)

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk) (EEC Elite Mart)

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. 2.

Stir together flour and brown sugar in medium bowl; cut in cold butter until crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips; press mixture on bottom of ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes.

3. Combine sweetened condensed milk, egg and vanilla in large bowl.

Stir in 1 cup chips and nuts. Spread evenly over hot baked crust. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown.

*Melt the remaining 1/2 cup chips on top of the bars...just leave the bars in the hot oven for about 2 minutes and the chips will melt...then you can spread them on top of the bars.

Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Ken's Dressings---now at Carrefour.

I remember the days when I brought back big containers of Ranch dressing from the States. Well, now I can buy Ken's dressings (Ranch included) at Carrefour, certain Wellcome stores (try the ones in Tianmu) and Jason's Marketplace. The dressings are reasonably priced at NT$99/ jar. Of course, Wellman's has dressing, too, but I've just never bought it there.

Yummy Ritter Sport mini bars at Carrefour

Ah, I love Ritter Sport candy. But I never buy the big ones because I'll eat the whole bar---and feel crummy afterwards from a sugar-high. So I was pleased to see the mini bars at the DaZhi Carrefour today...they're being advertised as a "new product" and they're on sale. I like giving away candy with gifts, too, so these are the perfect size to slip into a birthday card. Plus, they're just the right size to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Whole-milk sugar-free yogurt (what to look for...where to buy it)

Have you noticed that 99% of the yogurt here is chock-full of sugar? Well, there ARE a few places where you can find all-natural plain yogurt. It's more expensive, but healthier alternatives are usually pricier, right? I've seen the Ticino yogurts in several stores---I bought this one at a Wellcome on DeXing in Tianmu. It's about NT$50/ container. I think it's also sold at Jason's Marketplace.

The same Wellcome also sells Bianco yogurt, which was recommended to me by a friend. It tastes like plain yogurt...not sugary sweet like other "plain" yogurts.

The American Club also sells homemade yogurt---NT$60 for a small container. Have you seen it anywhere else? Leave me a comment on where to find it...and how much it costs.

One of these days I'll just break down and make my own (if I ever get a yogurt maker). But I'm too lazy to do it right now, and I don't even eat yogurt---my sons do.

SUPER ZERO (diet soda) Sarsparilla at 7-11

Hey Song has jumped on the "zero calorie soda" bandwagon. Introducting "Super Zero" (better than Coke Zero?), an artificially sweetened soda you can find at 7-11. (that's the only place I've seen it so far)

I bought one to try it, and it's not bad. It's worth a try if you drink diet soda.