
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 15, 1993                   TAG: 9309110016
SECTION: VIRGINIA'S FINEST                    PAGE: VF-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HEALTHY, TASTY SNACKS MADE WITH VA. PRODUCTS

When was the last time you reached for a juicy apple grown right here in Virginia to satisfy a sweet tooth? Or how about a marinated vegetable salad instead of high-calorie snacking? With so many Virginia foods to choose from, you're bound to find something satisfying and delicious. From familiar fruits and vegetables just perfect for those watching their waists, to a few unusual choices for those who aren't, snack foods from Virginia are plentiful.

Fruits contain a variety of vital nutrients, are low in sodium and, when eaten raw, provide necessary dietary fiber. Virginia's fruit availability is almost year-round and includes crunchy apples (1 medium\ 80 calories), juicy peaches (1 medium\ 38 calories), plump grapes ( 1/2 cup\ 66 calories) and sweet strawberries ( 1/2 cup\ 45 calories).

Why not top breakfast cereal with seasonal berries instead of sugar? For a gourmet twist, try dried fruits from L'esprit de Campagne. This innovative company, located in Winchester offers dried cherries, apples, blueberries and cranberries. Great for snacking, these fruits lend themselves nicely to baking and would be a thoughtful addition to a Virginia gift basket. (Try the dried tomato sprinkles in salads and on baked potatoes for an alternative to bacon bits!)

Vegetables are a rich source of fiber and are wonderfully versatile. Steamed, stir-fried or eaten raw with "lo-cal" dips and spreads, vegetables provide dietary variety without adding extra calories.

Now, you may not think of Virginia as a broccoli producer, but this fall favorite is plentiful and perfect for a variety of uses and naturally low in calories - only 40 per cup.

Other vegetables from Virginia include asparagus (3 1/2 ozs.\ 26 calories), cabbage (3 1/2 ozs.\ 24 calories), cucumbers (3 1/2 ozs.\ 15 calories), green beans (3 1/2 ozs.\ 32 calories), green peppers (3 1/2 ozs.\ 22 calories), summer squash (3 1/2 ozs.\ 19 calories), sweet corn (3 1/2 ozs.\ 96 calories) and tomatoes (3 1/2 ozs.\ 22 calories). For a nutritious side dish or light lunch, try a marinated vegetable salad.

Looking for the unusual? Try one of OOTOS many flavored fried pasta snacks. Made by From the Wood, Inc. in Orange, Virginia, OOTOS gourmet fried pastas are low in salt with no cholesterol or preservatives. Choose from a variety of flavors including Bluecorn Barbecue, Herb and Garlic Confetti and Hot Pepper Confetti to name only a few. (Try Dark Chocolate Shavings if you're craving a sweet.) Just what does OOTOS mean? "Out Of The Ordinary Snacks" of course!

More unusual snacking comes by way of The Upper Crust in Middleburg. These "cookies from the country" have names like "Cow Puddles," "Mutton Buttons," "Pig Puddles" and "Road Apples." You're sure to find your favorite variety from amongst these whimsical choices.

And if it's whimsy you're looking for, how about "Best of Luck" shortbread cookies shaped in horseshoes (complete with nails!)? Selected in 1992 by Gourmet and Good Housekeeping magazines as a "Best Food Gift," "Best of Luck" now offers chocolate and ginger "shoes" in addition to the classic orange butter shortbread.

Other Virginia's Finest participants in the snack category include Abuelita Mexican Foods, Atlantic Clipper Tea Cakes, Brownies by Fran, Ginny's Cheesecakes, FFV cookies, Karla's Great Cheesecake, Kim's Lollipop and Gift Shop, Mom's Apple Pie, Mother's Macaroons, Mother Nature Cookies, Moore's Quality Snack Foods, Nancy's Homemade Fudge, The Nut Kettle, Route II Potato Chips, Rowena's Pound Cakes, The Williamsburg Chocolatier, Wissie Cakes, and World's Best Cheesecakes. This is only a sampling; for a complete guide to Virginia's Finest products and where to find them, look for the coupon elsewhere in this publication.

by CNB