Take the plunge

Take the plunge
Polar Plunge coatings form candy shells on ice cream. The idea isn't new but these supersweet flavors go in fun directions: cotton candy, chocolate-peanut butter, orange and root beer. Just briefly heat the toppings, spread atop ice
cream,
then freeze for a few minutes. Each 9.5-ounce jar costs $5.25; a package of four is $19.80 by mail from kitchenkrafts.com or call (800) 776-0575.
Cheese support
Pretty crackers from The Fine Cheese Co. are made with different flavorings to pair with different cheeses -- for example, red hot chili for mature cheese, fennel crackers for pungent cheese, rosemary crackers for soft cheese. The attractive boxes are clearly labeled, and the crackers inside are just as appealing. Amazon.com stocks three flavors for $6 per box plus shipping.
Next best thing to the burger joint
French fry lovers -- that would be the entire Chicago Tribune food testing staff -- liked the billed-as-advertised crispy texture of Ore-Ida's Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries. The not-too-greasy texture and good potato flavor are pluses. Baked or broiled, they're ready in 20 minutes. A crinkle-cut version is sold too. A 26-ounce bag costs $2.70-$2.85 in the freezer case at most supermarkets.
Cluck, cluck
McDonald's has introduced Chicken Selects -- lightly battered and fried whole-meat chicken breast strips offered with a choice of Buffalo, ranch or honey-mustard dipping sauces. The inventor of Chicken McNuggets is already one of the largest purveyors of cluck in the country, but adding strips is expected to increase sales because adults generally prefer them to chopped-and-formed nuggets.
Fast-food rival Wendy's added strips this year, and KFC and most sit-down dining chains also offer them.