Thank you, Ian.

I don't normally snack on crystallized ginger. I like it, but I'd rather bake with it. However, Ian had wrapped them in a tissue like an avant-garde gift and he really seemed to want me to take a picture of them. So I obliged -- took the photo, ate one, and brought the second one home for a future baking project. And now I'm blogging about the whole experience.

I hope this is all working out the way Ian intended.

Reunited.

It's high time I returned to the snack sampler sent by the lovely Tia. Its remaining contents have been too long uneaten.

These Crispy Apple Chips (Caramel) by Seneca are not from the Pacific Northwest like many of the other snacks Tia chose for me. But they will be no less beloved; apple chips are a favorite in my apartment.

Their crispiness makes these something special, setting them apart from soft, dehydrated apple slices. They seem to be dusted with a small amount of sugar. Underneath is an apple slice that retains its peel (nice tough) along with a distinct apple flavor and scent. The caramel is gentle but present. This is an assertive snack for unsure times, but in a reassuring way rather than a forceful one. Now, if only Seneca could do all that without the corn syrup.

FYI: other flavors available are original, cinnamon, granny smith, golden delicious, and sour.