Market Finds

People can become positively passionate about a hot, hearty bowl of soup and a good chunk of bread. Here are some products that we've recently tried. They're sure to warm up our cold nights.

-- Buckeye Corn Bread mix, from Spokane's Buckeye Beans & Herbs Inc., makes a denser, less cake-like bread than other commercial mixes. The bread is a bit on the sweet side, but tasters liked the distinctive corn flavor. The 1 pound 4 ounce box is $4.19 and makes a 9-by-9-inch pan. You add eggs, oil and milk.

-- Serve the corn bread with Legumes Plus Quick & Easy Lentil Meatless Chili. The dry mix has a seasoning packet included; just add tomato sauce or a jar of salsa and water. (We found that the cooking time suggested on the package needed to be increased by about 30 minutes.) The 11 1/2-ounce package is $4.19 and makes 6 servings.

-- Tasters were surprised by the quality of the toppings on Trader Joe's Tomato & Olive Focaccia. There were hearty chunks of green olives and tomatoes, with provolone and mozzarella cheeses, herbs and a touch of spicy crushed red pepper. Just heat for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. The 15-ounce flatbread is $2.59 and serves 8.

-- Trader Joe's 17 Bean & Barley Soup Mix has not only beans and barley but peas and lentils. You add your own vegetables and tomato sauce; we added a ham hock for a meatier soup. It's 79 cents for the 16-ounce bag, which makes 8 servings.

-- Aunt Patsy's Pantry Plentiful Pea Soup couldn't be easier. The 12-ounce package contains a combination of yellow and green split peas and red lentils with a spice packet. You add an onion and water and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours. The result is a thick, flavorful bowl of soup that is really satisfying. The mix is $3.47, making eight 1-cup servings.

-- A great bread to serve with soup is Yukon Gold Potato Bread from A La Francaise. It has a chewy crust and a soft interior that's lightly flavored with dill. The 1-pound loaf is $2.99.