Online - June 24, 2005

Exotic Aisles

The Hard-to-Find Grocer

Nana Olafson’s Famous Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 Clark bars, crushed

Hmm. Last time you checked, the Food Emporium was fresh out of ’50s-era candy bars. But you couldn’t possibly risk incurring Nana’s beyond-the-grave wrath by settling for the modern-day version.

The Hard-to-Find Grocer, a website devoted to the purveyance of such rare foods, can help make your dreams of long-lost products — from Count Chocula to Aqua Velva — a reality. They’ll even seek out items dear to your heart.

More than just a resource for things you know and love, The Hard-to-Find Grocer is also a goldmine for edibles you may not have yet sampled. Bea’s Ho-Made Cherry Raspberry Jelly gets points for its name alone; the Sweet Sue Canned Whole Chicken is simply too intriguing to pass up. And check out the recipes section for tips on whipping up such delicacies as Apple Beer smoothies and Harvey Wallbanger cake.

Not that you’ll need instruction. With access to so many products of yore, Nana’s recipe box will positively spring to life.

And Nana herself can rest peacefully forevermore.

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