By KAREN CIMMS

kcimms@tnonline.comEvery now and then we get items shipped to the newsroom to sample.Some are great. Some are "Gee, no thanks." (Hemp seeds? Cranberry-ginger flavored chia seeds?)I have to say I felt almost the same when the carton of True Nopal prickly pear cactus water arrived, although I was curious. Water from a cactus?I took it home and popped it in the refrigerator, thinking at least if it was chilled, it would taste better. There's nothing worse than room temperature water, except maybe hemp seeds.It sat in the refrigerator, chilling, for a couple weeks, until I was finally ready to try it.I have to say when I opened the container and poured it into a glass, I almost bailed.Cactus water looks nothing like "water." In fact, it was red. It looked like diluted cranberry juice.I took a sniff, then a cautious sip.It was good. Really good. And refreshing. It's also healthy and ecoconscious.According to the manufacturer, the prickly pear cactus can grow anywhere, other than the arctic, making it the most sustainable plant in the world. Pads, fruits and flowers can be used, so it produces zero waste.It's good for the environment and good for you, containing betalain antioxidants."It's richer in flavonoids than chocolate, coffee and tea and research shows it effectively reduces inflammation from muscle fatigue and exercise."The most important thing, however, as far as I'm concerned, is that it tastes good. And it does.True Nopal is bottled and available around the country at retailers like Whole Foods and Sprouts.If you can't find it locally, it's available online at amazon.com and other retailers.GuruNanda GheeI'd never heard of this until last fall, when visiting a friend. She made a wonderful omelet for dinner, with mushrooms and spinach. She pointed out that she had cooked it with ghee. This friend, who has celiac disease, has to be very careful with her diet. She's also a wonderful cook, and told me she frequently uses ghee in place of butter or oil when cooking.When melted, ghee is similar to clarified butter. We found it useful for cooking scrambled or fried eggs, and melted with lobster. Although it is recommended for being drizzled over popcorn, I found that I preferred regular melted butter in that case. The same was true with fresh corn on the cob.That being said, I'd now choose ghee over butter or oil for sautéing.It has a high smoke point, and according to the manufacturer, contains key nutrients not present in regular butter or cooking oils. It's also compatible for those who are lactose-intolerant, or who subscribe to a gluten-free or paleo diet.GuruNanda Ghee is shelf-stable, so it doesn't need to be refrigerated. If you can't find it locally, it's available online at amazon.com or at gurunanda.com.Love & QuichesLast and certainly not least, a triple-chocolate brownie from Love & Quiches Gourmet.Made with natural ingredients, this chewy chocolate brownie was to die for. I cut it up into small pieces and distributed it throughout the newsroom.To say it was a big hit doesn't even come close to giving it the credit it deserves.Not only are they delicious, these brownies have no trans fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, TBHQ or high fructose corn syrup.Want to know what makes it even better? A portion of the profits of the sale of Love & Quiches products supports the Wounded Warriors Program.Love & Quiches Triple Chocolate Brownies are available online at loveandquiches.com