Shanks available at meat market

The tendency for more and more meat to arrive in stores pre-packaged has reduced the availability of many old-fashioned specialty cuts, but readers did find beef shanks locally for Lois Growney. Julie Kisosondi e-mailed that she gets them at Larry's Great Western Meats, 420 S. Valley View Blvd., and Jan Bartholomew that she found them at Food 4 Less at 2225 Las Vegas Blvd. North. ...

For the Swedish limpa bread George Oliver is seeking, Susan Kallen suggested two sources cited six years ago in Taste of the Town, www.andersonbutik.com (or call 800-782-4132) for the bread, or www.sturdiwheat.com (or call 800-201-9650) for bread mix. ...

For the wheat nuts Sharon Adams is seeking, Linda Hubeny recommended www.wheatnuts.com (or call 800-328-0291). ...

More on natural-sugar soft drinks: Our item last week clearly struck a chord with a lot of readers, who have more suggestions for sources.

Cheryl Anne Yuhasz said the house brand -- "365" -- soft drinks at Whole Foods Markets all contain no high-fructose corn syrup, and she said there are lots of good flavors and at a good price, to boot. Gabe Judkins recommended Izze soda, which he said can be found at Vons and other supermarkets. Mike Price, who said he's an Australian living in Las Vegas, suggested Jarritos sodas in the Hispanic sections of most local supermarkets; Thomas Kemper sodas, also at most supermarkets; Jones Soda, at Wal-Mart; Mexican Coke in 18-packs at Sam's Club (and another reader suggested Costco in Summerlin) and individual bottles in the Hispanic section of some Wal-Marts; Australian Bundaberg Ginger Beer and other sodas (particularly ginger beers and root beers) at Cost Plus World Market (2151 N. Rainbow Blvd. and 3890 Blue Diamond Road); and other brands at Whole Foods, which has four stores in the valley.

Additionally, Melanie Miller of the Sugar Associations e-mailed that readers can find soft drinks made with sugar at www.sugar.org/ebusiness, and Joelle Karonis e-mailed that readers concerned about what's in their soft drinks should look into the Sodastream Home Soda Maker, which she said can be found at some Kohl's stores and online at www.sodastreamusa.com. As an alternative to that company's half-sugar/half-Splenda syrups, she said, readers can use shaved-ice syrups. ...

Reader requests: Charles Burke is looking for cut rock candy, hard Christmas candies with designs in the center. ...

Patrick Verfurth is looking for Good Seasons Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Salad Dressing, which he used to get at Albertsons. ...

Olive M. Burke is looking for frozen hush puppies. ...

Kathleen Brady is looking for fresh, full cardamom pods sold in bulk. ...

Travis G. Brady is looking for a local source for homemade seafood ravioli. ...

And Cris Zeniuk is looking for reader suggestions for the best chicken shawarma in town. ...

Readers?

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