SMORGASBORD: Raising the bar . . . Chopped potatoes . . . An eye on fungi . . . To your health

Raising the bar

There’s a new deluxe ice cream bars in town (well, the U.S.). Magnum bars, popular for 20-plus years the world over, boast Belgian chocolate coats and six options, from Magnum Classic (vanilla ice cream, chocolate coat) to a yummy Magnum Double Caramel (vanilla ice cream plus a chocolate coat, then caramel and more chocolate).

Suggested retail price? They are $3.99 for a three-bar box at grocers nationwide. A store locator can be found at magnumicecream. com.

Chopped potatoes

There’s now a Betty Crocker presence in the frozen-food aisle: Betty Crocker Quicksides chopped skin-on baked potatoes.

Quicksides carry a Teton Valley Ranch logo (because until recently they were Teton Valley Ranch Baked Potato Quicksides). They are made with your choice of five varieties: broccoli and Cheddar, bacon and Cheddar, sour cream and chive, red potato and Loaded Baked Potato (with bacon, Cheddar, sour cream and chives).

An eye on fungi

“The Book of Fungi” (The University of Chicago Press, $55) is the definitive guide to the fungi family — mushrooms, toadstools, morels, puffballs and all the rest — written by two of the world’s foremost fungi experts.

Six hundred species from around the world are examined and explained by Peter Roberts and Shelley Evans. In addition, the authors offer more than a half-dozen short chapters — essays, really — that introduce readers to the world of fungi (“Natural recyclers,” “Plant & animal partners,” “Food, folklore & medicine,” etc.).

Each species gets a life-size, full-color photo; each is thoroughly described, from size to habitat and distribution (maps are included for every species); and the edibility of each is listed.

Anyone with an appreciation of the beauty of nature will enjoy leafing through this book. The photos alone are enough to keep a reader captivated. Throw in the other details from Roberts and Evans, and “The Book of Fungi” earns a spot on your bookshelf, whether you’re an amateur mycologist, an outdoor enthusiast or a cook.

To your health

The Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center is looking for fifth-graders and their primary caregivers to participate in a study called “Healthy Eating and Lifestyle for Total Health.” The purpose of the study is to find out about the eating, physical activity and lifestyle habits of the kids and their caregivers.

Researchers hope the information will help to give families better eating and activity messages and help them follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The sessions will take place at the GFHNRC, 2420 Second Ave. N., and will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each pair will receive $75 upon completion of the study.

For more information, contact Becky at (701) 795-8385 or go to the website http://ars.usda.gov/npa/gfhnrc.

Tags: life, food, smorgasbord