SMORGASBORD: Quinoa fix . . . An easy egg to crack . . . Foam out, paper in

Quinoa fix

No need to be tentative about quinoa with the six flavored mixes (lemon curry to toasted sesame ginger) from Roland Foods. Add water and cook about 15 minutes.

Tasters liked the versatility of the roasted garlic and garden vegetable versions, especially when adding their own veggies to the cooked product.

The suggested retail price for the mixes is $3.69 to $3.99. They are available at grocers nationwide and online at rolandfood.elsstore.com.

An easy egg to crack

If you’re a fan of soft-boiled eggs or just like to enjoy your breakfast in the comfort of its own shell, you might consider splurging on an egg topper.

Egg toppers are meant to cleanly remove the top of the tapered end of the egg. Properly executed, the shell pops off, revealing an opening just large enough to fit a small spoon. No mess, no problem.

A spring-loaded topper looks a little like a mini-plunger, with a base that fits neatly over the egg. Pull the handle back then release; the vibrations should cause the blade just inside the base to crack the top of the shell in a neat line. Remove the top off the shell, and you’re ready to go.

A round egg topper has little scissor-shaped handles and is fitted with little metal “teeth.” Place the topper over the egg and gently squeeze the handles. The teeth will pierce the shell, though they tend to leave a more jagged edge than an egg cracked with a spring-loaded topper.

Egg toppers are available at cooking and gourmet supply stores, as well as online. Prices vary: A spring-loaded one will cost about $20; the round model, $5 to $10.

Foam out, paper in

McDonald’s recently confirmed that it is taking a major step toward possible phaseout of polystyrene foam beverage cups. (Polystyrene cups are not commonly recycled.)

The company recently said “McDonald’s is currently testing a double-walled fiber hot cup, as the company continues to seek more environmentally sustainable solutions. The test is in approximately 2,000 restaurants in the U.S., primarily on the West Coast. The objective of this test is to assess customer acceptance, operational impact and overall performance.”

Tags: egg toppers, life, updates, food, smorgasbord, quinoa