Time-tested
The folks at Better Homes and Gardens have a top-to-bottom revamp of the much-loved "Red Plaid" "Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, 15th Edition," Wiley, $29.95), the all-the-basics-and-then-some cookery book. More than 1,200 recipes, complete with 800-plus photos, packed in a hefty binder -- red plaid, of course. First published in 1930, the tome is now in its 15th edition.
Meatloaf, you'll be relieved to know, is still there, tucked away on Page 394. Ditto tuna noodle casserole, Page 236. But red velvet cake got a redo on the frosting, and now it's "never fail" (Page 160). Snickerdoodles, too, were churned through the make-it-better department, and they now store for days and days (Page 262).
"It's a total overhaul," said editor Jan Miller. "Every single recipe is up for scrutiny every single time." A solid 400 from the 14th edition were spared the chopping block, another 1,000 recipes are brand-spankin' new. Even the red plaid was shipped to the redecorator: It's bigger and bolder.
The book is pretty much the take-you-by-the-hand guide to that place in your house where stove and fridge and countertop are at the ready to bring you breakfast, lunch and dinner. And fill the cookie jar, besides.
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Sweet singles
Everything's just precious when it's wee, so we couldn't help but coo over Chicago Metallic's Lift & Serve Single Squares pan. With it, you could plan on baking up lots of two-bite sweet treats and savory hors d'ourves to serve at parties ... or even if we're just baking for ourselves. Each pan makes 12 1.7-by-0.75-inch squares.
Buy the pan for about $20 at chefsresource.com.
A wisp of crisp
Dole and others have been providing shelf-stable 4-ounce tubs of fruit for quite a while. Now, there's Dole Fruit Crisp: "The juicy-crunchy sweet snack you can feel good about!" There are three fruit varieties -- apple pear, pineapple mango and apple cinnamon -- each tub of which includes a small container of topping whose main ingredients are rolled oats and brown sugar.
The pack of Fruit Crisp tubs sells for about the same price as Dole's Fruit Bowls, which come in a four-pack of 4-ounce tubs. Fruit Crisp comes in a two-pack of 4-ounce tubs.
