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Wednesday, August 15, 2001
Outside the box

Food tips
   USE FRESH BAKING SODA FOR FLUFFIER QUICK BREAD
   Is the rise of your muffins or quick bread lackluster? It may be time to replace your baking powder or soda. These leaveners lose potency when stored, so check expiration dates on the packages to make sure they still have their oomph.
   If you are not sure, test baking soda and baking powder by mixing 1 teaspoon with ½ cup of hot water. If they fizz, they are still active, if not, it's time to buy a new leavener.

   BROWN CHICKEN EVENLY WITH BUTTER, SEASONINGS
   Lightly brushing chicken with oil or melted butter and seasoning it with salt and pepper before roasting makes it brown more evenly.

   USE TWO TIMES MORE FRESH HERBS THAN DRIED
   Dried herbs like thyme, rosemary and oregano are more potent than when fresh because they have less moisture. A fresh herb's flavor is more complex and fragrant. When substituting fresh herbs for dried ones in a recipe use 2 to 3 times more.

   AROMATIC TEA COMES IN A HANDY BOTTLE

   Luzianne Flavorings for Iced Tea smells more promising than it tastes. We tried the raspberry flavor. While wonderful, fruity aromas wafted from the bottle, the resulting tea was anti-climactic - rather like weak cough syrup. We did appreciate the absence of added sweetener. But we still prefer to flavor our iced tea the old-fashioned way - by brewing it with flavored tea bags.

   DRESS UP SPUDS FOR WARM WEATHER DINING
   Mashed potatoes, one of our all-time favorite comfort foods, can easily be adapted for warm weather eating. It's a breeze to come up with tasty additions to them.
   Try stirring in julienned or finely chopped garden-fresh vegetables and

herbs. Saute the vegetables, such as carrots, and herbs in butter or olive oil; for extra flavor add stock, demi-glace sauce or those old standbys, cream or milk.
   Add thin-sliced sauteed radishes. Their sharpness and color, both mellowed by cooking, are perfect in creamy potatoes. Sauteed cucumbers are a treat on their own, but they're especially delicious in potatoes with chopped fresh dill.
   Other suggested additions: Sauteed mushrooms, any variety, any combination. A gardener's handful of red, yellow and green peppers, wilted baby spinach and spring onions sauteed in butter.

   INFORMATION ABOUT CANCER IS IN SPANISH
   Diet advice from the American Institute for Cancer Research is now available in Spanish translations of several of its free publications. The new translations offer up-to-date scientific information about many kinds of cancer and how changes in diet and lifestyle can reduce cancer risks.
   To obtain the publications, call AICR toll-free at (800) 843-8114, Ext. 18, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.
   - From staff writer Ashley Ream and wire reports



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