Wednesday, December 17, 2003

In brief

Site for kids who like to cook

Your budding chefs — or even kids who like to make peanut butter sandwiches — might enjoy the Culinary Institute of America Kids (www.ciakids.com) site for budding junior chefs.

Kids will learn the basics about kitchen safety, cooking terms, nutrition and beginning a career. Handy-dandy pop-ups demonstrate techniques such as skinning an onion and identifying equipment like French chef’s knives. The recipes are copacetic for things kids enjoy, salsa for example.

There’s a teacher tie-in. The CIA suggests putting reluctant math students in the kitchen, where necessity comes into play. For instance, maybe they can figure out how many pies Johnny would have if Betsy dropped two on the sidewalk and the dog ate one.

Grains aplenty

Spelt Ancient Grain wheat-alternative bread (right) from Rudi’s Organic Bakery has a rich, nutty flavor and sturdy crumb, contributed by spelt, quinoa and amaranth flours, as well as millet and sesame, sunflower and flax seeds. We also liked the regular spelt bread — not new but its larger size better accommodates sandwich making. A 20-ounce loaf of the ancient grain bread costs $5.30; the regular spelt bread, $4.60, at specialty grocers.

Sausage savvy

We loved the layers of flavor in Aidells portobello mushroom sausages, which mix mushrooms with chicken, turkey, sage and caramelized onions. We enjoyed them on rolls, but they could also be added to pasta or used in stuffings. A 13-ounce package of four links costs $6 to $6.30 at specialty grocers or online at aidells.com.

Brand loyalty

Want to stir up the rivalry for the next big college matchup? Just mention that Fan Brands has made it easier for fans to show their school spirit while tailgating.

The collegiate series barbecue grilling iron stamps your college logo on steaks and chops and chicken breasts.

The iron is clamped on to the grill grate before the grill is preheated. Once it’s hot, you just place the meat on the hot iron for a few minutes to sear in the logo.

Fan Brands also offers a NASCAR and patriotic series. The grilling irons are about $20 each. To order go to www.fan-brands.com.

Sandwich masterpieces

With sandwich names like Gutbuster (bread fried in butter, plus meats), White Trash (anything plus chips), Mariah Carey (cheese, salami, olives, tomatoes, cukes) and Schani Special (peanut butter and mayo), you get mental images of la Tour Eiffel made of lunch meat, then gently laid on a long roll on the I Live on Your Visits (iliveonyourvisits.com/sp) Web site.

Such is the understatement of the Sandwich Project. It’s not lacking in material, just visuals. How can one fully realize the greatness of Albacore tuna with fresh pineapple and wasabi on brioche without a picture of the overstuffed masterpiece, Chinese noodles tumbling to the plate?

Even so, people come, rate sandwiches and trumpet their own concoctions, adding them to this blogger’s Web site. It’s good clean fun, if not fattening.

— Wire Services

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