The Book on Cooking Contests

“As Good as Gold: Grand Prize Recipes From America’s Cooking Contests,” by Linda Davis-O’Brien (published by As Good As Gold, St. Michaels, Md.), gives more than 150 recipes that won prizes at contests--everything from the Pillsbury Bake-Off to the National Pineapple Cooking Classic. But that’s not all; it also contains chapters on recipe contest history and trivia, and . . . information on how to win recipe contests. In book stores.

Bag That Coffee

In case you haven’t noticed, the latest convenience idea is coffee bags, which are just like tea bags only . . . well, you know. Maxwell House’s Filter Pack Singles, for instance, are filled with a mixture of ground coffee and instant coffee. Another line, Cafe de Todd Gourmet Coffee Singles, is made entirely from ground coffee, with no instant, so it’s more aromatic when you open the foil packet. Neither will replace espresso, but there are a lot of occasions (such as hiking) where you can’t exactly carry an espresso machine. In supermarkets.

My Own Private Switzerland

If the idea of making your own cheese has ever occurred to you, you’ll find this catalogue fascinating. It offers kits for making simple things like mascarpone (the rich tiramisu cheese) or fromage blanc (for the luscious French dessert coeur a la creme ), on up to hard cheeses like Cheddar, Stilton or even Swiss--complete with holes. (Hard cheeses require much more commitment; you’ve got to get a cheese press, which runs $199.95.) There are also starters and equipment for making yogurt, kefir, creme fraiche and buttermilk. “Catalog of Supplies for Cheese Making” catalogue is $1 from New England Cheesemaking Supply Co., 85 Main St., Ashfield, Mass. 01330-0085.

Alaskan Bacon

Health Sea, Inc. markets Silverbow salmon “ham,” alderwood-smoked so it tastes like Canadian bacon (well, plus a little salmon flavor), only with the health advantages of fish, such as a total of 1% fat. The regular salmon ham comes in a collagen casing that makes it look just like a baby ham; the deli style uses a different casing which allows it to receive kosher certification from the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Available at Hughes, Bristol Farms and Phil’s markets.

Answer Time

Answers to your top questions about recent Newsbites: Where to get Evert-Fresh vegetable bags? For the moment, health food stores such as Whole Foods Stores. Where to get the Bonny pepper mill? Target Stores. Why we gave SAUCES1, the (800) number of Specialty Sauces’ (barbecue and Mexican sauces from famous restaurants), as 728-1271 instead of 728-2371? Might have been an aftershock.