Hot in Houston

The winner of the 1996 Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards was “Stop and Smell the Rosemary,” published by the Junior League of Houston. Its most intriguing sounding recipes: Champagne Camembert Soup, Artichoke Cheesecake, the $10 Hamburger.

Bag It

Los Angeles Unified School District has started testing a new milk container that promises to reduce waste. The DuPont Mini-Sip Pouch is already being used in 40 school districts, including Palm Springs. Instead of opening a cardboard carton, the user punches a hole in a pillow-shaped plastic bag with a pointed plastic straw and drinks. The empty pouch is much less bulky and far easier to dispose of than an empty carton.

We see one problem: The user has to keep one thumb over the end of the straw, lest it spout nutrition on one’s neighbors. This could be temptation.