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What: “The Lakers Are Cookin’ Again!”

Authors: Laker players, wives, mothers, coaches, executives, friends, media members and Laker Girls

Printed by: Creel Printing

Price: $20.99

In 1985, after the Lakers won the third of their five NBA championships during the 1980s, the Lakers’ wives compiled a cookbook for charity. Now, 16 years later, comes another one, chock-full of recipes--more than 200 pages’ worth.

There’s everything from Shaq’s chicken Caesar salad to Kobe’s seared tuna to Mark Madsen’s “Mad Dog Madness Sandwich.” Chick and Marge Hearn contribute “Dunking Chicken” and Chick has his own “Mustard Off the Hot Dog.” Bill and Joyce Sharman offer pecan-breaded chicken breasts with mustard sauce.

There are hundreds of recipes. The Times’ Bill Plaschke and his mother, Mary, contribute “Plaschke’s Corn Pudding,” J.A. Adande offers a chicken recipe, and “Mac and Cheese” is what beat writer Tim Brown and wife Kerri contributed.

On Page 213 is a recipe for apple sauce brownies, submitted by Kelly Simers. “Bake at 305 degrees for 30 minutes,” she writes. “This should give you enough time to have two martinis, which means you won’t care how the brownies taste.” If you couldn’t tell, Kelly is T.J. Simers’ daughter. (Editor’s note: Kelly is misspelled in the caption; it reads Nelly. Lakers may hear from T.J. about that.)

Linda Rambis and Jeanie Buss and Janie Buss Drexel spearheaded the project, with lots of help. Erlyn Madsen, Mark’s mom, was among those who helped gather recipes. Others who played major roles in putting it all together included Debra Cohen, Rosella Braden, Melissa Ann and Sharon Hernandez. Josh Rupprecht did the writing.

The result is the perfect Christmas gift for Laker fans who like cooking or eating. And all proceeds go to the Laker Youth Foundation.

The cookbook becomes available at Ralphs supermarkets today at the discounted price of $16.99, or $14.99 with a Ralphs Club card. Or it can be ordered through the Lakers’ Web site, www.lakers.com. The price does not include tax.