Culinary calendar

Food for Fines in Whitman County - Library users can exchange nonperishable food items for up to $10 in outstanding library fines. All food will be collected through today and distributed to the food bank in the community where it is collected. Nonperishable food items may be donated to library branches in Albion, Colfax, Colton, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, LaCrosse, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia, St. John, Tekoa and Uniontown. (509) 397-4366.

Camp Fire Candy Sale - Sales continues through Sunday throughout the area. Varieties available: Creamy Smooth Mint Patties, Almond Roca Buttercrunch, Almond Caramel Clusters and P-Nuttles. $5/package. (509) 747-6191, ext. 20.

55 Plus Luncheon and Program - The program is on “Downsizing Your Life.” Today. Noon, Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N. Raymond Road. (509) 924-7262.

Irish Cooking After-School Workshop - Prepare an authentic Irish meal, for girls ages 11-13. Pre-registration is required. Today. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center, 1404 N. Ash St. $10. (509) 747-8091.

Festival of Wine and Flowers - Rare tasting of ultra-premium Washington wines benefiting St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. Enjoy fabulous cuisine and desserts prepared by award-winning chef Ian Wingate of Moxie. Bid on both live and silent auction lots of allocated wines, unique experiences and more. April 21. 6-10 p.m., St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, 711 S. Cowley St. $100 by Thursday, $125/after Thursday. (509) 789-4969.

Picks o’ the Month - Sample eight new wines, cheese and La Brea bread. Reservations and prepayment required. Friday. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $20. (509) 343-2253.

The Art of Fine Living - Youth Cooking for Teens and Preteens - One-day cooking workshops for ages 9-13. Sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Friday: Chicken Pot Pie. Registration required. 6-8:30 p.m., Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. $19/each workshop. (509) 625-6677.

Babette’s Feast - Second annual benefit dinner for Crosswalk of Spokane sponsored by the Greater Spokane Dietetic Association. This event will feature 12 of Spokane’s premier chefs preparing and serving a “feast.” Also includes local wineries and wine tasting, music and more. Saturday. 6 p.m., CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point Park, 2426 N. Discovery Place. $75/person, reservations required. (509) 999-7067.

Moonlight Cross-Country Ski and Dinner - For ages 15 and older. Sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Includes classroom session and a hike. Saturday. 6-9 p.m., Mount Spokane. $27 with own equipment, $34/rental equipment. (509) 625-6200.

Wine, Stein and Dine - Post Falls - Benefiting the Post Falls School District. More than 85 wineries and microbreweries and silent auction. Includes food, beverages, complimentary wine glass or beer stein, and shuttle service to local hotels. Saturday. 7-10 p.m., Greyhound Park and Events Center, Post Falls. $45/advance, $60/door. (208) 777-4313.

Spokane Chapter Order of the Eastern Star Breakfast - Enjoy pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, coffee, juice and milk, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, North Hill Masonic Temple, 706 W. Garland, Spokane, $6.

Elks Breakfast - Have breakfast with the officers. Sunday. 9-11 a.m., Elks Lodge, 2605 N. Robie Road. $5. (509) 926-2328.

Uniontown Sausage Dinner - 54th annual all-you-can-eat dinner from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Community Building, which proceeds will benefit the building. German Oompah Band playing at Artisans at the Dahmen Barn from 1-3 p.m. Sunday. Uniontown, Wash. $10/ages 12 to adult, $5/ages 6-12, $1/younger than age 6. (509) 229-3655.

Fifth Annual Crab Fest- “Joining Hands to Protect Children” - The ICARE Children and Family Advocacy Center presents an all-you-care-to-eat crab leg dinner to benefit child abuse prevention in Kootenai County. The event will be hosted by Mark Peterson of KXLY. This festive evening will also include a live and silent auction and chocolate dessert. March 9. 6:30 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene. $50/per person, available by reservation only. Deadline to buy tickets is Tuesday. (208) 676-1515.

Women’s History Dinner - Held at Greenbriar Inn; sponsored by the Kootenai County Democratic women’s Caucus, American Association of University Women, The League of Women Voters, WomenSpeak, an outreach project of the Idaho Women’s Network. Beer and wine available for $4. Next Wednesday. 6-8 p.m., 315 E. Wallace Ave. $16/person, paid reservations required by Monday. (208) 772-7785.

Dine Out … So No Senior Goes Hungry - Eat at the following participating restaurants and a portion of your tab goes to Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels. They are: Buck’s Pizza, Case de Oro, Cuppa Joe’s Cafe, Fiesta Grande, Harvest Moon Restaurant, Iron Horse Restaurant, Jenny’s Cafe, O’Doherty’s Irish Pub, Peking Palace, Percy’s Cafe Americana, Ripley’s Plantation, Ron’s Drive Inn and Staggering Ox. March 8. (509) 924-6976.

Spaghetti Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. March 9. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $5. Reservations required. (509) 926-2328.

Temple Beth Shalom Annual Kosher Dinner - Celebrating 66 years of music, food and friendship. Enjoy an authentic kosher beef brisket dinner including appetizers, traditional Jewish side dishes and dessert. Also featuring entertainment in the sanctuary. Tickets at Huppin’s Hi-Fi Photo, Manito Ship and Copy, Pawn One North and Valley locations, Gonzaga University Crosby Student Center and online at www.pgiinc.com. March 11. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 1322 E. 30th Ave., corner of Perry Street and 30th. $14/general, $7/children age 11 and younger. (509) 623-0372.

Authors Cheryle Hart and Mary Kay Grossman - Presenting “The Feel Good Diet” which explains the latest scientific breakthroughs for harnessing the brains natural chemical “factory” which is depleted by fad diets and yo-yo eating plans. March 12. 7:30 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, Liberty Cafe, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.

Introduction to Word Processing for Seniors - Held Mondays and Wednesdays, March 12-April 25. Presented by North Idaho College. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., North Idaho College campus, Coeur d’Alene. $20. (208) 769-3320.

Outdoor Cooking - For ages 8 and older. Sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Learn about stove use and selection, baking on a lightweight stove, Dutch oven cooking and backpack cooking. Held Mondays, March 12 and 19. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division St. $29. (509) 625-6246.

Spring Luncheon and Card Party - Menu includes stuffed turkey tenderloin, baked butter and spice potato rounds, green salad with fruit rolls, surprise dessert, coffee and tea. March 13. Noon-3 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Church, 4420 N. Jefferson St. $6 per person. Reservations must be made by March 8. (509) 325-0015 or (509) 328-7104.

Intro to Wine Tasting - Class presented by Vino. March 15. 6:30 p.m., 222 S. Washington St. $35. (509) 838-1229.

Que Syrah, Shiraz, Petite Sirah - Sample eight wines, cheese and La Brea bread. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $22. Reservations and prepayment required. March 16. (509) 343-2253.

Taste Spokane Wine with a Bling - Treat yourself to a sample buffet of treats from Spokane’s best restaurants, wineries, chocolatiers, desserts, coffee and spa treatments. Benefiting Wishing Star. The evening will be filled with live music from Night Cap Jazz Band, great food and nine Spokane area wineries, along with pampering spa services. March 16. 5-9 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights. $5 admission. Sampling tasting tickets will be sold for $2. Pampering ticket are only $10 for the first 3 spa treatments and $5 for additional tickets. (509) 744-3411.

“Shamrock Celebration” Dinner Auction - Presented by St. Patrick’s School Alumni Association. Dinner with silent and live auctions. March 17. 5 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights. $25. (509) 487-2830.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Dancing to Rain Shadow. Reservations required. March 17. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $8. (509) 926-2328.

Ferry County Co-op Banquet and Auction - Italian dinner with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dessert included. Silent and live auctions along with live music. March 17. 5 p.m., Ferry County Fairgrounds, Carousel Building, Republic, Wash. $12/adults, $7/children. (509) 775-3754.

Save The Day - The American Red Cross in Spokane is celebrating 93 years of service. A full breakfast will be served, and keynote speaker Neal Sealock, Director of Spokane International Airport, will share his own experiences with the Red Cross. March 21. 7:30-9 a.m., Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post St. $93. (509) 326-3330 for reservations.

A Tour of Spain - Sample eight wines, cheese and La Brea bread. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $20. Reservations and prepayment required. March 23. (509) 343-2253.

Fish Fry - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Reservations required. March 23. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $6.50. (509) 926-2328.

Girl Scouts Cookie Sale - Booth and direct sales March 23-April 15. Varieties include: All Abouts, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Cafe Cookie, Do-Si-Do’s, Trefoils, Samoas and new sugar-free Little Brownies. $4. (509) 747-8091, ext. 228.

Italian Dinner and Auction - Sponsored by Hillyard Senior Center. Dinner seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:30. Entertainment provided by director Jerry Unruh. March 23. Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St. $10/adults, $5/ages 7-12, free/ages 6 and younger. (509) 482-0803.

Easy and Elegant Desserts for Seniors - Easy dessert that can be prepared at home. Classes held Mondays and Fridays, March 30-April 20. Noon-2 p.m., North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene. $20. (208) 769-3320.