Lorie Hutson

No one guessed they were Pringles. The diminutive little potato crisps are reminiscent of their stacking cousins, but Pringles Select chips have their own personality. Tasters were all over the map with their reviews of the crisps, including: Parmesan Garlic and Sun Dried Tomato potato chips, the Szechuan Barbecue rice crisps and Cinnamon Sweet Potato crisps.

Getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables? Probably not, according to research released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. More than 90 percent of all Americans and 96 percent of children still aren't eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.

Grab the spatula – warm homemade brownies are just a squeeze away. The Spokesman-Review Reader Food Panel gave Pillsbury's new soft brownie batter some four-and-a-half- star love in a recent taste test. (Our highest rating is five stars.) The new brownies are sold in the refrigerated section of the supermarket with the other ready-made cookie dough. Spread in the pan and pop in the oven for a taste of traditional brownies without dirtying a measuring cup.

Vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters who are looking for healthy vegetarian fare will find more than 150 recipes that can land on the table in 30 minutes or less in this new cookbook. Robin Robertson, author of "Vegan Planet," not only serves up recipes that are meat-free in "Quick-Fix Vegetarian," but they're also dairy- and egg-free.

Have a recipe for nachos worthy of a restaurant menu? Well, it's time to get cooking. The winner of this year's Fifth Annual Inland Northwest Healthy Nacho Recipe Contest will not only get $500 bucks to spend at the Downriver Grill – his or her winning recipe will be featured on the restaurant's menu from April 21 through Cinco de Mayo.

Our readers are hungry for slow-cooker recipes. Several readers called and e-mailed last week to say they were disappointed that the recipe for the ribs made in Benita and Bob Galland's crockpot, which was pictured on the cover of the Food section, was not included with the story.

Could puttering around the kitchen make you a millionaire? The only way to find out is to enter those creative inspirations into the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. Now's the time to get cooking – entries are due by midnight on April 22.

Dear Readers: After the story in last week's edition about cookbook author Todd Wilbur, who clones snack food and restaurant recipes, I got a call from Shirley Emerson of Spokane. She was searching for Wilbur's clone of KFC's Cole Slaw from his book "Top Secret Recipes."

Chocolate for breakfast?

Inside the Gooseberry Patch's latest cookbook, you'll find a recipe from Spokane. Marie Cordalis shared her Chicken Mexi-Wraps in the new "Slow-Cooker Recipes." The Gooseberry Patch collects "best-loved" family recipes from customers for its cookbooks at www.gooseberrypatch.com. The latest book includes everything from appetizers to desserts for the slow cooker, which was picked as one of the top food trends of 2007 by the Food Network. Look inside today's Food section for Cordalis' recipe.

These muffins must be good.

Cinnabon fanatics might want to stick to the originals, but reader food panel tasters gave the new bake-at-home turnovers and mini cinnamon rolls passing grades. "Now you can bring home all of the mouth-watering aroma and flavor of Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls," says the labels of the Cinnabon Cinnamon and Cream Cheese Turnovers and CinnaPoppers.

Dear Cook's Notebook: I am looking for a recipe that I lost. It was a pie crust recipe using oatmeal, unsweetened coconut and fruit juice. Any other sugar-free, flour-free crust would be great, too. My husband and I are starting Dr. Gott's "No Flour, No Sugar Diet." – Paula Isadore, Spokane

They call it Wine, Stein and Dine, but after the glasses have been drained and the samples downed the result is a boon for Post Falls classrooms. The Post Falls Education Foundation hosts the annual event to raise cash for creative classroom teaching grants. In the past 10 years, they've raised $195,000. Last year, the education foundation gave more than $30,000 to the schools.

S'more purists might want to avert their eyes. Lisa Adams' new cookbook elevates the simple campfire treat into the stratosphere with innovative graham cracker substitutes, scrumptious chocolate choices and surprise add-ins such as strawberry slices, Peeps, caramel, popcorn, Nutella, pear pieces, pumpkin pie, Ding-Dongs, and mini powdered doughnuts. Instead of graham crackers, Adams suggests chocolate chip cookies, apple slices, apricot halves, pound cake slices, croissants, biscotti, waffles and Rice Krispies treats. There's no need to wait for campfire weather. The book includes suggestions for making s'mores on the barbecue grill, in the oven, on the stovetop, with a s'more kit and even in the microwave. Look inside today's Food section for a Sweetheart S'more recipe.

There was nearly a revolt at The Spokesman-Review reader food panel. Tasters threatened to leave and some promised not to come back to the next month's meeting, all over the new Bertozzi Parmasauce.

Here's the cure for those winter blahs: The ninth annual mARTi gras benefit and Cajun Cook-off.

Reader food panel tasters were tempted, but only until they saw the price of Gorton's new Shrimp Temptations entrees.

The Culinary Institute of America is out to prove that cooking like a chef doesn't mean you'll have to dirty every pan in the kitchen. In its latest release, "One Dish Meals: Flavorful Single-Dish Meals from the World's Premier Culinary College," the chefs collected recipes might surprise you. The classic soups, stews and braises are there. So are pastas and baked dishes, such as pot pies. The book also includes sautés and stir-fries, and lighter fare such as spring rolls and composed salads, along with pizzas and sandwiches. There are hearty home-cooking recipes, but plenty of international and creative dishes to keep experienced cooks interested, including Udon Noodle Pot, Curried Eggplant and Lentil Soup, Green Chili and Pork Stew with Potatoes, Chicken Mole, Eggplant Parmesan, Stir-Fried Glass Noodles and Greek Bread Salad. Look inside today's Food section for a recipe that might be worthy of an ambitious Super Bowl spread: Barbecued Chicken Pizza with Fresh Tomato Salsa.

Winter comfort fare like Macaroni and Cheese, Shepherd's Pie and French Onion Soup all make an appearance in the new "One Dish Meals" cookbook from the Culinary Institute of America.

I have acquired a few recipes that call for "Instant Espresso Powder." I have been unable to find any. Do you know where it can be obtained? Thank you, Shirley Schierman

Ever thought of making cooking your career? If you've been dreaming of culinary school, but real life has kept it out of reach, the folks at the Greenbriar Inn in Coeur d'Alene have a new series of cooking classes to consider.