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Taste A Brew And Help A Good Cause

Rick Bonino Food Editor

There are plenty of Oktoberfest celebrations taking place around the area these days, but few for so worthy a cause as the “Octobrewfest” microbrew sampling and silent auction at Playfair Race Course on Friday.

All proceeds from the event, which also includes a cigar smoking area with expert advice and stogies for sale, will benefit the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Auction items include autographed memorabilia from such regional sports stars as John Stockton, Dan O’Brien and Mark Rypien, along with Spokane Arena hockey suites, Broadway play escapes, ski packages, jewelry and much more.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $18, which includes a commemorative mug, five beer samples (additional samples $1 each) and snacks. You must be 21 or older to attend. For tickets or information, call 482-2022.

Mash note

So you think you mash a mean potato? There’s a $1,000 prize awaiting the winner of the mashed potato recipe contest sponsored by Inland Valley, a Kennewick-based division of Lamb Weston, the world’s largest supplier of frozen potato products (which just happens to have come out with frozen, microwaveable mashed potatoes).

Send recipes by Jan. 1 to Hot Potato, P.O. Box 1900, Tri-Cities, WA 99302. All entrants will receive a free recipe booklet.

Quake-a-wish

Quaker Oatmeal will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish foundation for each entry submitted in this year’s “Bake It Better With Oats” contest.

There are three categories - Just For Kids (for kid-friendly recipes entered jointly by parents and children), Cookies and Muffins/ Breads - with a $10,000 grand prize. Recipes must be original and use at least 1 cup of whole Quaker oats (2 cups for cookies).

Entry deadline is Oct. 31. For complete rules, tips for baking with kids and recipes, call toll-free to (800) 367-6287, or visit Quaker’s Internet home page at http://www.quakeroatmeal.com

By the book

Seattle area cooking authority Heidi Rabel will sign copies of her book, “The What To Fix For Dinner Cookbook,” on Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. at Joel, 165 S. Post.

The book, which includes seasonal menus, recipes, cooking tips and creative ideas for using leftovers, was named “Cookbook of the Year” by Writer’s Digest last year. Rabel, formerly the national menu developer for Nordstrom in-store restaurants, is an independent food and menu consultant and private cooking instructor.

, DataTimes