Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Here’s A Hot New Cookbook

Rick Bonino Food Editor

Putting out a cookbook of spicy foods for people with ulcers might seem more an act of cruelty than kindness.

But the idea of “Spice for Life: Spicy Food for the Sensitive Stomach” is to show ulcer sufferers the kinds of things they can eat again after proper treatment.

Recent research reveals most ulcers are caused by bacteria - not by stress, or spicy foods - and can be treated with antibiotics, according to The Heliobacter Foundation.

“Spice for Life,” sponsored by the foundation and written by Baltimore chef Nancy Longo, includes information on ulcers along with spicy Cajun, Asian, Tex-Mex and “Pot Luck” recipes. Each recipe has a heat rating, from mild to medium or hot.

For a free copy of the cookbook - whether you have an ulcer or not - you can call (800) 761-9809.

Trick or seed

It might seem a little early to start thinking about Halloween, but not if you plan on planting your own pumpkins.

Some friendly Florida folks at the Sandy Acres Pumpkin Patch are offering free packets of 10 to 12 pumpkin seeds, perfect for carving jack-o’-lanterns or cooking up pies. Send a stamped (with two stamps), self-addressed, business-sized envelope to: Sandy Acres Pumpkin Patch, P.O. Box 8236, Clearwater, FL 34618-8236.

Display of Spamhood

Calling all Spam lovers: the Second Annual National Manly Men Festival, scheduled for Saturday, June 21, in Roslyn, Wash., will again include an amateur Spam cook-off, with participating restaurants featuring Spam specialties on their menus. There’s also a parade, tug-of-war and tool belt competition, among other manly activities.

For more information, call Bob Crane, President for Life of The Order of Manly Men, at (206) 584-1400, or leave a voice-mail message at (206) 581-3929.

Bird call

Have a chicken recipe that’s a real lemon?

The best original lemon chicken recipe entered in the Spring Ahead With ReaLemon contest will win its creator a one-week trip for two to Australia, valued at $10,000.

Recipes must use ReaLemon lemon juice and be accompanied by a dated bottle cap, or a 3- by 5-inch card with the hand-printed words “Spring Ahead With ReaLemon.”

Entries must be received by July 15. Mail to: Spring Ahead With ReaLemon, 41 Madison Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010-2202. For a copy of complete contest rules, send a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope to the same address.

, DataTimes