My multi-talented friend and fellow contestant from Food Network’s Halloween Baking Championship – which he won – has been “on a never-ending quest to perfect chocolate chip cookies.” Well, I’m delighted to share that his pursuit has found him a recipe that, after some minor altering, he declared “pretty much perfect.”

Fun things to do on the cheap, July 26-Aug. 1.

When Dorothy Dean and her nostalgia-filled recipes returned to the pages of The Spokesman-Review in the snow-filled winter of 2017 after a nearly 35-year absence, it was like our long-lost surrogate grandmother had returned.

Life can sometimes be monotonous even in the best of circumstances, so it’s a nice boost when an unexpected source of inspiration arises. And, in this instance, it was four.

Readers voted, and Non Sequitur is returning to The Spokesman-Review, with the added bonus of Northwest Passages Book Club hosting Miller on Aug. 5 at the Bing Crosby Theater.

Our picks for fun things to do on the cheap, July 19-26.

This month, the fireworks are not only in the sky, they also are on your plate – in the form of a burger. But not your average burger. This epic masterpiece is filled with Doritos, stuffed with pepper jack, coated in Doritos and topped with salsa, creamy nacho cheese and jalapeños. Amazing, I know.

With a Grammy win for Best Alternative Music Album for 2017’s “Color” – and a new album on the way this summer – you’d think that Beck Hansen, born Beck David Campbell, would show signs of slowing down. Or at least drop a hint or two that he’d like some time off.

Seeing photos of historic sites are often enough for me. I look for experiences with humans.

I am apparently the only one in this house who knows where my oldest son set down the deck of cards he’s been using for tricks the past two weeks. I’m the only one the second-grader wants to play board games with even though I have provided him with five other siblings just for this purpose.

Observed annually on July 10, National Piña Colada Day celebrates that deliciously creamy concoction made with pineapple, coconut cream and rum. It also is the national drink of Puerto Rico.

Full of vibrant Mexican flavors, carne asada is steak that has been marinated and grilled. It’s thin sliced against the grain and typically served with warm tortillas and pico de gallo or alongside rice and beans and can be chopped up for tacos, salads, burritos and nachos.

The Northwest Passages Book Club at the Montvale Event Center on Tuesday night featured author Peter Heller in front of a crowd of about 175 people. Interviewed by Spokesman-Review Editor Rob Curley, Heller dived into the origin stories of his books, including “The River.”

“Are there any good restaurants in Spokane?” the young couple from Seattle asked me, with a slight air of superiority, during a wedding reception in Northern California on June 8. I responded without missing a beat, “Absolutely! Spokane’s food scene is burgeoning, and it’s an exciting time. Farm-to-table dining is top notch, with the freshest of vegetables and fruits. The craft beer and wine scenes are thriving. There are restaurants with excellent cocktails and views to match.”

Peter Heller will be in Spokane on Tuesday for an evening discussion with the Northwest Passages Book Club. The acclaimed writer of books such as “Kook,” “The Dog Stars” and “The Painter,” will talk about his latest book, “The River,” at the Montvale Event Center.

It wasn’t until the invention of new materials, like plastic, that we started creating more litter. In fact, along with the rise of these new materials came the word “litterbug.”

This enticing dish pairs fresh, local asparagus, cooked al dente, with soft-boiled eggs, prosciutto, shaved Asiago cheese and a luxurious lemon-Dijon vinaigrette.