Good Press

Hostess files for bankruptcy NEW YORK (AP) -- The maker of Twinkies, Sno Balls and Wonder Bread is trying to lose the fat. Hostess Brands is hoping to cut its high costs as it heads back into bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than a decade. Hostess has enough cash to keep stores stocked with its Ding Dongs, Ho Hos and other snacks for now as it battles rising labor costs and increased competition. But longer term, the 87-year-old company has a bigger problem: health-conscious Americans favor yogurt and energy bars over the dessert cakes and white bread they devoured 30 years ago. Last year, 36 percent of Americans ate white bread in their homes, down from 54 percent in 2000, according to NPD Group. Meanwhile, about 54 percent ate wheat bread, up from 43 percent in 2000. MORE Romania's "Meatball King" dies BUCHAREST, Romania (AP (AP) -- Meatballs are not taken lightly in the Balkans. Recipes are prized. Favorite restaurants and chefs are endlessly debated. ...

Last year, my 7-year-old planned a surprise birthday party for me because she learned that I had never had one. She secretly plotted with her aunt who helped her shop for decorations and food. And she got her father to rent a social hall and invite my friends. She wanted to make me feel special on my birthday. This year, my little Girl Scout is working to make a lot more people in our community feel loved on their birthdays. She had the means to throw me a party with all the trimmings -- cake, ice cream, balloons, matching plates and cups, banners and streamers, veggie and fruit trays, games with prizes. She realizes that not every mom and dad can give their children the kinds of parties she has or the party she gave me. We have talked to her about how our local food pantry gives groceries to the needy. Her Girl Scout troop's service project is to donate a birthday-party-in-a-box to the local food pantry. We are going to include all the elements of a birthday party -- cake mix, fro...

I'm always looking to improve this food blog. It can always get better. In 2012, I hope to accomplish a few changes to it. 1. Add how long it takes me to prepare recipes to my post. (This was a suggestion from an anonymous commenter.) 2. Post at least weekly. If I can do this for three months, I am eligible to be cataloged on Blogher. 3. Apply to be included on Blogher. 4. Update the design. That's plenty.

This recipe crossed my path at two holiday potlucks. It is yummy and seems easy to make. I also got a giggle at its name. WHITE TRASH SNACK MIX 3 1/2 cups Cheerios toasted oat cereal 3 cups Rice Chex 3 cups Corn Chex 16 ounces M&M's plain chocolate candy 2 1/2 cups salted mixed nuts 2 cups small pretzels 2 (11 ounce) packages white chocolate chips OR 1 (1 1/2 pound package almond bark) Dump the cereals, M&Ms, nuts & pretzels in a large bowl. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler. Melt very slowly, stirring occasionally, being careful not to burn the chocolate. Dump melted chocolate over the rest of the ingredients and fold over and over until you have well-coated hunks and chunks. Spread the whole mess out on parchment paper and set in a cool place until it sets up, then break it into pieces. Store in zip-top bags or air-tight containers. Variations abound and I've seen Golden Grahams cereal, ...

This recipe is the newest I have added to my Christmas candy repertoire. My friend Melanie, with whom I attend Taste of Home Cooking School shows, shared this recipe, which is her Aunt Jean’s. She said her aunt does it differently than she submitted it to me and I made it still differently than that. What I have written below is what I did and it was yummy. The combinations of the two chocolates and the almond bark coating makes the candy’s taste is more complex than just “chocolate-covered peanuts”. I’ve gotten swoons from the people I’ve shared it with so far. It is so easy to make because a Crock-Pot melts the chocolate. All you have to do is stir and drop the clusters onto waxed paper. PEANUT CLUSTERS 1 16-ounce jar salted dry roasted peanuts 1 16-ounce jar unsalted dry roasted peanuts 1 pound 8 ounces white almond bark, broken into chunks 4 ounces Baker’s white chocolate 12 ounces Baker’s German chocolate 12 ounces Toll House semisweet chocolate chips ( you could use milk chocola...

Scrapbook Expo posted this on their Facebook Wall. I'm sure they got it somewhere else. HOLIDAY EATING TIPS 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's...

The Waffle Hut in Flatwoods has a lot of characters. Yeah, that’s not a typo. We visited twice this fall when we stayed in Flatwoods for a conference. Our first impression was marked by a guy on the phone who sounded like an amateur lawyer. He sat at the lunch counter in the lobby area in front of a coffee cup and a newspaper that I would’ve assumed was a racing form if we hadn’t been hundreds of miles from a racetrack. “That is illegal. I’m telling you that is illegal. Now calm down. Calm down! Listen to me. The cops cannot touch you first. It is illegal for them to put their hands on her first. They cannot lay one finger on her. Now I said calm down!” It’s dim in the restaurant even when the sun is shining brightly outside. The dark wood paneling and booths suck up the light from yellowed lightshades of lamps resembling old gas lanterns on some walls and hanging from the exposed-beam vaulted ceiling in the main dining room. The wallpaper in the lobby I’m sure I’ve seen on my grandpar...