Sweet deal: Baker’s issues chocolate chunk challenge

www.bakerschocolate.com

Do you have a favorite dessert recipe that’s full of chocolate chunks? If so, it’s time to take up the Baker’s Dozen Chocolate Chunk Challenge.

Baker’s Chocolate is searching for the best recipes cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, etc. that contain at least 6 ounces of chocolate chunks. The top 12 recipes will be selected as the “Baker’s dozen” and their creators will receive $500 and a year’s supply of Baker’s Chocolate Chunks.

To enter, type or print the name of your recipe with ingredients, exact measurements, directions, required utensils, timing and number of servings. On a second sheet of paper type or print your name, address, birthdate and telephone number.

Submit entries to: Baker’s Dozen Chocolate Chunk Challenge, c/o Hunter PR, 41 Madison Ave., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10010. Entries may also be sent via e-mail to bakerschunkchallenge@hunterpr.com. Entry deadline is July 31.

For a complete set of rules, see www.bakerschocolate.com.

Tabasco adds smoky flavor to pepper sauce lineup

Smoked red jalapeno peppers over an open pecan wood fire are the key ingredient in the newest addition to the Tabasco condiment line Tabasco chipotle pepper sauce, a smoky, moderately spicy sauce.

Chipotle pepper sauce is good in chicken, beef and pork marinades, as well as barbecue sauces, salsas, chili and soups. Its smoky flavor makes it a perfect addition for grilling.

This latest sauce joins red pepper sauce, green pepper sauce, garlic pepper sauce and habanero pepper sauce under the Tabasco brand.

Chipotle pepper sauce is available in 5-ounce bottles by calling the Tabasco Country Store at (800) 634-9599 or through the Tabasco Web site at www.tabasco.com. Suggested retail price is $2.65.

Hot deals on cookbooks

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Jessica’s Biscuit, a Massachusetts catalog firm and Web site specializing in cookbooks, is worth a look.

The site carries about 8,000 cookbooks, with discounts of at least 20 percent. All new releases are discounted 30 percent to 40 percent, said Owen Hawkins, manager of Jessica’s Biscuit.

Visit the site at www.ecookbooks.com. Or, to shop the old-fashioned way, you can call (800) 878-4264 for a free catalog.

Spreading it healthy

Create your own delicious lower-cholesterol spread by mixing two parts of softened butter with one part extra virgin olive oil. Store covered in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature for perfect spreading consistency.

This spread reduces cholesterol and saturated fat when used as a substitute for butter and it contains none of the hydrogenated oils found in most margarine.