Other happenings

It makes vinegar resemble apple juice and goat cheese taste like cheesecake. It's so bizarre that I just had share the info about this fruit on our site, it's too interesting not to... I habitually read the NYTimes Wednesday Dining Section and recently browsed "flavor tripping" parties, where guests eat a particular berry that temporarily rewires taste buds, turning sour flavors sweet "The miracle fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa and has been known to Westerners since the 18th century. The cause of the reaction is a protein called miraculin, which binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with [...]

Although it has always been a whole grain, brown rice got recognized as such just this morning as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will join the recognized ranks of healthful whole grains and can be labeled as such. That means brown rice (as we've written about in Uncle Ben's and Steamfresh) can carry the FDA whole grain health claim: “Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers." As you know, our Dietary Guidelines recommend three daily whole grain servings. A simpler way to think [...]

New product preview: This September, Bosch Household Appliances will launch a new Tassimo brewer (see the machine in our February 6, 08 Featured Bite). Seems that Procter & Gamble (P&G) acquired Braun, the current producer of the machines. Since Kraft (owner of Tassimo and manufacturer of what it brews) and P&G are coffee competitors the continued Braun-Kraft Tassimo partnership was ill advised. Those T DISC that we reviewed will not change and will be compatible with both the current Braun and future Bosch brewers. And, I've been told Braun will continue to provide full after-sales service to Tassimo consumers who own a Braun brewer. More as I learn about it [...]

Post your messages to the family on the refrigerator — but not on paper held in place with a magnet. Instead — if you have a new Amana Jot with its dry-erase finish on the door panel — just write that message on the refrigerator door. The fridge comes with a Crayola blue and black marker. And, when the notes (and your kids doodles) are no longer needed -- just wipe them away. Why didn't an appliance manufacturer develop this when my boys were young? Amana Jot refrigerator is now available at retailers across the U.S., with an MSRP of $549.