Bacon

Think blueberries, and you think pie. But these blue beauties, at the height of their season in Maryland right now, are ready to break out of that familiar lattice-topped role. Home cooks and professional chefs alike have found the berry's not-too-tart, not-too-sweet flavor lends itself to many savory uses. At Clementine restaurant in Hamilton, chef and co-owner Winston Blick uses the fruit in a blueberry-basil salad vinaigrette, in a jammy compound butter served on pork chops and in a side dish of sauteed greens and house-cured bacon.

Some dishes are a challenge to prepare, especially for entertaining, but if they are exceptionally good, they merit the effort. Risotto, the celebrated rice preparation from northern Italy, falls into this category. Made by stirring simmering stock into rice (and often onions, too) which has been sauteed in butter, risotto is not a quick dish. The stock must be added slowly, about a half-cup at a time, and stirred until it has been completely absorbed by the grains. This technique usually takes about 20 minutes, and the cook must stand at the stove the entire time, constantly making circles with a spoon in the pot. The resulting rice, however, is rich and creamy, with grains that remain separate and firm.

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department has decided not to prosecute two Pentagon officials over the release of information from Linda Tripp's personnel file, officials said yesterday. Justice notified Pentagon Deputy Inspector General Donald Mancuso last week that it would take no action against Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon and his former deputy, Clifford Bernath, for possible violations of the federal Privacy Act, Mancuso told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Tripp, a Columbia resident, spurred the impeachment of President Clinton with her secret taping of Monica Lewinsky.

Pork roast is one of my fall favorites. The only problem? A pork roast takes time, which relegates it to weekend cooking. The next-best option for a weeknight meal is the smaller, lean pork tenderloin. It still offers the great flavor of pork, but takes only a fraction of the time to cook. I like to sear it quickly in a heavy skillet, then turn down the heat to finish the cooking. Brussels sprouts, another fine fall choice, make a good match to the pork and can be finished in the same skillet.

County police arrested the head of the Roger Carter Neighborhood Center in Ellicott City yesterday and charged the county Recreation and Parks Department employee with stealing payroll checks totaling $4,330.50.Alan Garard Bacon, 35, of the 9400 block of Merryrest Road in Columbia was accused of cashing 18 checks made out to Anthony D. Coleman, a worker in the county Bureau of Highways. Coleman is named inthe charging documents as Bacon's brother.Bacon, facing 18 counts of theft, could not be reached for comment on the charges.

From the sumptuous cover photograph of green almonds, prosciutto and white-rose nectarines to the glowing praise on the jacket back, The Zuni Cafe Cookbook (W.W. Norton & Co., 2002, $35) is stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey with exceptional recipes and advice. This is a cookbook for people who love to cook. Judy Rodgers, chef and part-owner of San Francisco's popular Zuni Cafe, offers 250 sensual recipes from the restaurant's menus. Rodgers, who received an award as Best Chef: California 2000 by the James Beard Foundation, is a wonderfully engaging writer who makes all 545 pages even more inviting.

If you're inviting company over for the premiere of the HBO Beyonce documentary on Saturday night -- isn't everybody? -- here's a sandwich for you to make your guests, courtesy of Hooplaha.com - Life With a Smile. You can find the recipe and photos here . There's even a step-by-step video. The Beyonce sandwich stacks Popeyes fried chicken, three strips of bacon, hot sauce, blue cheese crumbles and jelly on Texas toast. There's some logic at play. Texas Toast celebrates the Houston native's home state.

Dinergram lets you share images of your latest Baltimore restaurant experiences. Submit your photos via Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #bmorediner, and you could see your photo in the Sunday Baltimore Sun. See more submissions at baltimoresun.com/dinergram. Charm City Gourmet "Seared Scallops w sweet cream corn and prosciutto bacon #BmoreDiner #FoodTruck. " Submitted by user Will C Thames Street Oyster House "Lobsta Roll! #bmorediner #nofilter. " Submitted by user Scott Cover

The nerd in me says books but rest of me wants bacon. Mmm … bacon. Luke Broadwater, reporter, The Baltimore Sun A zombified Bea Arthur would add the celebrity element an event like this cries out for. Anne Tallent, editor, b Break dancing, just because. Wesley Case, reporter, b Bed, Bath & Beyond. Shopping is always more fun with a little Bourbon on board. Pick up some barware and napkins to wipe the BBQ sauce off your fingers.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- They wore baseball caps and golf shirts and, some of them, hearing aids. They talked about wives and ex-wives, reminisced about 10-cent bottles of beer and just laughed a lot. Only the pointed gold medals dangling from their necks hinted that this was a convention of old heroes.There was Lewis Lee Millett, his Army crew cut still sharp at age 77, who in Korea led a bayonet charge up a hill against enemy fire. And Ronald Ray, 56, who in Vietnam shielded his men from a grenade by diving in front of it. And Jack Montgomery, a small, quiet man of 80, who in World War II killed 11 Germans and captured 32 others in a single battle.