Fat

A national chain of cosmetic medical clinics that popularized anti-fat injections denounced by medical groups shut its doors last week in the wake of dozens of complaints from consumers asking for their money back. The chain, Fig., with headquarters in St. Louis, ceased operations Dec. 7 for economic reasons, according to the company's Web site. Fig. had operated 15 offices in seven states that promoted a series of injections, at a cost of about $2,000 per body part, to reduce fat deposits on areas such as the thighs and abdomen.

Commercial bakers have gotten surprisingly good at eliminating fat and still coming up with a nice texture.The best fat-busters in the home cook's arsenal are fruit purees. They are fairly dense and moist and can substitute for all or part of the fat.When using fruit purees, select strong flavors such as prunes for spicier batters. Enhance brownies with the softer flavor of applesauce, which will not compete with the cocoa. Pair rich flavors with complementary flavors, such as raspberry and chocolate.

I want to make a roux without fat. Will it be possible to do so in a Teflon-coated pan? The very definition of roux, a French word meaning reddish, is flour cooked in fat. Traditionally, half butter and half flour are used. Other kinds of fats, such as vegetable oil, can be substituted, but the flavor will be inferior. Extra-virgin olive oil may be a more healthful choice while also imparting its own flavor. Whether you use a coated pan or bare metal pan, some fat will be necessary. The roux is used to make sauces, and the cooking time depends on what kind of sauce is desired.

Q: As I was consuming large amounts of a French baguette the other day, I began to wonder whether flour contains any fat.A: The flour in a French baguette is generally all-purpose white flour, which is very low in fat, only 1 gram per 4 ounces. Since French baguettes are traditionally made without added shortening, butter or oil, your meal of bread was very low-fat. Something made with corn flour or brown rice flour, on the other hand, would have a higher fat content.Q: Why do my meringues sometimes shrink after being baked?

Are you ready for the Chinese challenge? A recent study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest stunned health-conscious consumers by blowing the lid off the low-fat-Chinese-food myth.Laboratory analysis showed dinner-sized portions of typical Chinese-restaurant meals contained up to 1,600 calories and 76 grams of fat.If you've relied on studies from China proclaiming their cuisine among the world's healthiest, you're probably confused and dismayed.But before you abandon your favorite restaurants and carryouts, take a perspective break.

Heart-healthy eating can be delicious, but it can also be a challenge.It means learning a new culinary vocabulary, new techniques, a whole new way of thinking in the kitchen, in the grocery store, in the cafeteria at work, in a restaurant."

In an article in yesterday's A La Carte section, the phone number for cookbook author's Lynn Fischer's catalog was incorrect. The correct number is (800) 835-2867.The Sun regrets the error.No need to think big when you're trying to pare fat from your diet, according to Lynn Fischer: "What works best is a lot of little things," says the cookbook author and TV cooking show host. "Drink milk that's skim -- if you have a problem with the taste, mix it with one of the nonfat creamers. Don't give up on low-fat products because you haven't liked them in the past -- there's low-fat Brie from France now that has half the fat of regular."

If you're getting a little tired of the typical family routine of ground something one night, chicken breasts the next night, and takeout another night, you might want to try these fish bundles. These fish fillets also answer the "dinner in minutes" call and varieties can be switched around according to what's fresh at the market and on sale.These baked packages are basically fat-free and are flavored with the character of the Yucatan peninsula. Pair them with some spicy beans to which barbecue sauce can be added for some extra zing.

Recently, I offered you 25 fat-cutting tips. You loved it, and many of you told me so. Since I respond well to positive reinforcement, I scurried around and found about 20 more tips that I think are really usable.These ideas work. Give them a try. If you've got a favorite you'd like to share, send it to me in care of The Sun, and I'll pass it along to our readers. Here's my newest list:* Create a distinctive salad that requires little dressing by adding lots of fresh herbs. Fresh chives, dill, cilantro, parsley, thyme and oregano add new dimensions to the same old vegetables.

MY FAVORITE part of the Lenten experience was yesterday, Fat Tuesday, the day when some folks gorge themselves before beginning the 40 days of penitence that precede Easter.While I have never been much on penitence, I have been a lifelong fan of Fat Tuesday. In the house where I grew up in St. Joseph, Mo., all the kids stopped eating candy during Lent. My brothers and I would ready ourselves for 40 days without Tootsie Rolls by engaging in a bout of what we regarded as libertine behavior.