Mixture

You don't have to be an expert in nutrition to spot a recipe that is high in fat. Just look for the telltale ingredients, such as butter or margarine, eggs, full-fat dairy products and nuts.Phyllis Stern, 71, a retired homemaker, knew that her husband's favorite recipe for cinnamon nut coffeecake was loaded with the kind of ingredients "you're not supposed to eat a lot of."Her husband has survived two open heart surgeries and the family now maintains a low-fat diet and gets regular exercise.

These brownies are cheesy, easy Combine the creamy taste of Italian cheesecake with fudgy brownies in this easy-to-make dessert from POLLY-O: Beat 15-ounce container ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla with mixer on medium until smooth. Prepare 1 package (21.2-ounce) brownie mix according to package directions. Spread , of brownie batter in 13-inch-by-9-inch baking pan lined with foil and lightly greased. Spread cheese mixture over brownie mixture.

I need a quick dessert for a small supper party, and I know exactly what to serve. I'm planning to make an "Ice Cream Scrunch." The idea for this dessert came to me from chef Bill Gideon of Gideon's Restaurant in North Adams, Mass. I met Bill a few weeks ago when he taped a segment for a local Public Broadcasting Service series I host called On The Menu. I've been amazed at the creativity and originality of the chefs we've interviewed. When Bill arrived for his segment, he announced, "This menu is so easy that it will take home cooks no time at all to make."

Whether you order chicken spiedini at an Italian mom-and-pop ristorante or the Olive Garden, chances are good the benefits of grilling lean chunks of meat over an open flame will be overshadowed by the dish's overall fat content. The culprit? Typically the skewered, breaded kebabs are served drowning in a puddle of olive oil. For instance, one recipe on cdkitchen.com calls for 1/2 cup olive oil. Another on recipezaar.com lists 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. This Grilled Chicken Spiedini adds more zesty lemon and spicy pepperoncini, a mixture that balances flavor with a more modest tablespoon of olive oil. Shopping tip: Look for pickled pepperoncini in the condiment aisle with salad dressings, pickles and peppers.

The highlight of the traditional Hawaiian feast is a roast pig, something few home cooks would ever have the time or inclination to try. You can capture those exotic flavors but skip the backbreaking labor of digging a pit: Thread a skewer with lean pork tenderloin in a Polynesian-inspired marinade with fresh pineapple. PORK AND PINEAPPLE KEBABS Makes 6 servings 1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/4 cup pineapple juice 2 tablespoons sodium-reduced soy sauce 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into 1 1/2 -inch cubes (about 1 1/4 cups)

Tart Apple Slices With Quince Paste and Shaved Manchego Serves 8 2 Granny Smith apples juice of 1 large lemon small container of quince paste (see note) sea salt 4-ounce piece of Manchego cheese, at room temperature Halve apples lengthwise, core them, then cut halves into thin slices to yield a total of 32 slices. (You may have some apple left over.) Place the slices in a nonreactive bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Mound about 1/2 teaspoon quince paste in the center of each apple slice.

Janice Patten of Raeford, N.C., writes that she is seeking a recipe for O'Henry Bars. These bar cookies contained oatmeal and the batter was very thick. After baking, they were frosted with a mixture of chocolate chips and peanut butter. We received many answers to this request. Once you have tasted an O'Henry Bar, it is easy to understand why so many people are fond of this simple, old-fashioned recipe. It requires only a few ingredients and is easy for even a novice cook to make. Among the recipes we received was one from Jacqueline Corsetti of Sebastopol, Calif.

Light, flaky biscuits historically have been the hallmark of a fine cook, especially in the South and the heartland. The key to good biscuits has never been a secret: The butter or other fat must be cut into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender or two knives, to distribute it uniformly. As the biscuits bake, the fat melts, forming tender, falky layers.A well-made muffin has a gently rounded, pebbled top and golden crust; a moist, fine crumb; and excellent flavor. All the more appealing when they pack a surprise, muffins can be spiked with blueberries, dried cranberries, sun-dried tomatoes, bacon bits, herbs, nuts, cheese, jalapenos or other amendments.

Fresh fruit yogurt torte is flavorful and creamy, yet low in fat and cholesterol. The secret: It's made with low-fat or non-fat strawberry and vanilla yogurts. Here's an added bonus: the torte is a good source of calcium -- and it's low in calories.Fresh Fruit Yogurt Torte1 cup graham cracker crumbs1 egg white, lightly beaten2 envelopes unflavored gelatin1/2 cup cold water1 large ripe banana, cut into 2-inch pieces3 8-ounce containers low-fat or non-fat strawberry yogurt3 tablespoons sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 8-ounce container low-fat or non-fat vanilla yogurt1 tablespoon sugar1 pint strawberries, hulledBanana slices (optional)

The sour cream coffeecake recipe that ran in last week's food section was incorrect. Here is the right recipe.Sour Cream Coffeecake3 cups sifted all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt3 sticks butter or margarine at room temperature1 1/2 cups sugar2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla3 large eggs1 1/2 cups sour cream2 tablespoons vanilla and 2 tablespoons water combinedFor the nut mixture:3/4 cup chopped walnuts3/4 cup...