Staffers

Each week, Sun columnists and NFL reporters, plus WJZ's Mark Viviano, will pick NFL games (not against the spread). JETS AT COLTS 3 p.m. today VIKINGS AT SAINTS 6:40 tonight Edward Lee Last week: 2-2 Overall: 183-81 Colts Vikings Kevin Cowherd Last week: 1-3 Overall: 176-88 Colts Saints Mike Preston Last week: 1-3 Overall:...

On an ordinary day, Katie Goldsmith would be monitoring political and security conditions in West Africa from Catholic Relief Services' Baltimore headquarters. But on Thursday, with Haitians still waiting for international help in recovering from the earthquake that leveled Port-au-Prince, Goldsmith was working the phones at the agency, trying to find a port where it could begin landing food, medicine and supplies in the Caribbean nation of 9 million. "We've heard that the commercial port in Port-au-Prince is nonoperable," Goldsmith said in between calls.

Once you get past Thanksgiving, it sure seems like a shame to let the oven rest - bring on cookie season. If you're dusting off your favorite recipes and thinking you're a little bored, wanting to try something new, we're here to help. This is a collection of staffers' tried-and-true baked goodies, some classic (like a traditional Hanukkah Rugelach), some trendy (like a Salted Ginger Oatmeal Cookie), some easy (like the Lazy Baker's Almond Biscotti) and one that's sure to impress (the Mushroom Meringue, named for its shape, not its flavor)