Tang

When spring rolls around each year, I know it is my turn to invite the nine other women in my book club to my house for dinner and a literary discussion.Southwestern-style dishes struck my fancy this time, so chilied almonds will begin the evening, followed by a robust tomato-vegetable soup seasoned with cumin, hot peppers and cilantro and garnished with shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Homemade bread and a green salad tossed in a honey-lime vinaigrette will complete the main course. To end the night there will be orange and raisin brownies.

COLLEGE PARK -- The world may soon be able to use genetic engineering or special hormones to make fish grow to market size faster and to increase world food supplies, says a University of Maryland marine biologist who is working to make it happen.Thomas Chen, a biologist and professor in the biological sciences department at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, said that he already has rainbow trout and oysters growing at least 20 percent faster than normal -- and sometimes as much as 50 percent faster -- depending on the method used.

Cider tastes better to me in November than in the earlier months of autumn. It shouldn't be so. Most of the apple cider sold in America is "sweet cider," the juice and pulp of apples that have been crushed and pasteurized. What we call apple juice is usually sweet cider that has gone through a filter. If I were drinking "hard cider," my yen for November would make more sense. November was once the beginning of the hard cider season. It was the time when apple farmers tapped that special barrel to see how things were progressing.

For generations, Mediterranean cooks have combined tomatoes, herbs, garlic and olive oil with fresh seafood. This time-honored ingredient mix has been updated in the following recipe for Mediterranean fish.The result is an easy-to-make, robust fish dinner that is low in fat, high in protein. The recipe can be made with almost any kind of fish.The microwave oven cooks fish quickly so the delicate flesh stays tender and doesn't dry out. The zesty topping of herbs and vegetables moistens the fish as it cooks and provides a bit of Italian-flavored juice that soaks nicely into rice, orzo or couscous.

What's the best way to recast an ordinary steak, chicken breast or fish fillet cooked on the grill? Soak it first in a savory marinade. Basic marinades include vinegar or citrus juice for tenderizing, spices and herbs for flavor and oil for lubrication.While the more usual red wine vinegar adds zip, balsamic vinegar imparts a mellow, sweetish taste. Or choose the sweet-sour bite of lime over lemon's simpler tang. Seasonal fresh herbs are choice, but dried herbs awakened in a bit of hot water are fine, too.Old-time marinade recipes often call for cups of oil, but only a couple of tablespoons are really necessary.

Adding a tropical flavor in salsa to broiled shrimp with a rice side dish makes a meal to remember.Shrimp have a wonderful, resilient texture and a sweet, delicate flavor. But they need a little shot of spice and acid to pick up their natural flavors. The combination of tropical papaya, lime, onions and herbs will elevate the flavor and your prestige to the top of the charts.Although most of the shrimp available are frozen, one still should be picky on the quality and source. I prefer Gulf shrimp rather than many of the Asian imports.

The good part of "Pootie Tang" comes right at the beginning, when Bob Costas interviews the title character, a gibberish-spouting crime fighter and recording star, before the release of his new movie, which sounds to the uninitiated like "Sorrow and the Pity on the Running Time." (It's actually "Sine Your Pitty on the Runny Kine.") Costas parodies his own reputation for knowing everything, effortlessly entering into Pootie Tang's patois (sample words: "Sipi-tai!" "Sepatown!") and fervently acknowledging the mention of each member of the hero's posse.

More than 500,000 people have knee replacements each year, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Dr. Daniel Tang, an orthopedic surgeon at Howard County General Hospital, discusses the purpose of and the procedures involved in the surgery. The purpose of a knee replacement is to relieve a person's pain, restore movement, restore alignment and remove the impairments to activities of daily living. The ideal candidate for a knee replacement is a generally healthy individual who has failed conservative management of arthritis and who is past the age of 60. Persons with issues of diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and obesity have increased risk factors for the replacement of a joint.

What's the second thing you think of when you think of Memphis (the first, of course, being Elvis)? It's a tough one, right? In your mind, "blues" and "barbecue" are in a photo finish. ++ At Red Hot & Blue, they go hand in hand, with a little Elvis thrown in for good measure.Starting in 1988 with only one location -- in Arlington, Va. -- Red Hot & Blue may well be the fastest-growing barbecue chain in the country. There are more than 25 outposts now, with plans in the works for another 100. Maryland has one in Annapolis, Gaithersburg, Laurel and the one we recently visited in Owings Mills.

Stuffed pork chops are common fare, but a contemporary fruity stuffing can lend an exotic element with minimal effort.The stars of our stuffing here are air-dried cranberries which can be found now in the produce sections of most large supermarkets.In the entree recipe, the stuffing not only serves as the starch for the meal, but also keeps the meat moist. Since the meat has pockets sliced into it, you actually have two thin slices of pork that cook very quickly. Be sure not to overcook because the meat will quickly become tough and dry. The simple glaze of jalapeno jelly lends lots of flavor to the pork and is also good for basting other items such as poultry and fish.