Vanilla Ice Cream

Why is it that food always seems to taste better where it originates?You can't tell a Marylander that a crab cake from Seattle is better than one made from a crab fresh out of the bay. You better not try to praise the local Mexican fare to a Texan. And few Floridians will be convinced that black beans taste good outside of Miami's Little Havana or Tampa's Ybor City.Soon after I moved to Baltimore from Florida nearly five years ago, I went into black bean soup withdrawal. Since then, I have discovered some decent restaurant versions that ease the cravings.

Spooning out tastes of MarylandMaryland may get to be known as much for its soup as its steamed crabs if two local companies have anything to say about it. Denzer's Lima Bean Soup Maryland Style is the latest in the Ellicott City manufacturer's line, while Gordon's, a Pocomoke City company, has several new soups in its "Chesapeake Classics" line, such as cream of rockfish chowder. Both companies make classic Maryland crab soup.Love at first biteThe first time I cut into a loaf of casareccio, bought from the Uptown Bakery stand at the Waverly farmers' market, I was disappointed.

Minty twist in a glassThose festive red-and-white candy canes that hang from Christmas trees and children's sticky mouths during the holidays can have a grown-up taste too. For more than 15 years, T. G. I. Friday's restaurant chain has featured a minty Candy Cane concoction this time of year. The pretty drink also can be made at home: Combine 2 tablespoons white creme de cacao, 2 tablespoons peppermint schnapps, 2 tablespoons half-and-half, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream and 1/4 cup crushed ice in a blender.

Vanilla beans are so expensive. Is there a way to save money on them? Even if a recipe calls for a whole vanilla bean, you don't necessarily have to use the whole thing. The long pod often is folded in half in the container, so you can cut it into two lengths and just use one section. If you use a vanilla bean to infuse something like a syrup, you often can rinse the pod, let it air-dry and use it a second time. If the recipe calls for slitting open the pod to scrape out the tiny seeds, such as when you flavor a vanilla ice cream or custard base, you also shouldn't throw away the leathery pod. Bury it in sugar in a closed canister or jar and let it sit for a couple of weeks.

A malted milkshake can cool down the steamiest of summer days. Malts are milkshakes with a spoon or two of malted-milk powder, a dry blend of malted grains and milk, which makes the shakes more rich, thick and sweet. While they're slightly harder to find now than in years past, you can still get malts in the Baltimore area. We sampled three chocolate ones. BEST SIP Fields of Pikesville 1401 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville -- 410-486-3300 Hours --9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sundays In and out in --13 minutes For a creamier malt, head here.

BOWIE -- Bubba Burger, $11 (pictured). One pound of meat, bacon and cheese in a bun, slathered in barbecue sauce and topped with a deep-fried, cream cheese-stuffed jalapeno popper. "It can be shared by a couple on a date," says Jennifer McGinn, the food service manager. SALISBURY -- The Sherman Gelati, $3.75. Layers of soft-serve vanilla ice cream and diamond-size chunks of orange or blue raspberry sherbet. "Have the blue," counsels counterwoman Lauren Follebout. "It tastes like a party in your mouth."

I'VE MADE THIS fabulous recipe at least a dozen times since I "discovered" it about six weeks ago.It's delicious. I've served it hot from the oven and topped with butter for breakfast and accompanied with vanilla ice cream for dessert.Lots of Blueberries Coffeecake4 tablespoons unsalted butter2 cups all-purpose flour2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt3/4 cup milk2/3 cup granulated sugar2 large eggs1 16-ounce package frozen, unsweetened blueberriesTopping:2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optionalHeat the oven to 350 degrees.

Each Thursday, a member of The Sun's staff visits three grocery stores in the same part of the Baltimore region to compare prices of selected items. Prices featured this week are from grocers in Baltimore: Giant Food in the Rotunda at 711 W. 40th St., the Superfresh at 1020 W. 41st St. and Eddie's at 5113 Roland Ave. Item Amount Giant Superfresh Eddie's Choice boneless strip steak 1 lb. $10.99 $10.99 $14.99 Breyers vanilla ice cream Half gallon 5.99 4.99 6.39 Pepsi 2 liter 1.89 1.79 1.89 All detergent 100 oz. 4.99 4.99 6.59 Kleenex tissues 120-count box 1.99 1.29 1.39 Arnold whole wheat bread 1.5 lb. loaf 3.39 3.59 3.59 Large white eggs Dozen 1.79 1.99 1.69 Fresh tomatoes 1 lb. 1.49 3.49 3.99 Mrs. Smith's deep dish frozen apple pie 3.1 lbs. 7.59 7.99 7.59 Purina dog chow 4.4 lbs. 4.69 4.89 4.99 Total --- 44.80 46.00 53.10

This is one of those simple dishes that comes to you in a flash of inspiration. What better complement to the innate richness of salmon than smoky bacon broiled crisp? Anoint it all with the funky sweetness of a good balsamic vinegar. Serve a simple green salad and steamed broccoli florets spritzed with lemon juice as contrast. Bill Daley writes for the Chicago Tribune, which provided the recipe analysis. Menu Broiled Salmon With Bacon; broccoli spritzed with lemon; baby greens salad; French bread; vanilla ice cream Broiled Salmon With Bacon Makes 4 servings -- Total time: 13 minutes 4 salmon fillets, about 1 pound 1/4 teaspoon each: salt, freshly ground pepper 4 slices bacon 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (divided use)

Cheers for cherry shake Your little ones will love the fruits of their labor when they whip up a Maraschino Cherry Shake. Drain 1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries in a colander in a bowl. Measure 3 tablespoons of the cherry juice and set aside. (You can save the remaining juice for another use.) Cut cherries into small pieces and combine with juice and 3 cups vanilla ice cream in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Pour into 2 (12-ounce) glasses. Top with whipped topping and whole cherries.