Yogurt

What it is -- A puree made with Bartlett pears What we like about it --This fruity alternative to applesauce would be great stirred into plain yogurt or served with quick breads or poundcake. Several tasters liked it by itself, too. What it costs --$3.29 for a 26.25-ounce jar Where to buy --Trader Joe's stores

Serena Fasano loves yogurt - she's particularly partial to a vanilla-flavored brand complemented by a chocolate-crunch topping. Her work on yogurt's anti-bacterial qualities has earned the 16-year-old Howard County high school senior a trip to the regional Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh this weekend. "I just saw something that had always been there," Fasano said of her research, which focused on a protein in yogurt that blocks the growth of a particular kind of bacteria and which could hold promise for the treatment of intestinal diseases.

Mehek 811 S. Broadway, Baltimore -- 410-522-9191 Hours --11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Restaurant's estimate --10-15 minutes Ready in --17 minutes This order of medium-spiced biryani, $14.70, was pricey and the cucumber yogurt was too salty. The lightly seasoned rice was dotted with onions and chunks of lamb, but the meat was less juicy than in other orders. Know of a good carryout place? Write to sam.sessa@baltsun.com.

What it is -- A new line of breakfast bars from Luna, maker of nutrition and energy bars for women What we like about it --With vitamins and minerals to get you moving, these bars are made for mornings when you have to eat breakfast on the run. Try the blueberry yogurt, with its authentic berry taste and mildly sweet yogurt coating. Other flavors include strawberries and creme and vanilla almond. What it costs --$1.29 per bar Where to buy --Available at natural-food stores, sports specialty stores and some convenience, drug and grocery stores Per serving (1 blueberry-yogurt bar)

You could make a case for watermelon as the most fun and happy fruit. Fun? Sure. Just rub down a 10-pounder with some Coppertone, toss it into a pool along with a few kids and see what happens. Or give them each a greased mini-melon to race with across the pool. Later, accompany dessert of watermelon with a seed-spitting competition. And who could find a happier Citrullus lanatus (that's watermelon by another name) than one that's been plugged and spiked with vodka? The United States grows hundreds of watermelon varieties.

The Real Thing Samos Restaurant 600 Oldham St., Baltimore -- 410-675-5292 Hours --10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays Restaurant's estimate --10-15 minutes Ready in --8 minutes This Greektown fixture really nailed its lamb gyro, $4.73. It wrapped just the right amounts of tender lamb, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber yogurt in a warm, fluffy pita. Every bite was an even mix of tangy, spicy flavors. Know of a good carryout place? Let us hear about it. Write to sam.sessa@baltsun.com.

Shares of Martek Biosciences Corp. jumped as much as 14 percent yesterday after the Columbia biotech company said it landed a deal for its nutritional supplements to be used by General Mills. The cereal giant is expected to launch a food item using Martek's product next year, Martek said in a news release. Martek manufactures DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and some plants. Its product, which is derived from algae, is in more than two-thirds of the world's baby formula. Martek announced a similar deal last year with Kellogg Co., the country's No. 1 cereal maker.

Cutting sliced bread into rounds with a biscuit cutter makes this French toast look special -- and ready to top with vanilla yogurt and fruit. VANILLA CINNAMON FRENCH TOAST SHORTCAKES WITH YOGURT AND BERRIES MAKES 4 SERVINGS 4 slices bread 3 large eggs 1 tablespoon skim milk 1 / 4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 / 4 teaspoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons butter 1 teaspoon canola oil 1 cup berry topping (below) 1 (6-ounce) container vanilla or plain nonfat yogurt Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut the slices of bread into circles.

Classic Greek ingredients, such as yogurt, honey and phyllo dough, meld with simple cooking methods and seasonal spring flavors for dishes you'll want to make. Place the cups on dessert plates and fill them just before serving. You can also make this with vanilla yogurt. HONEY-DRIZZLED YOGURT IN PHYLLO CUPS MAKES 12 SERVINGS 16 ounces plain nonfat yogurt 12 sheets phyllo dough, thawed 6 tablespoons melted butter 6 teaspoons granulated sugar 1 / 4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 12 tablespoons honey 12 sprigs fresh mint Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

One of our sons and one of our daughters have recently been diagnosed as having iron-heavy blood - hemochromatosis. They have been told that cooking food in cast-iron pots and pans would be unhealthy for them. A scientist friend told our daughter that this was no longer true, as it has been determined that the amount of iron given off by this cookware is microscopic. Do you know which is correct? Hemochromatosis, a state of iron overload, is usually the result of a genetic mutation that makes the body absorb too much iron.