Spicy-sweet start
We liked the spicy sweetness of Post Honey Bunches of Oats with Cinnamon Clusters. Each 3/4-cup serving supplies 2 grams of fiber and 9 grams of whole grains, with 120 calories and 6 grams of sugar. Each 14.5-ounce box costs $3.40-$4 at Treasure Island, Dominick’s and Sunset Foods.
Warming up for winter
“Potpies: Yumminess in a Dish” (Chronicle, $18.95), by Elinor Klivans, is a compact, comprehensive primer on that most comforting of cold-weather dishes. Klivans includes a great variety of pot pies: easy (chicken and parsley dumpling), ethnic (Costa Rican spicy picadillo and plantain), vegetable (onion shortcake) and many more. Some have traditional crusts, others take appealing liberties. It’s at some Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores and online at amazon.com.
Bowled over
Pyrex’s Smart Essentials prep bowls are dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe, with rims to ease handling and brightly colored plastic lids to accommodate marinating or storage; each bowl’s size is imprinted in large but unobtrusive type atop each lid. An eight-piece set of nesting bowls and lids is $20-$30 at Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy’s stores and online (macys.com and target.com).
