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Alpha-Bits, best canned tomatoes, cook's best recipes, quick cooking reference

By ELIZABETH LEE

Alpha-Bits tries to eat up some of Cheerios' toddler market

For years, parenting books have recommended General Mills' Cheerios as a good finger food for toddlers. They're low in sugar, fairly bland, nutritious and easy for chubby fingers to pick up. Now Post is aiming for the same market with a reformulated Alpha-Bits. The box even says they're "rich in whole grains like Cheerios." Post has taken out the sugar and cleared other flavors, such as Marshmallow Alpha-Bits, from store shelves.

What's left is a toasted-oat-flavored cereal in letter shapes that young children will find appealing. But we'd still rather serve Cheerios. They taste better, and they're higher in whole grains than Alpha-Bits. The new no-sugar Alpha-Bits have the taste and texture of packing peanuts. After the novelty of the first bowl wore off, kid testers refused to eat any more. Suggested retail is $3.39 for a 10-ounce box.

Magazine rates best canned tomatoes

The October issue of Cook's Illustrated ($5.95) rates whole canned tomatoes and puts Progresso Italian-Style Whole Peeled Tomatoes With Basil at the top of its list. The other clear favorite was RedPack Whole Peeled Tomatoes in Thick Puree. Expensive San Marzano tomatoes, while tasty, aren't worth the extra money, the magazine concludes. Elsewhere, look for recipes for chicken fajitas and a vegetable torta made with late-summer favorites like red bell peppers, zucchini and eggplant.

DVD showcases cook's best recipes and tips

Atlanta quick cooking authority Shirley Corriher, a food scientist who has advised Julia Child, Alton Brown and innumerable home cooking, is presenting some of her most popular tips on a new DVD. "Shirley O. Corriher's Kitchen Secrets Revealed!" walks cooks through demonstrations of her famed Touch of Grace biscuits, as well as demonstrating how to keep cooked vegetables colorful, stop eggs from sticking (start with a warm pan) and saut¨¦ a boneless chicken breast with the best caramelization (leave it on one side until it releases easily from the pan). The DVD is available from Cook's Warehouse in Midtown, Brookhaven and Decatur, and at Insperience Studio in Buckhead. Suggested retail is $24.99.

Quick Cooking Tips To Build Muscle Mass Fast

In a previous issue we discussed some major, but often overlooked obstacles to weight gain.

You first need to create an ideal environment to encourage weight gain. Everyone has a set weight that their body wants to stick to. Therefore you must make a conscious effort and 'force' your body to gain weight.

Here again are the 6 obstacles to weight gain in order to refresh your memory:

1. Do not try to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time
2. Do not be overly active when you can help it
3. Try not to worry excessively
4. Limit any cardio or excessive sports at this time
5. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night
6. If you smoke cigarettes, try and quit

Keeping these 6 points in mind while changing your eating habits will help immensely.

You need to be eating 4-6 times daily, especially if you have a fast metabolism. High protein foods and frequent meals prevent muscle tissue from breaking down and being used by the body for energy.

Do you know what works best for myself and a lot of other hard gainers? Milk! I actually make my own protein drinks. Here is the recipe:

Highly Effective Protein Drink

• 1 cup of skim milk (or 2%)
• 2/3 of a cup of skim milk powder
• 1 raw egg
• 1 huge squirt of Nesquik chocolate syrup

This drink provides approximately 32 grams of protein and is quick cooking, tasty and inexpensive. At times, I will drink 2 quarts of milk daily with my meals and in my protein shakes.

Combined with heavy weight training, you will grow like a baby! In fact, milk is so nutrient rich that it is vital for people in the early stages of life. It helps you to grow very rapidly.

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