Soft sell: Baking butter made by Land O'Lakes

Soft sell: Baking buttermade by Land O'Lakes
Land O'Lakes' new butter products focus on spread appeal. Canola oil has been added to tubs for Spreadable Butter and to sticks for Soft Baking Butter, so they're always soft. Chicago Tribune staffers made cookies using the baking butter, and everyone approved of the pleasant buttery flavor. Neither product contains trans fats, and both have a third of the cholesterol of regular butter. An 8-ounce tub or 1-pound box costs $3 to $4.80 at grocery stores.
Sweet on vinegar
Vincotto, an aged vinegar from Italy, adds a new dimension to the pantry. The sweet vinegar condiment -- reduced, aged and infused with various flavors -- can be used in vinaigrettes, as dips for bread, as well as for cooking. Varieties include plain, fig, lemon and raspberry. An 8.5-ounce bottle costs $10 to $13.
Chicago Tribune
Beans for good health
Add cooked dried beans to the list of foods that can reduce the risk of common chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases and obesity, according to The Baltimore Sun.
The newspaper reports that scientists at Michigan State University, who examined 25 years of research involving dried beans and various health issues, found that eating two to four cups of cooked dried beans a week could reduce health risks.
Dry beans include pinto, navy, kidney and lima beans, but not green beans, string beans or soybeans.
To see complete results of the study plus recipe ideas, visit www.americanbean.org.
Knight Ridder Newspapers