food and nutrition

With Season Eight of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" in full swing, some fans may be thinking about shaping up with their favorite contestants. To the rescue: a new book that aims to capture the magic of the ranch.

It's the perfect chaser to the organic-foods movement: the organic-drinks movement.

Ding-dong. It's the neighbors wishing you a happy Thanksgiving.

Knock-knock. Your teen-ager's soccer pals are descending.

Yoo-hoo. Now it's Aunt Birdy stopping by before her annual girls-only holiday party.

Stock your pantry and refrigerator with these items and you'll have something to offer unexpected guests:

-- Crackers, chips, pita or bagel chips.

-- Block cheeses.

-- Olives.

-- Dried fruit and nuts.

-- Pickled vegetables, including marinated artichokes or roasted red peppers.

-- Flavored cream cheese to spread on cucumber slices.

Jan Harroun of New Port Richey, Fla., remembers sour-cream sugar cookies from her childhood. When her mom bought sour cream for something special, she used what was left to make these cookies. These are moist, cakelike cookies.

Limeade pie is a favorite of many cooks. Donna Lesser of Tampa, Fla., has been making it for 30 years. She says it's a great last-minute dessert. This limeade pie whips up quickly, but you must consider about a two-hour refrigeration time before serving. Be sure to completely combine the limeade and sweetened condensed milk. This will take longer than you think.

Could the time have finally arrived for roasted bone marrow to be served in every household on Sunday nights?

Bad boy chef Anthony Bourdain calls the Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad at London's St. John restaurant his "death row meal." That's high praise for a man who has eaten his way around the world a few times.

Dear Lynne: You've said on radio there's a way of cooking dried beans where they always taste good. I cannot remember if you said how to do it. Could you give me a recipe? -- Cheapo Cook

Dear Cheapo Cook: Cheap is right. A dollar and a half can buy you a pound of dried organic beans, which when cooked right can make four to six people happy and full.

A plan of attack for other meals during Thanksgiving week:

Monday -- No stress

Q: Just what is couscous? A grain?