CHECK OUT; NEWS AND TIPS : COOL CUTTING.

Byline: - Daily News Staff and Wire Services

The Jelli cutting board is great for small chopping chores, and its compact size and light weight make it easy to store. We also liked the hip, cheerful colors - aqua, yellow, lime green, orange and hot pink - and price tag: $5. And it's dishwasher-safe too. Find it at Lechters Housewares and Crate & Barrel; color availability varies by store.

Menu memory

A new national survey (conducted on behalf of the National Cheese Institute) on America's favorite ``Menus by Memory'' - meals most often made without using a recipe - found that the top five entrees made at home were (in order) spaghetti, hamburgers, steak, pork chops and chicken. Favorite side dishes were potatoes, salad, corn, green beans and macaroni and cheese. In conjunction with this survey the NCI had three chefs make over the dishes (and boost the calcium) and is offering a free copy of the recipes on cards. The recipes take no longer than 20 to 30 minutes to prepare and require 10 or fewer ingredients. For a free copy, send a self-addressed standard No. 10 envelope with two (32-cent) stamps to NCI ``Menus by Memory, P.O. Box 8517, Prospect Heights, Ill. 60070.

Fresh on the shelf

Hollandia Produce Inc. of Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County recently introduced two Live Gourmet lettuces - Butter Lettuce and Lollo Rossa Lettuce. The products are hydroponically grown in a greenhouse without pesticides and are shipped to markets as live plants with roots intact to preserve freshness. Once purchased (the hard plastic packaging is a little bulky and unwieldy), the lettuce should be stored in the package in the refrigerator - it has a seven- to 10-day shelf life. Consumers then harvest the amount of lettuce needed from the live plant (be sure to rinse it), returning the rest to the fridge for future use. We found the concept novel and the lettuce fresh and tasty even after five days in the fridge. We also liked the idea that this lettuce hadn't been handled by other consumers in the market.

Suggested retail is $1.69 (a little pricey, perhaps) a head, but we think it worth it for a special meal. Look for the lettuces at Hughes, Ralphs, Lucky and Trader Joe's.

Cookbook for charity

``Tastes of Our Town,'' a celebrity booklet produced by the Gas Co., will benefit the Los Angeles Marathon charities. The cookbook features recipes from 11 Los Angeles area restaurant chefs including Joe Miller of Joe's, Felix Salcedo of El Cholo and Sonora Cafe, Rhonda Kite of Engine Co. No. 28 , Neal Fraser of Rix, Mary Sue Millikin and Susan Feniger of the Border Grill, Celestino Drago of Drago and Suzanne Goin of Campanile. The color booklet is available for $5 at various marathon events including the Quality of Life Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center March 26-28, the Carbo Load Dinner at Macy's downtown L.A., March 28 and at the Finish Line Festival (Third and Flower Streets) on race day, Sunday.

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PHOTO (1--Color) no caption (Jelli cutting board)

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(3--Color) no caption (Live gourmet lettuce)

(4--Color) no caption (Tastes of our town cookbook)