COOL STUFF DU JOUR.

Cheese-stuffed olives

I'm a huge fan of fabulous hand-stuffed blue cheese green olives. You can order freshly made ones in martinis at The Cheesecake Factory - and they are divine. I've spotted and bought them pre-packaged from the refrigerated deli section of markets from time to time and although good, they don't compare to the fresh ones.

Now Mezzetta has added two colossal green variations - Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives and Greek-Style Feta Cheese (mixed with herbs) Stuffed Olives - to the company's product lineup. While they are not quite as good as fresh, they'll do in a pinch. Use them to jazz up cocktails, as a savory straight from the jar, on appetizer, cheese or hors d'oeuvres plates, sliced or cut up in salads, in dips, burgers, meat loaves and the like. Each olive contains about 10 calories, 1 gram fat and 170 milligrams sodium. Look for the olives (about 26) in 9.5-ounce jars for $7.99 each at Ralphs. Shelf life of the jars is a year, but once opened must be kept refrigerated and used within four weeks.

- Natalie Haughton

Sea salt adds a special touch

New in the Lindt Excellence collection is A Touch of Sea Salt Dark chocolate bar. It delivers well-balanced chocolate flavor with surprising bursts of just-right savory french sea salt (Fleur de sel). Chocolate and sea salt pair well if done right - and this bar has terrific flavor. Tasters gave it overwhelming praise. A winner. The 3.5-ounce bars are available at Target and other stores for $2.79 each. Each bar has 2 1/2 servings, with each four-square serving containing 190 calories, 13 grams fat and 55 milligrams sodium.

- Natalie Haughton