GOOD TASTES.

FREEBIE LEAFLETS

--If cookies are on your holiday radar screen, you'll want to get a copy of Land O' Lakes' free ``Share the Holidays,'' leaflet filled with color photos and five cookie recipes - including Peppermint Brownies, Cranberry-Pecan Jumble and Butterscotch Cashew Bars - ideal for a cookie exchange or other festivities. Also included are cookie and party tips. For a copy, call [phone], or visit www.landolakes.com. You'll also find answers to baking questions and more tempting recipes online.

--The makers of Crisco are offering ``Crisco Celebrates the Flavor of the Holidays,'' a booklet that includes the best entries from the contest of the same name that invited consumers to share favorite festive recipes last year. To create memories, make the grand-prize winner Apple Raspberry Pie With Cinnamon Chantilly Cream or other winners like Crunchy Coconut Shrimp With Mango Dip or Simple Rosemary Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Recipes use Crisco oils or shortenings - which is OK in most cases - but a chocolate tart filling with butter-flavor shortening is a turn-off - and goes a little too far. For a free copy, send a postcard with your name and address to: The J.M. Smucker Co., Attention: ``Crisco Celebrates the Flavor of the Holidays'' recipe booklet, Consumer Relations Department, P.O. Box 197, Orrville, OH 44667.

- Natalie Haughton

HOLIDAY ICE CREAMS: Add festive seasonal flavor to holiday desserts with Egg Nog, Pumpkin Pie and Peppermint Stick ice creams from McConnell's Fine Ice Creams of Santa Barbara.

Tasters gave them a thumbs-up - all had excellent flavor and would make a delicious finale or dessert anytime. Try the Peppermint or Egg Nog topped with hot fudge sauce. The Egg Nog and Pumpkin Pie will be in markets through December, while Peppermint Stick is now available year-round. Packed in pint containers, they can be found in supermarket freezer sections at Gelson's, Bristol Farms, Whole Foods and selected Ralphs stores at $3.85 to $4.20 each.

- N.H.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH A CHEF: Here's a great gift idea for foodies - or those who want to cook like a restaurant chef at home. La Quinta Resort and Club near Palm Springs has started a new culinary program, ``In the Kitchen at Azur.''

Azur by Le Bernardin, one of the resort's restaurants and a satellite of the acclaimed Le Bernardin of New York City, is presided over by chef Jasper Schneider. The cooking program offers guests, one person or one couple at a time, the opportunity to have a hands-on experience cooking with the chef and staff in the restaurant kitchen and learning how to craft some of the signature dishes at home.

The personalized program includes a day in the kitchen prepping and cooking with Schneider (minimum of four hours of hands-on instruction), a private lunch with him in the dining room, a chef's coat and apron and dinner for two at Azur. A day package is $500 for one person or $650 per couple; with a stay it's $750 per person (double occupancy) or $900 per couple. Information and reservations: [phone].

- Staff and Wire Services

DINING OUT

Doug Arango's in West Hollywood is not a new restaurant as new restaurants are normally perceived.

That's because it's a relocated restaurant (from Palm Desert) complete with the same staff, which moved its resources (along with a huge, carefully transported wine-cellar inventory) into the former Yujean Kang's/Alberto's site.

With a changing daily menu of chef and co-owner Christopher Bennett that features chops, ribs, steaks, pastas and pizza, it would seem to be American comfort food rather than the vague ``California'' cuisine description in its press notices.

Of Arango's 17 regular starters ($6 to $14), which include pizzas and salads, celery apple soup ($6) and zucchini pancakes with smoked salmon and scallion sour cream ($12) appear to stand out.

Among five usual pastas ($11 to $22) is one with a premises-produced sausage called pasta Vanda ($16). Other entrees ($16 to $30) that pop up regularly include a homey shepherd's pie ($16) and a sliced prime Angus New York with fries and mushrooms ($28).

There's also a four-cheese plate ($12) and six likely desserts ($7 each) with listings such as those comforting sweet things, butterscotch cake and Boston cream pie.

Doug Arango's, with a full bar and serving dinners Monday through Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m., is at 8826 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. Information and reservations: [phone].

- Larry Lipson

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (cookbook: ``Celebrate!'')

(2) no caption (leaflet: ``Share the Holidays'', booklet: ``Crisco Celebrates the Flavor of the Holidays'')

(3) no caption (McConnell's ice creams)