GOOD TASTES.

FOOD REFERENCE

Have you ever wondered what you could substitute if you're out of an ingredient, want to use a healthier choice or desire to change the flavor of a recipe? Now there's help in ``The Food Substitutions Bible'' by David Joachim (Robert Rose; $19.95). It's a comprehensive volume, organized by the name of ingredient or item from A to Z and includes more than 5,000 ingredient, equipment and technique substitutions. Also included is a list of measurement equivalents for pan sizes, weights, volumes, metric and altitude baking conversions. In the back, you'll find ingredient guides for different kinds of chiles, potatoes, lentils, beans, apples, salts and more. This would be a handy reference for any cook to keep on the bookshelf. It's mind-boggling to think of the work that it took to assemble this volume. So whether you want to know what to substitute for chile paste, gamonedo (Spanish cheese), galangal, sorrel or so much more, you'll find it here.

- Natalie Haughton

< NEW CHEESE NIPS CHIPS

If you are a fan of Cheese Nips, give the new Kraft Cheese Nips Chips a try. The crispy chips come in two flavors - Bold Cheddar and Nacho - and are packaged in 9-ounce stay- fresh, blue foil bags. Both are oven-toasted and have 0 grams of trans fat per serving. According to the package, they have 50 percent less fat than regular cheese-flavored fried potato chips.

Tasters liked both flavors and the crisp texture, but some found the Bold Cheddar too salty. They contain 380 milligrams sodium, 5 grams total fat and 140 calories per 13 chips (30 grams), while the Nacho have the same calories and fat and 270 milligrams sodium in the same amount. Suggested retail price is $2.99 per bag. Kraft has also updated its classic Cheese Nips Crackers with wavy edges and now packages them in stand-up, foil fresh bags with resealable tabs. The crackers are available in Cheddar, Four Cheese (tasters really liked this one) and Reduced Fat varieties.

- N.H.

SLOW COOKER LINERS DEBUT

Sometimes when products debut, you wonder if we really need them. Such is the case with the recently introduced Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners. The heat-resistant transparent liners are designed to keep food from sticking or baking on the pot, so there's no soaking or scrubbing required. You simply toss the liner once you're finished cooking.

We've never had difficulty cleaning the slow cooker - and due to the cooking process, not much food ever gets baked on - at least in our experience.

But if the process leaves a baked-on mess inside your cooker, you may want to give these a whirl to reduce cleanup. The liners are sized to fit both round and oval slow cookers between 3 and 6 1/2 quarts. One caution: Be sure not to lift or transport the liner with food inside, as burns could result. Each box, available at supermarkets, contains four liners at a suggested retail price of $2.49. Visit reynoldskitchens.com for tips and recipes.

- N.H.

NEW CULINARY SCHOOL

A new professional school for cooking and baking, the Kitchen Academy, recently opened at 6370 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood (corner of Ivar Avenue and Sunset Boulevard). The school, offering hands-on learning, features an accelerated Professional Culinary Arts Diploma in 30 weeks (40 credits) for $18,000. Classes start eight times a year and are offered at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. If you want to work in a professional kitchen and are looking for a fast way to get there, consider this option (if your budget allows). For more information, call [phone], or go to www.kitchenacademy.com.

- N.H.

SOMETHING'S BREWING

Both Arnie Morton's The Steakhouse locations in downtown Los Angeles and Burbank will be hosting a Samuel Adams beer tasting with hors d'oeuvres from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Among the pairings will be Octoberfest beer with small lamb chops, Creme Stout with mini sirloin burgers, and Cherry Wheat with assorted fruits and cheeses. Cost is $25 per person. For reservations in Burbank, call [phone], and for Los Angeles, [phone].

- N.H.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (``The Food Substitutions Bible'')

(2) no caption (Kitchen Academy)

(3 -- 4) no caption (Kraft Cheese Nips)

(5) no caption (Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners)