Dishes range from spicy Somalian

tea to a pungent Afghan relish and from Cuban roast pork to Kurdish rice

bryani; all are easy to replicate using easy-to-find ingredients.

The book by Michigan writers

and photographers Vincent Delgado, Jeremy Herliczek and Becky Shink is

designed to raise awareness of refugee issues. Part of the proceeds are

earmarked for mid-Michigan refugee resettlement efforts.

Filled with color and sepia-toned

photos, the attractive 93-page softcover volume can be purchased online

at www.A-Taste-of-Freedom.com for $14.99 plus tax, shipping and handling.

Chippin' on the Ritz

Ritz Crackers are venturing

into chip territory, and we liked the thin, crispy wedges (right). That

said, their appeal seems to depend on how much you like the crackers.

(Most of us do.) Three flavors - original, Cheddar and sour cream

and onion - are offered. A 9-ounce bag costs $3.

Puppy love

If you're looking for

a tasty treat for Fido, here's a cookbook to consult. "Throw

Me A Bone: 50 Healthy, Canine Taste-Tested Recipes for Snacks, Meals and

Treats" (Simon & Schuster, $19.95) is Cooper Gillespie's

(a Welsh springer spaniel) musings on how to make good, homemade dog food,

written, of course, by his owner Susan Orlean ("The Orchard Thief").

Recipes range from Pawcakes

to Breath-Sweetening Biscuits to Poochie's Pasta Primavera, and there's

even one for Sushi.

According to the book, the

recipes have been approved by dog trainer and nutritional consultant Stacy

Alldredge. But if cooking for the dog isn't your thing, you'll

still appreciate the cool dog photography in this book. Woof.

Steel yourself

Calphalon's Contemporary

Stainless knives are stainless steel from the tip of the blade to the

top of the handle; they have a good heft, feel great in your hand and

perform very well. What's more, the handles are labeled at the top

(8" chef, for example) so there's no guesswork when you reach

for one from the wooden block. Open-stock knives are $20-$70 each at Linens

'N' Things; sets sold with wooden blocks are also sold at the

store and online at cooking.com (or call 800-663-8810).

- Wire Services

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