A & E

Baking is a science and for reliable results you really should measure everything. Which isn't always the most realistic advice. So for times when you're baking on the fly or just don't have another clean measuring spoon or cup, here are some tips and cheats from the experts.

Dry ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon equals a chestnut

• 2 tablespoons equals a pingpong ball

• 1/4 cup equals a small handful or a large egg

• 1/3 cup equals a billiard ball

• 1/2 cup equals a tennis ball

• 3/4 cup equals a baseball

Liquid ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon equals an ice cube

• 1 lemon provides 1 1/2 teaspoons zest and 1 to 3 tablespoons juice

Other:

• 1 teaspoon grated citrus zest is about the size of a quarter

• 3 medium tomatoes equals 1 1/2 cups chopped

• 1 handful of greens or herbs is about 1 cup

• 2 medium garlic cloves equals 1 teaspoon minced

Five-spice powder adds an Asian flair

This multitasking Chinese blend combines a quintet of spices to potent and aromatic effect. "The ancient Chinese believed the number five had curative powers, and ... (five-spice powder) probably began as an herbal medicine," Martin Yan writes in his "Culinary Journeys Through China."

The spices create a harmonious balance of elements, Ken Hom writes in his "Chinese Kitchen" cookbook. Hom lists star anise, Szechuan peppercorn, fennel, clove and cinnamon as integral to the mix, but ginger or anise seed are just as likely to show up.

"Whatever its provenance, this spice is pungent, fragrant, hot, mild and slightly sweet -- all at once," Hom writes. This complexity lends itself to many preparations. Hom and Yan both suggest mixing it with salt to use as a dip, or to rub onto grilled foods. The Spice House's Web site suggests adding it to stir-fries, vegetables and rice. Going in a sweeter direction, it could be used in pumpkin pies or spice cookies. When you experiment, start with a pinch; a little goes a long way.

Spices are sold in alphabetical order, but this item is as likely to show up with the Cs as the Fs, because some companies call it Chinese five-spice powder, others label it simply five-spice powder. It's in supermarkets as well as Asian, spice and specialty shops. A jar costs from $3 to $6.

Stainless steel can be stylish and practical

At a certain price point, all high-end stainless steel cookware starts to look alike. And for most home cooks, performance differences will be minimal, too. Which means decisions come down to style and practicality.

A new entry in the U.S. market offers both. The Italian-made Lagostina line, offered by Williams-Sonoma, offers beautifully curved cookware with ample, solid handles welded on either side.

But especially nice are the double-loop handles on the pot lids. The loops create a resting spot for spoons and other utensils during cooking, eliminating the need to find a resting spot for messy items.

Testing of the 4-quart soup pot found it to have a satisfying heft without being cumbersome, even heating and a good size for most daily cooking needs. All of the cookware is triple-ply stainless steel with an aluminum core.

Lagostina's Melodia 4-quart Soup Pot with an olive wood ladle is available for $139.95 online.

Nutrition IQ

You often see "high in ...." or "low in ...." on packages. But do you know how high is high or how low is low? There are government requirements that manufacturers must meet before they can use these descriptions. Here's a quiz to find out if you can figure out the code. Answer each statement true or false.

1. When a product is touted as "high" in a nutrient, it must contain at least 20 percent of the Daily Value.

2. The milk label reads "excellent source of calcium" so one serving must have at least half your daily calcium needs.

3. When a label reads "good source" of a particular nutrient, it is not required to have a minimum amount.

4. Light or "lite" indicates that a product has 50 percent less calories than the regular version.

5. When it comes to sodium, when a manufacturer labels it as "lite" or light, it has 50 percent less than the regular version.

6. Low cholesterol means the food has 20 milligrams or less.

7. Calorie-free can be used only on items that have no calories per serving.

8. Sodium-free indicates that an item has no sodium at all.

Answers: 1) True; 2) False. One serving must have 20 percent of your daily value. 3) False. It must have between 10 and 19 percent. 4) False. Light indicates that it has a third less calories. 5) True; 6) True; 7) False. Calorie-free can be used on items that have five calories or less per serving. 8) False. It means that the item has five milligrams or less of sodium per serving.

Source: "Nutrition for Dummies" by Carol Ann Rinzler (IDG Books, $19.99, 410 pages)

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