A prior year’s winner in the phototgraphy
competition, by Sally Wood.

If you can get there, you’re in for a treat. The vineyards, blooming with wild mustard, are breathtaking. There are an impressive number of fine mustards from around the world to be tasted, along with food from the best Napa Valley restaurants and caterers, consumed with great Napa Valley wines.

Makers of the best-judged mustards will receive awards, as will photographers who take the best photos of the mustard fields.

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is a non-profit community service organization. For information and tickets visit MustardFestival.org.

• Discover the origins of mustard, and the many different types of mustard.
• Check out one of our favorite lines of mustard, from True Natural Taste.

Veneziano from Bodum, shown, is a double-walled glass cup with a handsome stainless steel saucer. Double-wall insulation means that you can put the cup directly on a surface without fear of moisture or heat marks.

If Veneziano’s $34.95 price tag is more than you want to spend, for just $5.95, we love our heavy-duty Bodum “Copenhagen” glass mug. For $14.95, you can get the glass mug plus an insert to brew loose tea (the “Yo-Yo”).

Find Veneziano, Copenhagen and a fine selection of additional glass mugs, cups and infusers at BodumUSA.com.

• Want to learn all about tea? Visit our Gourmet Tea Section.
• Want a heavenly tea experience? Try some tea from the Red & Green Company, the source of our favorite, rare teas. Read our review. 

Ancient tea in a modern glass-and-
stainless saucer. Photo courtesy BodumUSA.com.

Banana Creme Mousse is one of the four
variations of the recipe. Photo courtesy
McCormick.

Pumpkin pie spice and coconut milk is the sixth of McCormick’s Top 10 Flavor Pairings For 2010.

• Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of dried, powdered spices including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sometimes allspice. Though it’s typically found in pumpkin, squash and sweet potato pies and other seasonal baking, it can be used year-round to add a burst of flavor to all types of desserts—and even savory dishes, such as sweet potatoes, coffee drinks, cheeseballs or dairy-based dips for salty snacks.
• Coconut milk is a sweet, milky-white liquid made from the meat of a mature coconut. It’s created by squeezing grated coconut meat through cheesecloth, and should not be confused with coconut water, which is the naturally occurring foggy liquid found inside coconuts. Coconut milk is widely used in tropical cuisines, especially Indian curries and Thai cuisine (a favorite dish is tom yum, chicken soup with coconut milk).

Recipe: Pumpkin pie spice and coconut milk pair together for a naturally sweet combination in this recipe for Mix & Match Spiced Mousse Mini Desserts: Banana Cream Mousse, Fudge Brownie Mousse, Piña Colada Mousse and Strawberry Shortcake Mousse.

For a fusion dish, add a dash of pumpkin pie spice to your tom yum!

• For each 1/4 cup mayonnaise, add 1/2 teaspoon curry powder and 2 tablespoons of chopped pistachios.
• Instead of lettuce on your sandwich, add baby arugula.
• And instead of white bread, go for whole grain bread: two slices equal 2/3 of your daily whole grain requirements. If you want, turn your sandwich into a grilled panini.Then, treat yourself to a whole-grain brownie or cookie from Kodiak Cakes (see the post below).

Turn your sandwich into a grilled panini.
Photo courtesy Sargento.

These boxed brownie, cookie and pancake/
waffle mixes will make you want to roar for
more. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE
NIBBLE.

In any scenario, take a look at the whole grain brownies and chocolate chip cookies from Kodiak Cakes. The company uses all-natural ingredients and 100% whole grains in their cake and cookie mixes. Just add butter, eggs, oil and water to bake healthier homemade desserts.

Healthier doesn’t mean less flavor—these treats are delicious!

If you love moist, fudgy brownies, Kodiak’s Big Bear Brownies sing your song. They’ll have you ordering more to give to friends (we’re already planning to give them as stocking stuffers).

The mix produces a crusty, cracked surface, the crunchy edges that are everyone’s favorite, and a moist center. The most challenging part of this recipe is waiting for the brownies to finish baking while the aroma of rich chocolate fills the air.

If cookies are more your style, then you should pick up Kodiak’s Bear Country Cookies. The oatmeal dark chocolate cookie mix is made with whole wheat and oat flours, brown sugar and all natural ingredients for the perfect taste and texture. What the recipe does not specify, however, is just how big a glass of milk you’ll need to enjoy this wonderfully chewy, cookie.

There’s no telltale sign of whole grain flavor, so only you know that you’re feeding your family better food. Buy them at KodiakCakes.com.

• Find all things brownie-and-cookie related in our Cookies, Brownies & Bars Section—including the history of brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
• See why whole grains are so important to your diet.