An incorrect phone number was listed in "What's Cooking" in yesterday's A La Carte section. The correct number for Bittersweet Hill Nurseries of Davidsonville is (410) 798-0231.
The Sun regrets the error.
Q: I recently bought a package of edible flowers and noticed that some were snapdragons. Are these any different from the snapdragons I grow in the garden?
A: Hildred Morton of Bittersweet Hill Nurseries (specializing in herbs and edible flowers), in Davidsonville says that these snapdragons are likely to be the same as the common garden variety and are edible as long as they haven't been treated with pesticides. Other common garden flowers that are edible are scented leaf geraniums, lemon-scented marigolds, Caladium, Nasturtium and borage. Call the nursery at (410) 798-0237 for more information on edible flowers.
Q: Since I am pregnant, I am trying my best to keep a healthy diet, but I still love those snacks. I especially like those crunchy banana chips found in trail mixes. Do they contain sulfites?
A: I looked on a few packages of banana chip snacks and found no listing of sulfites. However, some of the other ingredients in a general package of trail mix might contain sulfites. I did find that the banana chips are fried in coconut oil which is very high in saturated fats and is not advised on any healthful eating plan.
Q: Are different rices such as sweet rice or arborio rice interchangeable for long grain rice in recipes?
A: It is not recommended to exchange the fluffy long grain rice for sweet rice (like the kind used in sushi) or arborio in recipes because the starch content is so different. You could end up with a mess. It is possible to trade long grain white rice for other, more similar rices, such as basmati, pecan rice or even brown rice. Make sure to check the package for any differences in cooking times and then adjust the recipe.
Send your questions to: What's Cooking, c/o Food & Home, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278. Questions of general interest will be answered in this column.