Brownies for Mom's day or any celebration

If you're searching for a delicious Mother's Day gift or a treat for a special occasion, look no farther than Ellicott City, where stay-at-home moms Joann Francavilla and Linda Lawrence have come up with the most delectable brownies I've ever seen. These chocolate squares feature a truffle-like base topped with a creamy layer of raspberry, espresso or creme de menthe. A dozen of the brownies cost $12 and are prettily arranged on a gold-scalloped platter wrapped in festive cellophane and colorful ribbon. Larger amounts and sampler boxes also are available. Call 410-418-8582 to place an order.

A taste of Tuscany

In "Bella Tuscany" (Broadway, 1999), Frances Mayes celebrates the Italian region with lyrical prose and recipes from her Tuscan kitchen. It's not a cookbook, but you'll find such tempting dishes as Zucchini With Mint: Thinly slice or grate 8 slender zucchini. If you grate, squeeze out the liquid. Quickly saute in hot olive oil with some minced garlic. Stir in chopped parsley and mint, season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Hot tip on baking

Fleischmann's Yeast offers this baking tip: Run hot tap water over the outside of a stainless-steel mixing bowl for a few seconds before making bread. The warmed bowl will help the water used in the recipe to activate the yeast at the proper temperature.

Pub Date: 04/21/99