Eat Kosher At Temple’s Annual Meal

If the gumbos of Mardi Gras are behind us, and the corned beef of St. Patrick’s Day is still a few weeks away, it must mean one thing: time for another kosher dinner of traditional Jewish food at Spokane’s Temple Beth Shalom.

The 58th annual event - the only one of its kind in the country, according to temple officials - will be March 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the temple, 1322 E. 30th.

The familiar menu includes relishes, challah (braided egg bread), roasted brisket of beef, potato knishes, carrot tzimmes, Mediterranean spiced apples and apricot kuchen (cake). You can get dinner to go, and take-home baked goods will be available at the deli bar.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 11 and under. If you’re interested in attending, don’t delay; the dinner typically sells out quickly, and tickets will be even more limited this year. For information, call 747-3304.

Snack attack

Before yet another Snack Food Month fades into history, we wanted to share the following list of the best-selling snacks in the United States, courtesy of the American Snack Food Association:

1. Potato chips.

2. Tortilla chips.

3. Pretzels.

4. Nuts.

5. Meat snacks.

6. Extruded snacks (cheese curls, Bugles, etc.).

7. Microwave popcorn.

8. Corn chips.

9. Ready-to-eat popcorn.

10. Party mix.

And, finishing just out of the top 10, the always-popular pork rinds.

Attack snacks?

In case you hadn’t noticed, those controversial fat-free potato chips made with olestra have started showing up in Spokane area stores. “Wow!” label Lays and Ruffles have already arrived, with fat-free Pringles on the way. All have half the calories of the regular versions.

And despite all the buzz about nasty side effects, Procter & Gamble reports that recent studies show no more digestive difficulties with olestra products than from eating full-fat chips - although the bags still carry warning labels about “abdominal cramping and loose stools.”

Goodbye, mister, chips

In honor of the final episode of “Seinfeld” - the “show about nothing” - Massachusetts-based Cape Cod Potato Chips is offering a free bag to anyone who sends nothing, along with their name and address, to The Cape Cod Potato Chips “Thanks For Nothing” Seinfeld Campaign, 100 Breed’s Hill Road, Hyannis, MA 02601. (Remember, no double dipping.)

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: We’re always looking for fresh food news. Write to: The Fresh Sheet, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call 459-5446; fax 459-5098.