WHAT'S NEW? FOOD FEST.

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KITCHEN AIDS

One of the most valuable sources for kitchen accessories specifically designed for the elderly, persons suffering from arthritis, and those with other medical conditions that make gripping difficult is Oxo International, New York. Its entire range of products features oversized, soft rubber handles that fit comfortably in the hand without exerting excess pressure, making them easy to work with. The handles, though, are not the only advantage. Each item is ergonomically crafted to perform its assigned task efficiently and relatively effortlessly.

As the line continues to expand, new entries in the Good Grips category are added annually. A quartet of newcomers fit in perfectly. For example, the Multi-Grater ($9.99) has two stainless steel surfaces--for coarse and fine grating, sits solidly on any flat surface on nonslip feet or can be hooked over the lip of a bowl, and comes apart for cleaning, then snaps back together easily. The Non-Slip Can Opener ($12.99) locks shut to hold the can securely while the oversized knob is being rotated to free the lid, then releases at the push of a button. The elongated oval Bottle Opener ($9.99) has stainless steel teeth to grab the cap firmly as it is being levered off and a hole in the base so it can be hung from a hook or nail for ready accessibility.

Perhaps the cleverest item is the Ice Cube Tray ($3.99) with a sliding lid that is multitasked: It lets you retract the top to expose only as many cubes as you may need at any given moment, eliminating the need to dump out the whole tray when you want just a few; prevents the cubes from picking up freezer odor; and lies flat to permit you to stack a number of trays without wasting space.

As with all Oxo Good Grips products, these four are dishwasher-safe and long-lasting. They can be found in department and kitchenware stores, as well as mass merchandisers.

IT'S IN THE BAG

Try to pour something into a plastic sealable bag, and invariably you find you just don't have enough hands to make the operation a simple one. Try to work with a filled bag while you're in the midst of food preparation, and the experience is equally frustrating, compounded by the mess if you should attempt to put it down while it still has food in it. There's got to be a better way was a common lament, and someone was paying attention at S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wis.

The ensuing product, the Ziploc EZ-Fill bag, is pleated at the bottom, allowing it to expand and stand freely on a countertop in sort of a triangular configuration. The food being poured into it actually anchors the base, so that it becomes even steadier as it fills. The Ziplock closure at the top then can be used to provide a perfect seal, allowing the bag to be stored in a refrigerator or freezer if perishable, or in a cupboard or pantry if it is not. Emptying the bag is equally easy, whether pouring the contents directly out or setting the base squarely on a flat surface and lifting or scooping them out.

EZ-Fill bags are extra thick, so they can hold heavy loads and things like foods with bones that might pierce thinner containers. For that matter, the bags are so solidly constructed that they can be used for nonfood items as well, such as hardware, cosmetics, and laundry accessories. Their gallon or half-gallon capacity ensures that there is ample room for whatever you might store in sealable plastic bags.

MEAT ME FOR BREAKFAST

A hearty breakfast accompanied by ham, bacon, and/or sausages is making a comeback as people get tired of crunching roughage-filled cereals that feel like they're made from twigs. While we're not advocating loading up on unsaturated fat every morning, reduced-fat preparations and balancing meals throughout the day leave wiggle room for indulging in some comfort food on occasion, like with a weekend brunch combining two meals into one.

An old favorite of ours, Chicken That Looks Like Sausage (see "What's New?," January 2000), has changed its wardrobe to some extent, becoming Casual Gourmet Chicken Sausages to tie in closer with the manufacturer, Casual Gourmet Foods, Inc., Clearwater, Fla. The packaging now includes bright drawings of the main ingredients for eye appeal, but the best news is that the latest additions to these low-fat, low-carbohydrate, chicken sausages are as good as their predecessors. New particular favorites are pineapple, mango, and raisin; smoked apple; and ham and Swiss cheese.

Country ham is an acquired taste, since many people find it much saltier than the boiled or Virginia variety. Broadbent's B&B Food Products, Inc., Cadiz, Ky., has a line of country ham that is cured in honey, sugar, and, yes, salt, then hickory-smoked. The offshoot is a lean breakfast steak with milder flavor that is sweeter and less salty, and goes well with pancakes, French toast, and eggs. Add in Broadbent's biscuit mix, Kentucky honey, and country sorghum, and you're all set for a real country breakfast.

A FISHY TALE

Tuna, of course. Salmon, sure. Sardines, why not? But catfish? Of all the fish on the supermarket shelves or in appetizing department cases, the bewhiskered bottom-dweller is arguably the last you would choose to bring home. Big mistake. The people from Antique Mall & Crown Restaurant, Indianola, Miss., can quickly convince you otherwise.

What makes this unattractive fish suddenly a gourmet treat is the way it's being presented. Rather than chunks of fish swimming in oil, there is a smooth, creamy spread with a piquant...