Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2014 i Good Housekeeping

7,625 That's the total number of inches measured in our shrinkage test, above, to help determine how well 28 pairs of PJs held up to laundering. See which were the stuff of dreams, page 27. We do something that no other magazine does… If any product that has earned our Seal is defective, we'll replace it or refund your money—just notify us within two years of purchase (see details at right). DIRECTOR Miriam Arond TECHNICAL MANAGER & ENGINEERING DIRECTOR Rachel Rothman FOOD DIRECTOR Susan Westmoreland FOOD ASSOCIATE FOOD EDITOR Catherine Lo ASSOCIATE FOOD EDITOR Erin Phraner ASSISTANT FOOD EDITOR Sherry Rujikarn EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katie Holdefehr NUTRITION NUTRITION DIRECTOR Samantha B. Cassetty, M.S., R.D. HOME HOME APPLIANCES, CLEANING PRODUCTS & TEXTILES DIRECTOR Carolyn E. Forté SENIOR PRODUCT ANALYST, HOME CARE Christina…

My Smart Solution "I freeze leftover herbs in olive oil so they don't go to waste. Pull off the leaves and place in an ice cube tray, then fill each slot with 1 Tbsp. oil. Stick in freezer overnight, then transfer cubes to a resealable freezer bag. When ready to use, toss a few cubes into a pan!" —SHERI SILVER, 50, IRVINGTON, NY Reader Feedback Too-Hot Topics Last month we offered tips for making it through the holidays without family spats. What's verboten around your dinner table? 46% ANYTHING ABOUT MONEY 19% HOW TO RAISE KIDS 24% POLITICS (WE DON'T GO THERE) 11% RELIGION! IT'S A NO-BRAINER Tell us what you think about the people and issues that matter most to you. Go to facebook.com/goodhousekeeping. Your Best Tips For… Keeping…

Try these gotta-have app picks for simpler shopping, better networking, smarter snacking, and more ORGANIZE ME EASILYDO Meet your new personal assistant—in digital form. EasilyDo can perform all kinds of uber-helpful tasks, like checking the traffic before you leave work each night, tracking packages, and providing birthday reminders. Free PAPERKARMA This app helps eliminate catalogs, credit card offers, flyers, and more from your mailbox. Snap a photo of the unwanted items on your smartphone, and PaperKarma will alert you when it puts through your request to unsubscribe. Free Cut back on junk mail clutter ANY.DO Got five minutes? Wrangle your to-do list (errands, calls, and more) for today, tomorrow, or a later date with this smart app. Bonus: You get Kiip rewards (say, a $2 credit toward an Amazon MP3)…

IF UNDEREYE BAGS suddenly seem more noticeable against your pale winter skin, swipe on Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles ($10, drugstores). It's moisturizing, our lab tests showed, so it's unlikely to cake or settle into fine lines, and its sponge tip allows for easy application. For an extra-brightening effect, apply a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone under foundation. Beauty and fashion tips, trends & deals p. 59 Fashion upgrade: 4 finds, 12 outfits! p. 42 Ace skin softener— in your kitchen p. 47 7 weeks to a younger, slimmer you p. 45 Found: three great complexion correctors…

Shawna Doyle AGE 36 HEIGHT 5' 8" POUNDS LOST IN 7 WEEKS 19 (shown here) TOTAL POUNDS LOST 30 HER CHALLENGE Finding time to make her health a priority. Doyle has two daughters, ages 3 and 5. "I gained 50 pounds with each pregnancy, and everything took a backseat to being a mom," says the human resources program manager. STRIKING A BALANCE Makeup artist Sue Pike, who worked with each of these women, added smoky drama to Doyle's eyes, then offset the look with a neutral lip color. "Heavily made-up eyes, lips, and cheeks age you," Pike explains. "Pick one feature to emphasize, and stick with it." Another anti-aging Pike-ism: Choose a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer. Heavy cover-up can cake and highlight lines, making you look older. THE…

POPEYE KEPT IN SHAPE with spinach, but to bolster your defenses, fork up some broccoli. The veggie helps prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; now a new U.K. study has uncovered how. The compound glucoraphanin, found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, "retunes" cells so they can better defend against illness. Need more munching motivation? Other research suggests that a derivative of glucoraphanin (sulforaphane) may help delay arthritis. p. 71 Real-life stay-calm tips p. 75 Sniff your way to diet success p. 66 Give cancer the brush-off p. 77 Tested: tasty gluten-free snacks…

ONE FALL DAY, I was getting my daughters ready for a new playgroup, and I insisted they wear the outfits I'd chosen—plaid shorts, crisp blouses with ruffles, and matching hair bows. I was anxious because I wanted to make a good impression—we had just moved to the neighborhood. So when Natalie, then 6, protested, "We're just going to the park, Mama. Can't we wear play clothes?" I refused. Wanting us all to look perfect, I went into drill-sergeant mode, barking, "No, you're wearing this!" She and her sister, Avery, cried, pleading with me for us to just stay home. Stretched way too thin I wish I could say that incident helped me see that I had let my need to be the ideal wife and mother get out of control.…

Here's something to add to your list of New Year's resolutions: When stress hits in 2014, get relief by falling back on a healthy ritual. New research from the University of Southern California finds that people are just as likely to revert to positive habits (e.g., a daily power walk) as they are to negative ones (e.g., pigging out on cookies). "Stress causes us not so much to act badly, but to act habitually," says lead study author David Neal, Ph.D. "That means developing and reinforcing healthy routines now will reap dividends when times get tough." Pencil in that workout today. p. 85 Need a mood-booster? Here, 11 p. 88 Cell phone no-no's p. 97 Cash vanishing due to fees? Not anymore! p. 92 Luke Bryan gets romantic Real women,…

SOME PEOPLE HAVE all the luck—and it's high time that you became one of them. I'm not talking about windfalls like winning the lottery or discovering a priceless Monet at a garage sale. I'm talking about the kind of luck that can snag you the right job, partner, or apartment—the kind that makes everyday life happier and helps you thrive. The truth about this kind of luck is…that luck has very little to do with it. What does matter: becoming master of your own fate using these strategies. 1. Forge a new path The more you attend events where you don't know a soul, dare to travel by yourself, or simply talk to a stranger in a coffee line, the luckier you'll be, says Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., a professor of…

THERE ARE SOME RESOLUTIONS we make and break year after year. (Losing my extra five pounds of baby weight? My kid is 7, and those pounds aren't budging.) But there is one resolution we can all rally behind this year: Stop paying fees. Did you know that the average checking account has 30 fees you can be assessed? Or that the typical cost of a one-way flight has gone up nearly 30% since 2008, largely because of add-on charges? Between fees for banking and travel and those for cell phone and other services, you can lose more than $1,000 a year. Here's how to put that money back where it belongs—in your wallet—over the 12 months ahead. Bank Fees EVEN THOUGH THE Federal Reserve has prohibited automatic overdraft enrollment for…

Six apps that'll make your space more stylish and efficient 1 Rethink Your Layout Wait! Before you lift the sofa, try Home Design 3D Free (iOS only). Input a room's dimensions and floor plan, select furniture icons to create a 3-D visualization of the area, and then move the pieces around to try out a new scheme. 2 Pick a Palette Turn your mood board into reality with Benjamin Moore's Color Capture, which suggests hues from the company's catalog to match any image on your smartphone. 3 Go Greener You know what to do with paper and plastic, but what about your other recyclables? Let iRecycle point you toward the best local spot to drop off hard-to-dispose-of items like household chemicals and more. 4 Cut Energy Costs Plug information about…

Hot stuff! Go spicier (or milder) on these delicious dinners, all simmered in the must-have appliance PHILLY-STYLE Pulled Beef Sandwiches We slenderized these cheesesteak subs by 386 calories each by discarding all the fat when shredding the meat. Not a jalapeño fan? Spicy pickles can dial down the heat. Recipe, page 129 MEDITERRANEAN Beef Stew Dried apricots sweeten this coriander-spiked classic, but dried dates or golden raisins will also do the trick. Serve over couscous and save 5 minutes. Recipe, page 133 RED ALERT Amp up the crushed red pepper to 3 tsp. for bigger, bolder taste TANGY Chicken Cacciatore Pickled cherry peppers give this satisfying dish its kick. Other ways to add to the oomph: Swap in ? cup drained pepperoncini or 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Recipe, page…

TEST KITCHEN TIP For the creamiest cup, always use hot milk when mixing cocoa, even if the package calls for water HOT Drink 1 Milk Chocolate GODIVA Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa ($11 for 7.7 oz.) This mix had "that rich, classic flavor" our testers craved. Its consistency was "a little thin" compared to that of some of the other mixes, but our panel said that just made it easier to drink more of it! Honorable Mention STARBUCKS Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix ($13 for 8 oz.) 2 Dark Chocolate LAKE CHAMPLAIN Old World Drinking Chocolate ($13 for 9.5 oz.) "Tastes more like melted chocolate than hot cocoa," said our testers, and here's why: This "decadent" treat isn't a powder—it's real chocolate shavings that melt in warm milk. Honorable Mention…

This Works! Page 27 Classic Notch Collar PJ N8915310, Ellen Tracy; belk.com. Satin Notched Collar PJ, Jennifer Lopez; kohls.com. Bon Nuit PJ 25431, Hanes; hanes.com. Tartan Flannel PJ Set 277969, L.L.Bean; llbean.com. Solve My Style Problem Page 56 Shirt, $72, SkinnyShirt; skinnyshirt.com. Color-block sweater, $145, Yoon; yoonnyc.com. Jeans, $90, Gap; gap.com. Rose gold studs, $20, Juliet & Company; julietandcompany.com. Watch, $110, Tokyobay; tokyobayinc.com. Oxfords, $165, Klub Nico; klubnico.com. Ribbed sweater, $154, 525 America; 525america.com. Vest, $69, J. Jill; jjill.com. Khaki skirt, $89, Banana Republic; bananarepublic.com. Earrings, $50, Roman Luxe; macys.com. Fishnets, $22, Hue; hue.com. Boots, $140, Gianni Bini;…

January is about resting and resetting. With the whirlwind of the holidays over and cold weather settling in like a long winter's nap, that's exactly what most of us want to take—right after we wrap our hands around a mug of tea and gaze out the window at a wintry landscape. Just sitting still. But if you're like me, while you're watching snow gently fall or rain drip from the eaves—feeling the pleasant lull of an unscheduled 10 minutes—one half of your mind (what Buddhists call the "monkey mind") is nagging in the background: Get the kitchen drawers organized! Lose the weight you've gained since Thanksgiving! Start exercising—now! Some days, that little voice is enough to make me want to crawl back into bed. Other days, I think: I just…

the fact that your garden is in a deep winter snooze doesn't mean you can't enjoy nature: It's actually even more crucial to surround yourself with plants in dreary months. A study at the University of Michigan found that when people were around greenery, they could remember more and had better focus. Beyond that, being surrounded by nature may satisfy a basic human need. "Many experts believe that we're wired to be attracted to things that are alive and vital," says Toby Israel, Ph.D., author of Some Place Like Home and a design psychologist who creates spaces that feel emotionally satisfying. Try these tips for turning your home into a plant haven, and watch your health and happiness bloom. —Francesca Castagnoli 1 Craft It Make potpourri Give a droopy rose…

BRIDGET MOYNAHAN Blue Bloods "I knew I'd earned the GH Seal when… I heard my son stand up for himself—confidently and politely—when his peers were being mean. What a great moment. We'd had that conversation a bunch of times, but it was amazing to see him put it to use." Safety Net(work) WHILE WORKING AT domestic violence agencies in New Jersey, Allison Bressler and Gloria Sgrizzi noticed that many folks didn't know what to do when someone told them that she had been affected by domestic violence. So in 2007, they launched A Partnership for Change, which offers statewide programs to help prevent and raise awareness of domestic abuse. So far, 5,000-plus nurses, social service workers, police, students, and others have learned to effectively steer the vulnerable out of harm's…

Check Ingredients Avoid sulfates, which strip away oils, and synthetic fragrances, which can trigger allergic reactions. A gentler option: Neuma Shampoos & Conditioners ($24 to $27 each; salons). Nourish With Oils Massage an omega-3–rich essential oil into your scalp; leave on for a half hour, then work in shampoo before rinsing. We like Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil ($14, Sephora). Avoid Alcohol Stylers that rely on it (especially those used at the roots) can exacerbate itchiness. Opt for products like L'Oréal Paris EverStyle Alcohol-Free Mousse ($7, drugstores). Nail These Trends The chicest manicures these days are either super-shiny or flat and matte. Take your pick: 1 SHINE ON For a glossy finish that lasts, try new Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Color (29 shades, $5 each; drugstores), formulated…

Q I love cozy sweaters in winter, but if I wear them, I look 10 pounds heavier; if I don't, I freeze. Any ideas? —KIRSTEN IN MINNESOTA, VIA FACEBOOK 1 Make friends with fitted sweaters Thanks to color-blocking—and a thinner knit on the bottom—this wool crew neck visually nips you in. Dark jeans keep the lean line going. (Sweater, $145, Yoon) 2 Layer to lock in body heat This apple green vest can be tossed over a slender sweater—without adding bulk. Pair with boots to boost the warming factor. (Vest, $69, J. Jill) 3 Subtract pounds with tonal colors You'll be shiver-free in a drapey silk sweater, a sleek wool skirt, and fleece tights. The vibrant scarf brightens all the gray. (Sweater, $100, Marshalls) SHOPPING DETAILS, page 151…

Train Your Fat WORKOUTS DON'T just help you ditch extra weight—they can also teach your fat to behave better. Human and animal studies suggest that 12 weeks of vigorous aerobic exercise can make a type of white fat—the kind under your skin that you can pinch—act more like healthier brown fat. The difference? Brown fat doesn't just sit still: It burns energy to produce heat, which results in better blood sugar control and a healthier body composition. And, as active tissue, brown fat increases your calorie burn, promoting weight loss, says Laurie Goodyear, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School. DID YOU KNOW…? That's how many minutes of sleep we lose during a full moon. We also take five minutes longer to drop off and have less deep sleep, a new study…

Go Nuts for Breakfast In a recent study, adding peanut butter or peanuts to breakfast helped heavy women feel fuller and have fewer cravings for eight to 12 hours afterward. PB (and peanuts) may help steady blood sugar levels while boosting satiety hormones. Add them to A.M. fare or to a later meal, but measure: A 2-Tbsp. serving of PB packs 190 calories. Some suggestions: FRUITYPARFAIT Mix 6 oz. plain nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 Tbsp. PB. Top with ½ c. frozen raspberries, thawed, and 1 Tbsp. peanuts. (280 calories) PB & PEARS Spread 2 Tbsp. PB inside a small whole wheat pita. Layer in ½ medium pear, sliced, and a dash of cinnamon. (320 calories) NUTTY BOWL OF OATS Stir 2 Tbsp. peanuts, ½ tsp. fruit preserves, and ½…

This time of year, people who work indoors get a measly half hour or so of bright light a day. That's compared with about 90 minutes a day in summer. And on darker days, you may reap darker moods. "The sun rises later in winter, so circadian rhythms and sleep/wake signals shift as well," says Michael Terman, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Columbia University. "Yet work tends to stay the same, so you're forced to go to bed and wake up earlier than what feels natural," he says, "a mismatch that can be a formula for depression." Unless you fight back. Whatever the cause of your winter blues, these tips will bring on a brighter state of being—no matter what it's doing outside. 1. Thrill to the chill Studies…

Luke Bryan shares… MY SECRETS FOR A STRONG MARRIAGE How the country singer and wife Caroline stay so bonded 1 It was love at first sight with Caroline—those blue eyes of hers. I knew that, no matter what, I was going to make my way over to her. 2 When I'm home, I try to really be home. We love to let our boys (Bo, 5, and Tate, 3) climb in bed with us at night, and we all watch TV. 3 I don't let her know how much I spend on fishing. 4 We don't have big throwdown fights. If we have a beef, we always talk it out instead of letting it snowball. 5 We have coffee in the morning, just Caroline and me. It's my favorite time…

10 minutes Clear off the countertop Find a new home for any appliances you don't use daily (or close to it). If you hand-wash dishes, dry them on a rack like the Siliconezone by Karim Sink Roll ($50); it rolls up for easy storage when not in use. 4 tips FOR EVERY PROJECT Contain yourself Have bags or boxes labeled so you can sort as you go: Trash, Recycle, Sell, Donate, and Relocate (to another room). Take everything out Seeing it all at once is the single best way to know what's causing your clutter! Pick winners first Don't look for things to get rid of. Instead, think about what's truly useful. Put those items back first, then address what's left. Stay in the room It's easy to get distracted,…

How We Tested* ACCURACY The clarity, brightness, and color of the pics were judged by the GH Art team, lab engineers, and consumers PLACEMENT We noted where an image fell on a gallery-wrapped canvas. Some lopped off major portions of the images! QUALITY GHRI vetted construction and frame sturdiness and rated ease of designing as well as customer service HOT TREND 1 TOP PICK CanvasWorld, $94 Free minor retouching (removing red-eye; sharpening shots), accurate color, and great construction wowed users. Shows a model of how the image would wrap on the frame. 2 BUDGET BUY Walmart, $41 This low-priced bet bagged the highest score for image clarity and construction. Pros: simple uploads, fast shipping, in-store pickup. Cons: image was off-center; few editing options online. 3 WORTH THE SPLURGE CanvasPop, $113…

Easy Veggie Pizza PREHEAT oven to 450°F. STACK 2 sheets phyllo dough on cutting board. Spray with olive oil cooking spray. Top with 2 more sheets phyllo; spray again. Cut to make 2 (9" by 7") rectangles. Repeat with 4 more sheets phyllo. Transfer to parchment-lined lg. cookie sheets and bake 5 min. or until crisp. MEANWHILE, toss 4 c. baby spinach; 2 c. halved cherry tomatoes; 1 c. sliced mushrooms; ½ sm. red onion, very thinly sliced; 2 Tbsp. olive oil; and ½ tsp. salt in lg. bowl. DIVIDE 1 c. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese and vegetable mixture among crusts. Bake 3 to 4 min. or until cheese melts. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serves 4 Each serving about 295 calories, 12 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate,…

Fun, Fast & Easy Taco Night Mix 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 Tbsp. each chili powder and grated lime peel, ½ tsp. cumin, and ¼ tsp. garlic powder; toss with 1 bag microwave popcorn, popped, and 1 c. tortilla chip pieces. SERVES 8 BACON-CHOCOLATE Toss 1 bag microwave popcorn, popped, with 5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled, on jelly-roll pan; drizzle with ½ c. chocolate chips, melted. Chill 15 min. or until chocolate sets. SERVES 8 Parmesan-Herb Mix 3 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary, 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme, and ¼ tsp. salt; toss with 1 bag microwave popcorn, popped, and ⅔ c. finely grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. SERVES 8 Use plain or lightly salted popcorn (not buttered!) for the best flavor Curry Butter Mix 3…

When my husband and I first dated, I wasn't shy about confessing my foibles, domestic or otherwise. I wanted him to know what he was getting into. "I'm a terrible cook," I told him. "Actually, I can't cook; I never have." Blame it on being single through my 40s—with late nights at work, takeout delivered in 10 minutes flat, and plenty of nearby restaurants, why turn on a stove? Randy seemed happy to cook, while I cleaned up. Then one night, he startled me with a question: "Why do you always leave the kitchen when it's time to make dinner?" I paused. My single-girl excuse wouldn't wash anymore. The only one I could think of—"It's my mother's fault"—seemed lame even to me. But it felt like the truth. When I…

POWER PACK $80 Protect just about any smartphone from tumbles and boost its battery life by 80% with the Juice Pack Helium case (mophie.com) WE CAN'T RESIST …earmuff head-phones that stay put while keeping ears toasty. GHRI-approved sound quality! ($28, echodesign.com) Cheery stripes for every day of the week HAPPY FEET $38 Seven pairs of cotton-blend socks, done up in unexpected, uplifting color combinations, will keep your tootsies cozy and chic from workdays to weekend (bodenusa.com) CLEAN SCREEN $15 For three packsPretty pouches each hold 15 electronics wipes to de-germ computers, phones, and lenses (staywellkept.com) WRIST WATCH $130 A personal trainer on hand: Jawbone's Up bracelet and app (jawbone.com) track how you sleep, eat, and move so you can keep that get-fit resolution LIVES ENTWINED $28 Sue Monk Kidd's The…

Forget battling over the thermostat. An easier, comfier way to cope with winter: super-snuggly pajamas. Our textile pros checked out 28 menswear-inspired pairs to see if they would shrink, fade, or fall apart. Consumers then came into our lab to touch and rate the fabrics. At the end of the day, these four will make your night. Best Fleece ELLEN TRACY Classic Notch Collar PJ ($68) Fuzzy polyester micro-fleece, deemed the softest material by volunteers, also did well on durability. Best Satin JENNIFER LOPEZ Satin Notched Collar PJ ($56) The top-ranked lightweight, in poly-satin, is silky chic (love that bow belt). Held up nicely, too. Best Knit HANES Bon Nuit PJ ($25) This supple cotton-poly pair still looked great post-laundering. "Comforting and cozy," said a tester. Best Flannel L.L.BEAN Tartan…

She may be showbiz royalty—a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist with a Golden Globe, an Oscar nomination, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a hit daytime TV talk show plus her own cosmetics line for CoverGirl and clothing collection for HSN—but a princess she's not: On set for the GH cover shoot, Queen Latifah walks over and sweetly, almost shyly, introduces herself, saying, "Hi, I'm Dana." Dana?! Yes, Dana—there's no playing the royal card here. Queen Latifah, 43, was born Dana Elaine Owens, the daughter of high school teacher Rita Owens and police officer Lancelot (Lance) Owens. She grew up in and around Newark, NJ, loving sports and rock 'n' roll. She became a rap star as a teenager, using the nickname Latifah (which means "delicate and kind" and…

1 Best Coverage SEPHORA Skin Perfect CC Cream SPF 20 ($26, Sephora) Foundation fans, here's a rich pick that, as testers raved, looks "natural" and "blends well." Better yet, it lightened skin discoloration over four weeks, thanks to its licorice extracts. In seven shades. 2 Ace Moisturizer OLAY Total Effects Tone Correcting CC Cream SPF 15 ($22, drugstores) This dry-skin quencher with a sheer finish shrank visible pores and faded brown spots. "It saved me several steps in my routine," reported a tester. In three shades. 3 Top Skin-Firmer OLEHENRIKSEN Perfect Truth CC Crème SPF 30 ($36, Sephora) The truth is out: This CC hydrates, provides ample sun protection and good coverage, and lasts all day; it was the only skin-firmer of the bunch. Plus, it has a "divine" citrus…

1. The Fit-and-Flare Print Dress $110, eShakti 2. The Cable- Knit Sweater in Cheer-Me-Up Pink $109, Lauren Jeans Co. 3. The Sleek Moto Jacket $69, Shop Sosie 4. The Bold Tweed Skirt $118, Boden Genius: Pop the pink sweater over the dress, left—it's like gaining another skirt Left: Their similar hues mean the skirt and a patterned scarf pair well THE CLASSICS ALREADY IN YOUR CLOSET To create these easy outfits, just mix our four buys with a black turtleneck, dark jeans, a white button-down, and a navy cardigan—plus accessories. You'll be set for 12 stylish days! Opposite page: Belt, Keggy. Tote, Kelly Moore Bag. Pumps, Forever 21. Boots, Aldo. Scarf, J. Jill. Oxfords, Marais USA. Booties, Mia Limited Edition. This page: Belt, Forever 21. Pumps, Kamalikulture. Scarf, Modcloth. Bag,…

Better Bone-Builder We have to admit we were skeptical when we noticed that Whole Foods 365 Nonfat Greek Yogurt claims to provide 60% of the Daily Value (DV) for calcium. That's 600 mg—three times the amount other leading brands deliver in a roughly 6-ounce serving. But our lab tests showed that Whole Foods is telling, well, ⅚ of the truth: Its yogurt had about 500 mg of calcium, still within the legal 20% margin of allowance and still soaring above the three other national brands we tested, which all had close to the promised 200 mg. What gives it the higher calcium, says Whole Foods, is the company's "unique straining process." But you don't have to pay a lot more for those milligrams: At $1.49 per 6-ounce container, the 365…

Whether you're shopping for chips or bars, crackers or a sweet dessert, you can now find dozens of GF versions on regular supermarket shelves (you know something has become a trend when it goes by its initials alone). But while 30% of adults say they are "cutting down on or avoiding" gluten, we bet no one's trying to avoid great taste. Fortunately, you don't have to. Thanks to new ingredients and manufacturing techniques, many of today's GF products have the appealing flavors, chewiness, and light, airy texture of the originals. But which are the very best? When 186 GHRI volunteers taste-tested 87 gluten-free snacks that hit the market last year, these were the ones they loved the most. CRACKERS Beyond crunch: Some winners also deliver lots of whole grains Page…

Q My coworkers gave me a baby shower along with a generous group gift. Can I say thank you in a mass e-mail? If I send a card, how do I make sure everyone sees it? THE ETIQUETTE VERDICT It depends on the number of coworkers who went in on your gift. P.S. (PEGGY SAYS) Why not send a group e-mail and separate handwritten thank-yous? Individual e-mails are also fine, but pen-to-paper cards tend to feel more personal. If large numbers of people make that impractical, write a mass e-mail along with a single handwritten note that can be passed around to everyone (or posted on a bulletin board). Q "I was on my cell phone at the gym when a woman on the next treadmill started shooting me angry…

Getting up the nerve, with help from an unlikely mentor As a child, I daydreamed about having a mouse as my boyfriend: the cartoon character Mighty Mouse, to be exact. With him devoted to me, I figured, I'd never have to be brave. While other kids leapt in with a whoop to master dodgeball, I would hug the wall. If my mother happened to see this, she'd demand to know why I wasn't joining in. I didn't have words to explain that it felt as if I was being held back by an invisible hand, so I'd just shrug. "There's nothing to be afraid of!" she'd chide, and she'd stride away. I discussed my scaredy-cat streak with no one until Mom's sister came to visit. Aunt Nancy lived in L.A.,…

Ask Heloise for help at goodhousekeeping.com/heloise Q: "My old wood trunk had grease on the bottom of it that stained a sisal rug beneath it. How can I clean the rug and the trunk?" —JODI WALLACE, VIA E-MAIL FIRST, CHECK THE TAG on the rug to see what it's made of—many sisal rugs contain natural fibers, like sea grass, that can swell up when wet and lose their shape. If that's the case, don't rinse out the grease; soak it up: Cover the area with cornstarch or flour and let set overnight. The next day, the powder should look damp from absorbing the oil. Vacuum up and repeat until the grease is gone. No luck? Try the same process with dry-cleaning solvent (it's…

mix 2 c. all-purpose baking mix (such as Bisquick), ⅔ c. milk, ⅓ c. packed brown sugar, 1 lg. egg, 2 Tbsp. melted butter, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, and ½ tsp. ground cinnamon; stir in 1 apple, peeled and finely chopped, and ½ c. each crumbled granola and dried cranberries, then divide among paper-lined muffin tin cups and bake at 375°F 15 to 18 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serves 12 Test-kitchen recipes, ideas, and tips p. 138 Kick up your kernels' flavor p. 134 Yum! Easy phyllo pizza p. 137 Which cocoa mix is best? p. 122 10 slow cooker suppers—all new!…

1 JALAPEÑO BITES Top 12 crackers with 1 slice each banana and pickled jalapeño and 1 Tbsp. shredded Cheddar; broil until bubbly. Serves 4 2 SPICY BANANA CHIPS Put 1 lg. banana, very thinly sliced, on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Brush with 2 Tbsp. lemon juice; dust with ¼ tsp. each cayenne and salt. Bake at 200°F 2 hrs. 30 min. or until crisp. Serves 2 3 ELVIS PANCAKES Stir ½ c. melted peanut butter into 2 c. pancake batter. As pancakes cook, top each with 2 slices banana and 1 Tbsp. chopped cooked bacon. Serves 4 4 SUNRISE SMOOTHIE Puree 1 lg. banana, 2 c. each ice and frozen pineapple, 1 c. orange juice, and ½ c. vanilla yogurt in blender until smooth. Serves 4 5…

Curl up, relax, and recharge Deer Isle, Maine, 1931. Cora Blake was not planning on going to Paris that spring. Or in her lifetime. She was the librarian in a small town on the tip of an island off the coast of Maine, which didn't mean she'd never traveled. She had been born off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, but now she roamed only in books. Summer people from North Carolina and Boston would stop by the quaint old library building to chat and would wonder how she could stand to live in such a tiny place with those terrible winters. "I have everything I want right on the island," she'd say. "We're so off the beaten path, you've got to be satisfied with the way it is." Since…