From chips to pork chops, most cookout staples are part of the trend of rising food prices. But if you’re willing to take the time to find deals, the savings on your cookout items can be had.

Each year, the Rochester (Ill.) Public Library sponsors a baking contest — inspired by a book — at the city’s Sparks in the Park Independence Day celebration. This year’s competition, which called for chocolate chip cookies, was based on Laura Joffe Numerof’s “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”

Yöghund: Organic frozen yogurt for dogs. Flavors of peanut butter and bananas; blueberry and vanilla beans. 4-pack, $5.99

In a big move, Harpoon is introducing a new series of extreme beers, the Leviathan Series.

Readers test the new A&W Float.

Red, white and blue food lends a dramatic touch to a July 4 buffet or party table. The flag colors also can be displayed through beverages.

Rhubarb has a loyal following, especially among people who grew up with the red stalks proliferating in their backyard garden and who appreciate its mouth puckering flavor.

Experts say it’s normal for children – most of them, in fact – to go through picky eating periods, typically beginning sometime between 18 months and 3 years of age. Most kids will outgrow the picky phase if their parents don’t cater to the pickiness or force their children to taste foods.

Don’t be too quick to turn your nose up at Alison Brantley’s Chocolate Basil Shrimp. One taste and you might just find that it’s pretty darned good.

With kids on the go and playing hard, they need snacks that taste good but are healthful as well. Instead of chips, cookies or an ice cream novelty, serve Peachsicles for a quick cold and nutritious treat.

When I was a teenager, the huge status symbol was to have a stereo system worth more than your car. This was the definition of coolness. These days, if you’re searching for such cultural indicators, how about a coffee machine worth more than your life-insurance policy?

There are so many places in the world that produce unique styles of beers that are hard to find in the United States. Unfortunately, I can't afford to visit them all, to try a couple of Finnish sahtis or a beer brewed with rice and sake yeast in Japan.

It’s easy to find patriotic food recipes, but what about celebratory cocktails for the Fourth of July?