NEW AND NOW

Mixes aimed at young bakers

New children’s baking mixes from King Arthur Flour aim to get kids into the kitchen, learning the skills to make tasty treats —- and, maybe, become lifelong bakers. We tried the K.A.F. Kids mix for ABC Twists, a sweet dough sprinkled with cinnamon sugar that can be shaped into letters. We put a couple of 8-year-olds on the job with minimal supervision, to see if they could prepare the twists alone.

With just a few assists, they could. And along the way, they worked with yeast, rolled dough into long tubes and shaped the mix into letters, while practicing reading and following directions. The treats themselves: Yummy. Most of the mix varieties make small batches, such as six muffins, and all contain organic flour. The other five varieties include Cowboy Oatmeal Muffin Mix, Snickerdoodles and a pizza crust. The mixes are $5.95 at www.kingarthurflour.com.

A guide for maturing girls

American Girl is more than a doll company. It also publishes books for tweens and young teens that are excellent, reassuring guides about friendships, changing bodies and other topics that parents, or girls, are likely to admire: clutter control, fun activities with mom, etc. The newest, out this month, is “Food & You,” a practical guide to eating right and staying healthy. The book addresses the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia as well as emphasizing the nutritious food that the MyPyramid Food Guide recommends for girls, healthier fast food and how to listen to your body’s cues about hunger. Parents will especially love the advice for getting moving, which includes No. 17, “Clean your room as fast as you can,” and No. 18, “Vacuum the house.” The book is $8.95, available at the company’s store at North Point Mall or online at www.americangirl.com.

Flavored butter adds richness

For a quick punch of flavor, we like Headstart Gourmet, a compound butter that blends wine with herbs and seasonings. We tried the Red Wine Butter with sauteed duck breasts, melting some in the pan in the last two minutes of cooking, and putting a small pat atop the breast when serving. The slightly sweet taste of the butter, which contains honey mustard and raspberries in addition to a deeply reduced red wine, matched perfectly with duck; steak’s a natural, too. It would also work well as a spread for hors d’oeuvres, perhaps salmon or roast beef. Other varieties, not tested, are a white wine sauce with thyme and garlic, and a spicy orange creole butter.

A 4-ounce container of the butter, made in Asheville, N.C., is $6.99. At all metro Atlanta Whole Foods stores except the West Paces Ferry Road location; also at the Harry’s Farmers Market in Alpharetta.