Tomato pesto, crumbled bacon, and chopped toasted nuts are good. Heat in the oven until warm and creamy. If dairy isn't your thing, use beans as the base for dips. Ashton says combine a can of beans (black, pinto or navy are good), a chopped chipotle chile, lime juice and salt in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Alternatively, buy a tub of hummus and doctor it with pesto or tapenade. For another dairy-free option, Sandy Gluck, food editor at Everyday Food magazine, says to puree a small jar of roasted red peppers, a tablespoon of tomato paste, paprika and 1/4 cup toasted almonds.Now, on to the canapes and appetizers, or antipasti, if you prefer. These ideas are from Mary Ann Esposito, host of Public Television's long-running "Ciao Italia" cooking show and author of the recent "Ciao Italia Slow and Easy" cookbook."I like to do an antipasti that is unexpected," she says.

Agriculture Alliance: The labeling maze

But as consumers look at the labels on foods, they will notice that labels carry a wide variety of labels. The same label on two products may not mean the same thing. This is because food manufacturers, grocery stores and trade and health organizations are developing symbol programs to promote “better for you" products and help consumers make healthier choices.

Front-of-the pack labels are called call outs. Typically, the call outs focus on nutrients to avoid. Front-of-the pack call outs yell “lower in sodium, nonfat, no transfats, low calorie, sugar free, no cholesterol," among other things. This doesn't help Americans who have become the most overfed and yet undernourished country in the world. The problem with using the call-out labeling is that although it tells you what is not in the package, it doesn't tell you what is in the package.

Kosovo sends out a different message

With only five days to go, there are posters everywhere: at the metro stations, in the bus shelters and on banners across the streets. Proudly formal, they have the eagle crest and the simple fact of the 2 March election against the background of the red, white and blue Russian flag.

Three years later, Backman still trying to get to the bigs

PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- In this blue-collar town of 9,090 residents, two pizzerias, Boss Hogg's Smokes and the Dixon Saddle Shop ("Saddle Repairs While You Wait!"), you are allowed to root for the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs.

When the Diamondbacks were swept by Colorado in last week's NLCS, the good folk of Prineville did not merely applaud.

Friday, January 18

.icoVid{background:url(http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/iVideo.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:14px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoVid:hover,.icoVid:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoSli{background:url(http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/iSlides.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:14px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoSli:hover,.icoSli:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoDis{background:url(http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/iDiscuss.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:14px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoDis:hover,.icoDis:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoNew{background:url(http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/flag_new.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:23px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoNew:hover,.icoNew:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoUpd{background:url(http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/flag_updated.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:40px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoUpd:hover,.icoUpd:visited:hover{text-decoration:none;} Skip navigation .