On The Fridge

-- Marcia Kramer

SHOPPING CART {vbar} Just In Time

Hefty's Serve 'n Store disposable plates and bowls eliminate the need to scrounge for sealable containers or depend on aluminum foil to prevent spills when sending holiday guests home with leftovers. Each 9- or 10-inch plate and 24-ounce bowl has a rim that interlocks with a matching piece to form a storage container. We tested the seal and not a drop leaked out. The red "party package" plates and bowls, however, can't go in the microwave; the white "everyday" line has that versatility; about $2.69 for a pack of 15 to 24, available at Giant, Safeway, Shoppers Food and Pharmacy, Wal-Mart and Wegmans stores.

The first two items in a new line of ceramic bakeware from renowned baker-cookbook author Rose Levy Beranbaum have arrived. Her nine-inch Perfect Pie Plate ($29.50) is adorned with her own rose design and the recipe for making her Perfect Pie Crust. Her Sweetheart Creme Brulee Set ($19.99) has four 5-inch-wide, low-walled ramekins and a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Both come in charming boxes, with recipes, and are available at Top Shelf (formerly Coffee and the Works), 1627 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-483-8050, or order through http://www.fantes.com ; call 215-922-5557.

More good news from Beranbaum: On Monday, she launched a blog site called http://www.realbakingwithrose.com , sponsored by General Mills. She already has two Web sites ( http://www.roselevyberanbaum and http://www.cakebible.com ) but on this new site, Beranbaum and chatters will be able to share photos, baking advice, new recipes and discoveries.

At the recent organic foods expo in Washington, more casual testers preferred the taste of Wholly Wholesome's vegan-friendly, eight-inch, bake-at- home dairy-free pumpkin pie over its traditional pumpkin pie; about $7.99, available for the holidays at Roots Market in Howard County, 5805 Clarksville Square Dr., Clarksville, 443-535-9321; Wegmans stores and Whole Foods stores; see http://www.whollywholesome.com .

TO THE LETTER {vbar} The Queen's Scones

Here's a royal postscript to last week's visit of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, from the just-released collection called "Dear Mr. President: Letters to the Oval Office From the Files of the National Archives" :

Charles's mum was a baker.