"Perfect potato" coming on new show

Information on cooking, shopping tips for new cooks, baking the “perfect potato,” and making chenille dolls and ornaments will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” at noon Tuesday and at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Cookbook author Marcie Rothman will give cooking and shopping tips for new cooks, as well as sharing suggestions regarding cost comparisons and seasonal shopping. Her company is Western Research Kitchens in San Diego, Calif.

Frank Muir of the Idaho Potato Commission in Eagle, Idaho, will explain how to buy and store potatoes, and how to clean and pierce them prior to baking the “perfect potato.” He’ll also demonstrate how to “flower” a baked potato the proper way.

Denise White, owner of The Cat’s Pyjamas, will show how to make a snowman chenille doll and some snowmen ornaments. She lives in Scottsboro, Alaska.

Information on using wire-edged ribbons to make flowers and cooking with ripe olives will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and at noon Thursday.

Using a variety of wire-edged ribbons, Helen Gibb will demonstrate making a folded rose, a tea rose, carnations, poppies, gardenias and more. Gibb is an author, designer and teacher, and her company is Helen Gibb Designs in Louisville, Colo.

Barbara Rose of the California Olive Industry will clarify many of the myths regarding fats in the diet. She will demonstrate how ripe olives can be used in a variety of recipes and still cut down on calories and fat. She lives in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Baked Idaho Potato Lunch

4 large Idaho potatoes, pre-baked

1 15-ounce can of chili (with beans and/or meat, as desired)

1 15-ounce can kidney beans

1 15-ounce can of vacuum-packed corn kernels

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