Honey, who shrunk my Martha?

Wintertime … and the cooking is easy. Martha Stewart’s new venture, the pint-size Everyday Food magazine, is full of surprisingly simple recipes with ingredients that you can find at the grocery store without traveling to Boston – and most of it is stuff you actually would cook. It’s a mix of comfort foods, such as Fudgy Heart Brownies, and light, modern dishes such as Broiled Cinnamon Chicken with Raita. The “Have You Tried?” column introduces new ingredients and techniques, while “How To” shows you how to make the basics, with a twist – this issue’s feature is vinaigrettes. And who knew you could clean a cutting board with salt and a lemon? The magazine costs $2.95 and is available on newsstands now. A free trial offer is available on www.marthastewart.com.

Shakin’ bacon

If you’re looking to jazz up your weekend, check out the Sunday brunch at 124 Cottage Street Restaurant in Bar Harbor. Inspired by fond memories of similar brunches with her sisters in Boston, restaurateur Kathy Mulligan figured that a little live music and a lot of good food would add some winter excitement on Mount Desert Island. The brunches feature tunes by MDI High School jazz band students. For reservations or information, call 288-4383.

Bake it up, baby

What would a cookie be without chocolate chips? A ginger snap. But really, the folks at Nestle are looking for original recipes that use their Toll House morsels as a starting point for their Share the Very Best recipe contest. The recipes should include at least 2 cups of any variety of morsels. The grand prize winner will receive a trip for four to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. First-prize winners will receive a trip for two to Ramekins Sonoma Valley Culinary School in California. The second prize is a $1,000 gift certificate to the winner’s favorite supermarket. Ten third-prize winners will receive KitchenAid mixers, and 30 fourth-prize winners will receive the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book and a Nestle gift basket. To enter, send your name, address, daytime phone number and recipe to: BH&G/Nestle Contest, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309, or visit www.bhg.com/nestlecontest.