Bake it up

The Ellsworth Public Library’s baking contest takes the cake – literally. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the popular contest, the staff invites all amateur cooks to bake a cake and bring it to the library at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. Celebrity judges will award prizes for the best children’s (under 14) and adults’ entries, and patrons will choose the People’s Choice winner. To register, stop by the library or call 667-6363 by Jan. 17.

Sow your oats

In honor of Oatmeal Month, the folks at Quaker are offering a free brochure: “Awesome Oats: Easy and Delicious Recipes with Oats,” which includes six recipes for such dishes as Garden-Style Turkey Loaf and Vegetable-Oat Pilaf, as well as suggestions for oatmeal toppings. For a free copy, send your name and address by e-mail to: oatoffer@aol.com, or by regular mail to: Awesome Oats, P.O. Box 487, Chicago, IL 60690-0487.

Tea-lightful

If the steaming tea inside doesn’t warm you, the sunny yellow finish of this polka-dotted tea set from Stash Tea Catalog will. The teapot ($15), cup and saucer set ($7 each), and tea-for-one ($15) are sold separately and are available online at www.stashtea.com, or you can order a catalog by calling (800) 826-4218.

Tidbits is hungry for news about local food products and events. Send your Tidbits by mail to: Bangor Daily News, attn: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402-1329; by fax to 941-9476; or by e-mail to kandresen@bangordailynews.net.