Daisy Cooks

By Lisa McLaughlin

In her PBS cooking show, celebrity chef and caterer Daisy Martinez has a charming, enthusiastic way of sharing not only her culinary skills but also her Puerto Rican heritage. That passion carries over into her first book, Daisy Cooks! Latin Flavors That Will Rock Your World (Hyperion; 304 pages). The dishes here are a combination of traditional Puerto Rican fare and newer, pan-Latin fusion fare like Peruvian minestrone. The recipes are concise and easy to follow and are punctuated with droll essays from Martinez about food, family and culture. --By Lisa McLaughlin

LATIN FINDS Rising interest in pan-Latin cuisines means more products and hitherto hard-to-find delicacies are making it to your grocery store. Here's a sampling of some of the newest and yummiest:

CARICA A fruit native to northern Chile, it combines the crunch of a pepper with the sweetness of a mango

ABUELITA'S EMPANADAS Crispy cornmeal filled with beef, onion and tomato makes these an authentic find in the frozen-food aisle

YUCATAN GUACAMOLE This new dip uses 100% organic ingredients for a chunky, chip- breaking guacamole

PALAPA AZUL ICE CREAMS Inspired by Mexican recipes, the all-natural ice creams come in traditional flavors like sweet corn

TAMPICO This leading Latin- beverage company is introducing lower-calorie fruit punches