Get your PB&J ready Who knew there was big money to be made with PB&J? The prize winner gets $25,000 in the Jif peanut butter sandwich contest for ages 6 to 12. Entries are accepted through Oct. 22 in both English and Spanish. Anyone 13 and over can vote to help select five finalists. Adults can also compete to be one of the judges for the finalists. See www.jif.com and www.jifenespanol.com.

Grab your sweetie

A new apple variety is on the market. "Sweetie" comes with a sweet taste and crunchy texture, red with golden cheeks. The variety was discovered in France and is considered a cross between a Braeburn and Gala. They are available at Lunds and Byerly's through October, or while supplies last.

Cooks of Crocus Hill event Cooks of Crocus Hill is hosting a Life in the Kitchen event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at their stores in St. Paul and Edina. There will be product demonstrations, experts on hand and $10 cooking classes aiming to reinvigorate cooks as we head into a new season. Classes include knife skills, a primer on new appliances and tips for sauteing. To preregister for classes, check the listings for Sept. 25 at www.cooksof crocushill.com.

On the move Earlier this year, baker and caterer Roxanne Kielbasa closed her popular McHattie's Victorian Times tea house in Woodbury. Now she's resurfaced as the new director of catering for Kowalski's. She also continues to supply scones to the Kowalski stores. Fall flavors will include pumpkin pecan and maple oatmeal, with triple chocolate peppermint and cranberry orange on tap for the holidays.

Naturally Nora in stores The latest all-natural arrival on store shelves is Naturally Nora, whose cake, brownie and frosting mixes have no artificial ingredients, flavors, preservatives or hydrogenated oils. Earnest, yes, but founder Nora Schultz of New Jersey knows that kids are a prime market, so there are mixes with confetti dots and chocolate stars. The texture is slightly firmer than your usual crumbly cake mix. Flavors are clear, and the chocolate frosting packs a choco-wallop. But nutrition is the driver: Consider that Nora's cake mix has eight ingredients while more mainstream mixes may have close to 20. The mixes are in Whole Foods and Cub stores and are expected in Target stores soon.