Sugar

For the sugar syrup: Grated zest of 2 lemons 2 cups sugar 2 cups water For the lemonade: 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 12 lemons), with half of the rinds reserved and roughly chopped 3 cups cold water To make the sugar syrup, in a medium saucepan combine the zest, sugar and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Transfer the syrup to a 2-quart pitcher.

Batter: 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 egg 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk 3 to 4 drops almond extract 2 cups sour cherries, hulled Topping: 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup butter, slightly softened 1 teaspoon cinnamon ...

  Double Chocolate Summer Berry Cupcakes 3 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups hot brewed Starbucks vanilla coffee 3 cups sugar 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 3 large eggs 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Preheat oven to 350 degrees....

1 cup light corn syrup 1 cup sugar 1 cup Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread) 6 cups crisp rice cereal Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the corn syrup, sugar and Nutella, stirring often until the sugar is melted. Remove from the heat and add the cereal. Toss well, coating all of the cereal. Transfer the mixture to the pan and push down to form an even layer in the pan. Let cool for 30 minutes and cut into 20 bars. - "The NFL Gameday Cookbook" by Ray Lampe (Chronicle, $24.95)

Bea Lahn moved to Hagerstown with her husband in 1951. They raised a family and were active in Hagerstown's synagogue, B'nai Abraham Congregation. This recipe has been a family favorite. "This is a recipe given to me by my mother many years ago," Lahn said. "It's a simple version of luction kugel. Luction is the word for noodle. Kugel is a pudding. It's a universal recipe - everybody does it a little different. " Noodle pudding is a traditional Eastern European Jewish dish.

When thirst comes on, the beverage of choice for many Americans is a soft drink. Americans have enjoyed soft drinks for more than 100 years. Today, however, the concern is that Americans are drinking more soda than is healthy for them. Since the mid-1980s, a sharp rise in sugar consumption has occurred. This just happens to coincide with a 47 percent increase in consumption of carbonated soft drinks. It is estimated that each person consumes 14.5 ounces of regular soft drinks per day. Each 12-ounce can of soda contains between 10 and 12 teaspoons of sugar.

1 orange 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 bay leaves 1 cinnamon stick 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 2 whole cloves 4 cups water 6 ripe but firm pears, peeled, halved and cored Using a vegetable peeler, remove four 3-inch strips of zest from the orange. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. In a large saucepan, combine the zest and orange juice with the sugar, lemon juice, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, cloves and water.

4 cups finely chopped peppers (see cook's note) 4 cups white vinegar 6 teaspoons calcium water 4 1/2 cups Pomona's Universal Pectin 7 cups sugar Combine peppers with vinegar and calcium water. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, mix pectin and sugar. Add to pepper mix. Boil for 1 to 2 minutes. Make sure pectin and sugar are totally dissolved. Fill jars. Cook's note: For spicy jam, Bonnie Senay uses 3 cups bell pepper to one cup hot peppers. She prefers habanero or Scotch bonnet varieties of hot peppers.

photo: Associated Press For those of you who missed the recipe for Spiced Apple Walnut Cheesecake, here it is again: Walnut Crust 4 cups ground walnuts 6 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup butter (melted) Apple Cheesecake Batter 1 1/2 cups cream cheese 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese 1/2 cup applesauce 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon dash ground nutmeg dash ground cloves 3 large eggs 3 large egg yolks White Chocolate Glaze 14 1-ounce squares white chocolate 1 cup heavy cream Cinnamon Glazed Walnut Garnish 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 tablespoons water 1 3/4 cups walnut halves To make the crust, combine walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and butter in a mixing bowl and stir until well blended.

I will make this intro short and sweet: For all my family, friends and fellow cooks, chefs, grillers, smokers and such, I give you my friendship and my bread. Enjoy! - Scott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and Chef Ambassador to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Amish Friendship Bread For day 1: 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup milk, 2/3 cup flour For days 6: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk For day 10:  1 1/4 cup flour, 1 1/4 cup sugar , 1 1/4 cup milk For final bread: 1 cup applesauce 1/2 cup milk (skim or 2 percent)