Instant Favas

Fava beans, commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, are labor-intensive to prepare. But these beans are cooked--all that’s left to do is make a small slit in the outer skin of the bean and pop it out with your thumb. Serve them on salads or as a side dish.

10-ounce carton cooked fava beans, $2.39, from Trader Joe’s.

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Pretty Whisks

These brightly colored wire whisks are coated with heat-resistant silicone that keeps food from sticking and clumping on the whisk. They also will not scratch Teflon-coated cooking pans.

Whisk, $9.95, in yellow, blue, green or red from Crate & Barrel stores or at www.crateandbarrel. com.

Donna Deane