For centuries, the English have ‘flipped’ for pancakes in celebration of Shrove Tuesday (Feb. 24), which heralds the beginning of fasting during Lent. Long ago, strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products . . . hence the name Pancake Tuesday.

The Rainbow Station School and Virginia Blood Services are sponsoring a blood drive today from 3 to 7 p.m. at 11001 Three Chopt Road. Panic, Anxiety & Depression Center/Alliance Research Group will offer free anxiety screenings for people ages 18 to 65 tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. at 3212 Cutshaw Ave., Suite 318. The Us Too Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Ridge Baptist Church, 1515 East Ridge Road.

Oh, I get it. The rerelease of “Betty Crocker’s Guide to Easy Entertaining” isn’t meant to be a cookbook at all. It’s meant to be a novelty. Fifty years have passed since this once-invaluable book was first printed, and now the fun-loving folks at General Mills have brought it out again for a snickeringly nostalgic look at life in 1959.

Plenty of places claim that what they’re offering is “New York-style” pizza, but with most of them, it’s more wishful thinking than reality. Capriccio’s Pizzeria & Ristorante, however, has the pedigree—and the finished product—to validate that claim.

Tuesday night is when Ginny Bowie really cooks. Take last Tuesday, for example. She sautéed 32 golden-brown tuna cakes, prepared four casseroles of shoepeg corn and diced tomatoes, and tossed a Caesar salad in a bowl the size of a small washtub.

Someone—Rusty Spencer doesn’t recall who—gave him the recipe for Calico Beans about 15 years ago. He’d like to thank the person. “It is a sweet chili that tastes great and has always been a hit at neighborhood and family get-togethers,“ said Spencer, who lives in Henrico County.

The eatery, which features specialty burritos, will be in the spot previously occupied by Pizza Hut at West Grace and North Laurel streets. Chipotle already has seven restaurants in the Richmond area.

During the National Association of Counties confab in Richmond last year, Hillary Clinton said food scares emanating from China should encourage people to buy more locally produced food. A local county supervisor agreed: “It would help a lot of people in rural America to have productive farms and not lose money every year in farming,“ said Sherrin Alsop of King and Queen.

PHOENIX In Phoenix, there’s nothing a trip to the golf course can’t fix. Phoenix is a warm winter escape for those who can afford a second home, and it basks in the spa-facial glow of being a place where people will pay a lot for five-star fun. But for those with shallow pockets, the Valley of the Sun has budget-friendly options mixing an urban identity with access to nature. It’s not every big city where you can scale a mountain, sample authentic Mexican food and take in a free art show—all in one day.

A cookbook this pretty needs to prove itself. Chocolate is the age-old mood elevator, romance builder; it’s even considered a health booster in some circles. So when a book such as “Chocolat” comes along, with the adorable appearance of an enormous bar of chocolate, it’s tempting to dismiss it as a lightweight.

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On a cold winter day, there’s nothing better than a pot of hot soup simmering on the stove. Smells great. Tastes great. Good for you. What’s not to like?

At the end of a long day at work, it’s hard to work up the desire or energy to spend much time in the kitchen preparing dinner. And that’s just the point of “Not Your Mother’s Weeknight Cooking.“ In her latest cookbook in the “Not Your Mother’s” series, Beth Hensperger offers 150 recipes for dinners that can be prepared—in most cases—in 45 minutes or less.

Desire a tasty lunch and quick service amid a fun décor? Look no further than Tara Thai in Short Pump Town Center. Decorated with an oceanic theme, this enchanting eatery isn’t all show.