Monitor picks

Be the perfect Hostess

When the Twinkie celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, the Hostess corporation invited amateur cooks to send recipes for The Twinkies Cookbook. The submissions - all by adults, if you were wondering - are surprisingly tasty. If Twinkie's ice cream sounds daunting, try serving sweet Twinkies Sushi at your next dinner party.

Award-winning children's writer Kevin Henkes returns with his diminutive diva-in-training in Lilly's Big Day. Lilly's beloved teacher, Mr. Slinger, is getting married, and Lilly longs to be the flower girl at the wedding. Unfortunately, there's the matter of Slinger's niece, Ginger. Written with warmth and enough humor to amuse adults, the book is another wonderful entry in the chronicles of the unstoppable white mouse.

Walk in the footsteps of symbologist extraordinaire Robert Langdon as you try to break "The Da Vinci Code," the new online game. In the run-up to next month's certain blockbuster, starring Tom Hanks, Google and Columbia Pictures (google.com/davincicode) have created daily word and symbol puzzles. Prizes include high-priced vacations. (Yes, one is to Rome.) Ends May 11, so get cracking!

The Golf Channel's Big Break V: Hawaii (Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. EDT) proves that the Gentleman's Game isn't just for gentlemen. The reality show features some of the best up-and-coming women golfers in weekly skills challenges, vying for the chance to play in an LPGA event. Our pick from the final four: Jeanne Cho, who sinks big putts week after week.

Ghirardelli's new Intense Dark Gourmet Chocolate Bars are the Altoids of sweets - curiously strong. They come in four flavors, with Twilight Delight topping the charts at 72 percent cacao content. Citrus Sunset and Toffee Interlude were favorites of our admittedly unscientific panel. Make sure to have plenty of milk on hand.