Most cooks just have a handful of go-to recipes for busy weeknight dinners. Things like spaghetti, chili, tacos, pork chops and meatloaf. Sound familiar?

If they're getting a little boring, there's help from the flavor experts at McCormick Kitchens. The cooks researched the top-10 most internet-searched recipes and then challenged each other to make them better, not just flavorwise but healthwise, too.

"We wanted to create some deliciously simple variations that can inspire healthy choices every night of the week," said Mary Beth Harrington in a news release from McCormick Kitchens.

McCormick cooks took the basic family standbys and added a variety of spices, herbs, veggies and fruits. All ingredients were incorporated to enhanced flavors and add a dose of antioxidants, compounds that play an important dietary role.

Wendy Bazilian, author of The SuperFoodsRx Diet, wrote that ramping up the antioxidants in a recipe is the best place to start with a dish the family already loves, such as pork chops.

"Then dial up the taste and antioxidants of basic pork chops with a blend of garlic, thyme, rosemary and red pepper. Top with some apple and cinnamon and you've added enough antioxidants to equal three ounces of pomegranate juice per serving," Bazilian said.

Pomegranate juice is one of the top antioxidant foods.

To find these better-for-you dinner ideas go to www.mccormick.com and click on "Spices For Health."

CBC Cooking class

Learn how to give your meals a gourmet touch with Prosser-based AprsVin grapeseed oils. A cooking class will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Kamiakin High School, 600 N. Arthur St., Room 436, Kennewick.

The class is sponsored by Columbia Basin Savory Brands, a project of the Columbia Basin College Agriculture Program.

Cost is $40 and includes a bottle AprsVin oil and a chance to taste all the foods prepared during the class.

Preregistration and payment is required. Email columbiabasinsavorybrands@gmail.com or call 546-0760. Send a check by Monday to: CBSB, P.O. Box 3043, Pasco, WA 99302.

New read

The book: Dulce: Desserts in the Latin-American Tradition by Joseluis Flores with Laura Zimmerman.

Cost: $30

Best for: Latin-American cuisine is increasingly well-known and popular, yet the sweeter side of this vibrant culinary culture has been overlooked. This cookbook is devoted entirely to Latin-American sweets. Its easy-to-follow recipes span traditional desserts as well as Chef Flores' creations.

*Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com. To receive a recipe via e-mail each Tuesday register at tricityherald.com.