Cold January days call for comfort foods, and nothing fills that bill more than delicious made-from-scratch foods that leave the kitchen filled with memorable aromas.

If you're still searching for the perfect munchies for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day and a tasty brunch item for the long New Year's weekend, Hoosier Joyce Musser recommends her from-scratch recipe for a cereal-nut snack mix, requested by L.D. of Chicago, and the California Raisin Marketing Board recommends its recipes for Maple Raisin- Walnut Sticky Buns and Rum Raisin Bread Pudding.

With Christmas just around the corner, two urgent requests are being answered by the spice experts at McCormick.

With the holidays approaching, Swap Shop is filling requests for BLT Dip for J.E. of Chicago, cheese balls or logs for A.H. of Evanston, quick appetizers for S.R. of Chicago, Oatmeal Scotchies for L.B. of Melrose Park and Sole Veronique from the California Table Grape Commission for M.A. of Tinley Park, who requested an easy, fail-safe fish recipe she could make for her boyfriend and his parents on Christmas Eve.

'Tis the season when requests for cookie and candy recipes abound, and this week is no exception.