HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: Now that the holidays are over, many of us are longing for spring and planting our gardens. No matter how small the yard, it’s always fun to grow some of your own vegetables.

Tomatoes are easy to grow in a wire cage or even in a pot. There’s nothing like homegrown vegetables, picked when they are ripe and ready to be eaten. It’s also nice to get the kids involved and teach them where their food comes from and how healthy it is to grow food that isn’t coated with wax or insect sprays, or isn’t genetically modified.

— Steve and Gloria, Marshall, Ill.

DEAR READERS: One of my favorite recipes is Garden Cheddar Soup. To make it, you’ll need:

2 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 small zucchini, halved and sliced

2 tomatoes, peeled and cut into wedges

1 celery stalk, sliced

1 cup portobello mushrooms, sliced

1 onion, halved and sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

4½ cups beef broth

1½ cups tomato juice

1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced

½ cup dry red wine

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground pepper

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a stockpot, add first nine ingredients and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in basil, wine, salt, pepper and parsley just before serving. Sprinkle the top of each serving with cheddar cheese.

DEAR HELOISE: How long will peanut butter last once it’s been opened?

— Lorna R., Bartlesville, Okla.

DEAR READER: Peanut butter keeps well in the pantry for about two to three months after opening. Then refrigerate it to last another three to four months.

DEAR HELOISE: Why is cottage cheese considered “diet food”?

— Kathy Y., Durango, Colo.

DEAR READER: Probably because it’s usually made from skim milk, and it’s fresh and unfermented. Cottage cheese is also low in fat, contains calcium and protein, but is relatively high in sodium compared with other dairy products.