Cookie time

DEAR HELOISE »

With my children home all day, I’ve done more baking than usual. Since my kids are very young, they enjoy helping, so I let them decorate sugar cookies. I just measure out about 2 or 3 tablespoons of white sugar in a small bowl, add a few drops of food coloring and keep stirring until all the sugar is colored. Cookies decorated by my kids may not look appetizing, but it keeps them busy for a time, and I love that they are learning to help in the kitchen.

— Vivian in Maine SANDWICH SPREAD

DEAR HELOISE »

I’m trying to find different recipes to serve my family, and I remember having made your Olive Nut Dip. Everyone loved it, but now I can’t find the recipe. Would you reprint it so my family and I can enjoy it during one of our movie marathon evenings?

— Glenda in Utah Glenda, this is an all-time favorite of mine, so here it is! You’ll need: 8 ounces cream cheese softened ½ cup real mayonnaise

½ cup pecans, chopped

1 cup sliced salad olives (the jar will say “salad olives”)

2 tablespoons juice from the olive jar

Dash of pepper, but NO SALT Some people like a little dash of hot sauce, but this is optional.

Mix all of the ingredients well and refrigerate for an hour or so. If you need a larger batch, just double the amounts listed.

FYI: If you want to cut calories, spread the Olive Nut recipe on large lettuce leaves instead of crackers or bread.

NOT SO CRUMBY

DEAR HELOISE »

When a recipe calls for breadcrumbs as a binding agent, such as in crab cakes, I use instant mashed potatoes. The instant mashed potatoes work a little better than breadcrumbs to hold all the ingredients together and allow me to form perfectly shaped round patties. It also gives a richer taste to the food.

— Janet in Virginia NO MESS TACOS

DEAR HELOISE »

While watching sports together, my husband and two sons often request that I make tacos for them. I always hated the mess that was left when they took the first bite and the taco shell broke.

Now I put a lettuce leaf in first, then add all the other toppings onto the lettuce leaf. If the taco shell breaks, and it usually does, the toppings still rest on the lettuce leaf instead of their shirts or the rug!

— Lupe in Texas

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Write to Heloise at P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; Fax 210-HELOISE; or email Heloise@ Heloise.com.