Doughnut cutter helps remove pineapple core

Dear Heloise: My family loves fresh pineapple, so I often buy a pineapple and cut it up for them. The one chore I disliked the most was cutting out the center core, but by accident I found a simple way to do that chore. I use a doughnut cutter to get the center core out. It’s easy and quick for this task. — Lauren in Florida

NEAT AND TIDY

Dear Heloise: Several recipes I have for baking say to flour the greased pan. It always caused such a terrible mess. Then I had an idea! I took an empty plastic spice bottle, cleaned it and filled it with flour. Now I can sprinkle flour on my pans without the mess I used to have on my kitchen counter. The holes in the shaker cap are just the right size for sprinkling, and it makes baking much easier. — Esther in Iowa

FAST SHRIMP SPREAD

Dear Heloise: I lost my shrimp spread recipe when we remodeled the kitchen. Would you please repeat that recipe? My son and my husband both loved it. — Donna in Wisconsin

Donna, here it is. You’ll need:

Thoroughly mix the cream cheese and mayonnaise until well blended.

Mash or chop the shrimp and add to the mixture; stir in remaining ingredients. Refrigerate until needed. It’s best served at room temperature with crack- ers and veggies as a dip or spread on bread as a sand- wich. Do not let it sit out for more than one hour.

If you like this recipe, you’ll enjoy my pamphlet “Heloise’s All-Time Favor- ite Recipes.” To get a copy, visit www.Heloise.com or send $5, along with a long, self-addressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope to: Recipes, Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. This shrimp spread is a nice alternative to the usual dips found at parties and will never fail to please your guests and family. — Heloise

INSTANT CUTTING BOARD

Dear Heloise: I have always hated waste. I found that the bacon I buy has a firm plastic sheet under the bacon. I usually remove it from the package, wash it with soap and hot water, and use it as a cutting board. It’s saves my coun- tertop from being cut into. — Jason in Connecticut

Jason, that’s a clever use for the bacon back- ing, but please make sure the paper is thoroughly clean to reduce any cross- contamination. — Heloise

DISHASHER SAFETY

Dear Heloise: Just a reminder to your readers to never place knives in the dishwasher with the pointed end facing upward. I cut myself on the arm with a knife I had left point- ing up as I was reaching into the back of the dish- washer. I know I should wash knives by hand, but I don’t. — Charles in Ore- gon

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.