HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: My two “loves” are gardening and baking. Every year, I seem to grow an overabundance of zucchini. I don’t want to let it go to waste, so I shred it in my food processor and freeze it in freezer bags. When I get in the mood to bake zucchini bread, I just thaw out a freezer bag of zucchini and start baking.

— Violet C., Ponca City, Okla. DEAR READER: Let the zucchini thaw and put it in a fresh green salad.

DEAR HELOISE: If you want to improve the flavor of homemade bread and give it a crisp top, brush the top of the loaf with vinegar just before baking. I use apple-cider vinegar or sometimes balsamic for a different taste. — Beth W., Martinsville, Ind. DEAR READER: What a great hint. And vinegar has so many wonderful uses. Place a bowl or two of vinegar in a freshly painted room to dispel the paint odor.

DEAR HELOISE: We love to barbecue in the summer months, but it’s important to never place cooked meats, fish or chicken on the same plate you used to carry the raw meat. Bacteria from the uncooked food can contaminate the plate and utensils.

— Casey G., Emmaus, Pa.

DEAR HELOISE: I’m looking at new dinnerware for 12 to use when we entertain. Since this will be a considerable expense, I want to select the right type, something that will last for years. Which is a better investment, porcelain china or bone china?

— April T., Cranston, R.I. DEAR APRIL: Porcelain and bone chinas are known for their strength and chip-resistance. Quality porcelain dinnerware is as durable as bone china. The main differences are:

Porcelain china often is thicker than bone china.

Some porcelain china brands can go from oven to table, whereas bone china cannot be used in the oven.

Bone china must contain 25 percent bone ash, except in England, where it is required to contain 50 percent bone ash. This typically helps strengthen the china.

Bone china is considered a stronger material, but porcelain and bone chinas will hold up well over time if proper care is given.

They both are excellent choices. Dinnerware can be handed down for generations if well cared for and protected.