HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: How long does all-purpose flour last in the refrigerator?

— Dorothy D., Fayetteville, N.C. DEAR READER: All-purpose flour can last up to eight months on the shelf when stored in a tightly sealed container. If you keep it in the refrigerator, it can last as long as two years.

DEAR HELOISE: You had a recipe for Cole Slaw With Yogurt that was out of this world. Would you please reprint it?

— Rose J., Brighton, Mich. DEAR READER: This recipe is delicious with so many different meals, and with the holidays coming soon, it adds a nice touch to many traditional dinners. Here it is:

Cole Slaw With Yogurt

1/2 cup nonfat yogurt

1 small sweet pickle, minced 2 tablespoons green onion,

minced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup shredded cabbage 1/3 cup shredded carrot Combine the yogurt, pickle, onion, lemon juice and pepper in a bowl. Mix in cabbage and carrot (you might be able to find packaged shredded cabbage and carrots at your grocery store), making sure the yogurt mixture is evenly distributed and all of the cabbage and carrot gets well-coated. Chill.

DEAR HELOISE: I’ve heard that you can cook in the dishwasher. Is that true?

— Maud W., Tigard, Ore. DEAR READER: It had a brief popularity about 20 years ago and seems to be making a comeback. There are a few videos on the Internet on how to do this, which suggest cooking in canning jars. The running time of a dishwasher uses a lot of electricity, so perhaps cooking dinner and washing the dishes at the same time is environmentally friendly.

P.S. And speaking of dishwashers, here are some items that should not go in them, but instead should be washed by hand:

Wooden cutting boards: The heat will warp them and split the wood.

Cast iron skillet: This item needs to be “seasoned” to protect it.

Nonstick pans.

Good knives: You’ll dull the knife.

Soft plastics: They will warp.

Insulated drinkware. Metal-rimmed glasses or china: The dishwasher will remove the gold trim eventually.