HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: I love my great-grandmother’s old china dishes, but I rarely use them because they’re over 100 years old. I store them in a cupboard, but my husband said the weight of stacked dishes could crack the ones on the bottom. Is that true?

— Gina L., Altoona, Pa. DEAR READER: It’s possible something like that could happen. Try placing paper plates or plastic shelf liner between the plates, all of them, and perhaps stacking them in smaller stacks, which puts less weight on the bottom plates.

DEAR HELOISE: How can I make pound cake a little more exciting?

— Karen T., Crofton, Md. DEAR READER: Heat about ½ cup of preserves and 1 tablespoon of flavored liqueur in a small saucepan, and dribble it over a slice of pound cake. Or dribble some chocolate sauce over a slice, and add a few fresh raspberries on top.

DEAR HELOISE: You had a fudge recipe in one of your books that my family loved. Unfortunately, it went up in flames when we had a fire in the family room. Would you please reprint that? — Jean R., White City, Ore. DEAR READER: In my book In the Kitchen With Heloise, I have a recipe that everyone seems to love. Here it is:

4½ cups granulated sugar 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated

milk

3 (6-ounce) packages

chocolate chips

1 (10-ounce) package

miniature marshmallows ½ cup butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups chopped nuts

Mix the sugar and milk in a large, heavy saucepan and slowly bring to a rolling boil. Let this mixture boil for 8 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the chocolate chips, marshmallows and butter (or margarine). Mix only until the chips and the marshmallows are melted. Add the vanilla and nuts, and blend. Spread the mixture in a large, ungreased pan; let cool and enjoy.

DEAR HELOISE: How long should you keep mayonnaise if it’s refrigerated? I say it’s OK up to three months. He says it’s only good up to three weeks.

— Kaylee V., Indiana DEAR READER: Mayonnaise and most salad dressings, unopened on the shelf, can keep two to three months. In the refrigerator, after the jar has been opened, it’s good to use six to eight weeks.