HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: The flames from the burners on my gas stove do not burn evenly. What should I do?

— Olivia T., Smyrna, Del. DEAR READER: First remove the grates over each burner and look to see if the holes are clogged. Clean them well with a toothbrush and make certain they’re grease-free. Then, using a toothpick, poke open each little hole to be sure there is nothing blocking them. That should do the trick. (If it doesn’t, contact the manufacturer.)

DEAR HELOISE: You have a recipe for an avocado stuffed with crabmeat that is second to none. I loaned the recipe card it was on to a friend, and she lost it. Could you please reprint it?

— Mary Ann B., Wyoming DEAR READER: Here’s what you will need:

½ avocado

3½ ounces crabmeat 1 tablespoon Romano cheese 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs

plus extra for topping 1 teaspoon fresh chopped

parsley

1 pat of butter Chopped green onion (tops included)

Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Remove the seed from the avocado. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the avocado so that it sits firmly on the plate. Mix the crabmeat, cheese, breadcrumbs and parsley. Fill the hollow of the avocado with the mixture, piling it into a rounded peak within the outside shell. Sprinkle with the extra breadcrumbs and top with butter. Place on a sheet of foil and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped green onion before serving.

This makes a serving for one. If you plan to serve more than one, multiply the ingredients by the number of people.

DEAR HELOISE: Do you know what is causing all the spots on bananas? Is it a disease?

— Marian D., Colorado DEAR READER: The banana develops those spots because the starch turns to higher levels of sugar. There is nothing wrong with the banana if it has “freckles,” and in fact, in a controlled Japanese study carried out at the University of Tokyo, researchers discovered that overripe bananas were rich in antioxidants. The more brown spots a banana has, the better, because those antioxidants destroy free radicals, which are believed to cause damage to the human body.