Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR HELOISE: Would you please repeat the storage times for some common frozen foods?
— Emma F., Hot Springs DEAR READER: Here are some times for you:
■ Beef (ground): three to four months.
Chicken parts: nine months. Fish (cooked): three months. ■ Ham: one month.
■ Lamb: six to nine months. ■ Shrimp (in the shell): six to 12 months. ■ Vegetables: eight months.
DEAR HELOISE: Could you please print the recipe for Irish Cake?
— Dorothy K., Middletown, N.J. DEAR READER: I think you mean “Irish Bread,” which you’ll find in my book In the Kitchen With Heloise. You’ll need:
1 cup prepared biscuit mix ¼ cup raisins
1 teaspoon caraway seeds ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons milk Butter (for serving)
Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Mix all the ingredients (except the butter) quickly and lightly, and put in a well-greased 6-inch skillet. Bake about 12-15 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve quickly with lots of butter.
DEAR HELOISE: One Christmas Eve morning a couple of years ago, I turned on the oven to bake another pan of cookies. There was an explosion. The heating element had broken, and flames filled the oven. I turned the oven off, leaving the door closed. I also unplugged the oven and turned off the circuit breaker. Just think how dangerous that would have been if the stove had been unattended.
— Marian D., Indiana DEAR READER: We have received letters from readers who left the house while an appliance was in use and it caught on fire. If you’re using a dryer, dishwasher or any appliance, turn it off before leaving the house.
DEAR HELOISE: My sister-in-law is coming for a visit, and she is a vegan. No meat, no dairy, no eggs for the entire time she is here. She is very picky about what she eats. How on earth am I going to feed this person?
— Connie W., Arizona DEAR READER: You might want to check out some vegan cookbooks from the library or look online. You’ll find recipes that everyone can enjoy. You can always serve a salad with meals, which is a healthy addition to any lunch or dinner. Fruit and nuts make a nice dessert.