Spinach with some zing!

Dear Heloise: I love FRESH SPINACH, but we like to add a few drops of vinegar to it. I serve it individually in some cute bowls I bought in Austria. This way, each of us in the family can put as much or as little vinegar as we want on the cooked spinach. It adds a little “zing” to an otherwise bland vegetable. — Libby H., Troutdale, Ore.

War cake

Dear Heloise: Some time ago, you printed a recipe for War Cake. I made it, and my husband loved it. He asked me to make one for his birthday, so would you please reprint that recipe, since I can’t fifind the one I had? — Courtney N. in Indiana

Courtney, here it is:

WAR CAKE

Use a medium- to largesize cooking pot/pan. Mix together 2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups hot water and 2 teaspoons shortening (or butter). Add 1/21/2 to 3/43/4 cup raisins and 1 teaspoon each of salt, cinnamon and cloves. Boil for 5 minutes after the mixture begins to bubble.

When the mixture is cold ( and it must be cold), add 3 cups of flflour and 1 teaspoon of baking soda that has been dissolved in a couple of teaspoons of hot water. Mix well. Pour into a greased tube pan and bake for about 1 hour at 350 to 375 F.

If you like my War Cake, you’ll love my Heloise’s Cake Recipes pamphlet, with unusual recipes to tempt even the most dedicated dieter. Send

$3, along with a long, stamped (71 cents), selfaddressed envelope, to: Heloise/Cakes, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Or you can order it online at www. Heloise.com. A delicious cake fifinishes offff a meal in style. — Heloise Lopsided pie shell

Dear Heloise: To avoid a lopsided pie shell or one that puffffffffffffs up in the middle, always take a fork and poke holes in the bottom of the crust before you bake it. — Debbie L., Nome, Alaska

Purifified water

Dear Heloise: What is meant by “purifified water”? Is it the same as “distilled water”? — Deanna H., Grafton, N.D.

Deanna, “purifified water” is devoid of all minerals and chemicals. Usually this isn’t consumed unless your doctor recommends it.

“Distilled water” is best used in things such as irons or steam cleaners to prevent any mineral buildup. It contains only a tiny amount of minerals. — Heloise

Write to Heloise in care of The Palm Beach Post, 2751 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33405-1233 or email Heloise@Heloise.com