Blending made easy

Dear Heloise: I’ve discovered that when I make a cook-and-serve pudding, I need to stir the mix into the cold milk and bring it to a boil while stirring constantly. Unfortunately, the pudding mix takes a long time to blend with cold milk. So, before I start, I place the needed amount of cold milk in a microwave-safe bowl and warm it up. Then, when I mix the milk and pudding mix together, they blend much easier. I save time and frustration when I warm the milk first. -- Mary-jane M., Sandy, Utah SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise P.O. Box 795001 San Antonio, TX 78279-5001 Fax: 1-210-HELOISE Email: Heloise@heloise.com

COFFEE FACTS Dear Heloise: My husband and I love coffee, and we drink it every day. My in-laws say coffee is very bad for our health, and we should switch to tea, which I don’t care for. Somehow, I find this argument to be absurd, since my husband and I are in our late 40s and in excellent health (or so our primary physician tells us).

Does coffee have a negative effect on a person’s health? -- Yuma, in Arizona

Yuma, since each person is a different individual with their own health issues, I can only give you some facts so that you can judge for yourself:

-- According to Harvard Health Publishing, researchers have discovered that moderate coffee consumption (about 3 to 5 cups per day) leads to a longer life span, as well as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and possibly a lower rate of endometrial cancer.

-- Coffee contains micronutrients of potassium, magnesium and niacin.

-- Finland consumes more coffee per person than any other country. On average, they drink about 5 cups per person daily. -- Americans as a whole drink about 400 million cups of coffee every day.

-- According to the Mayo Clinic, 8 ounces of brewed decaf coffee still contains anywhere from 2 to 12 mg of caffeine.

If you love coffee or tea, there are many recipes to spice up your beverage and make it a little more interesting. You’ll find new ways to serve coffee or tea to your guests in my pamphlet, ”heloise’s Flavored Coffee and Teas.” To get a copy, just go to www.heloise.com or send $3 along with a stamped, self-addressed, long envelope to: Heloise/coffee, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Enjoy your coffee or tea!

RECIPE HANGS ON A CLAMP

Dear Heloise: I love to try new recipes, and I found that I can clip a recipe onto an office clamp glued to the inside of a cabinet at eye level over my counter workspace. It’s easy to read and follow. -- Brenda C., Gulfport, Mississippi