New tricks
DEAR HELOISE » I read your column in the Tribune Star in Terre Haute, Indiana. I’m 80 years old and still learn new tricks. I had a badly burned pan, and my son told me to fill the pan with hot water from the faucet and put in two dryer sheets and leave in overnight. The next morning the pan wiped clean. You can use liquid softener too!
— Mary H., Terre Haute, Ind.
DEAR HELOISE » Even though I use a marble cutting board and roller, my dough always stuck to both of these. You can’t refrigerate the marble cutting board without condensation on it as soon as you start to use it, but I realized I had a couple of those handy gel ice packs in the freezer. I took them out and placed them on the counter under the cutting board. It worked like a charm. I was able to make up crusts with only minimal flour added.
— Teri in Texas
DEAR READERS » Tea has been with us for a very long time. In fact, it’s believed tea was first used in China around 2737 B.C. The oldest tea leaves were discovered in 2016 in the tomb of Emperor Jing of Han, who was buried around 141 B.C.
Globally, over 3 million tons of tea is produced every year. Here in the U.S., more than 1.42 million pounds in weight of tea is consumed in just a single day, every day. At one time tea was so valuable that pirates liked to plunder tea carrying ships in the South China Sea.
The most famous of these pirates was Black Bart, who preferred tea to rum. Now that’s a surprise!
If you want some great coffee and tea recipes, you might enjoy my pamphlet “Heloise’s Flavored Coffees and Teas.” To get a copy, go to Heloise.com, or send $3, along with a stamped, self-addressed (75 cents) envelope to: Tea, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.
In the 16th and 17th centuries tea was so valuable that it was sometimes used as currency!
DEAR HELOISE » I inherited some beautiful crystal bowls, platters and vases, most of which are used only on holidays and special occasions. I love these pieces and wash them very carefully by hand. After washing them I usually place them in soft felt bags that I made for each piece. My sister uses a cling wrap, but I prefer these bags because they don’t stick to the item inside. I store them in a cupboard and will one day pass them on to my own children, and they’ll look as good as the day they were bought.
— Geri A., Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
DEAR GERI » it’s so nice that you appreciate your treasures enough to take excellent care of them. Sometimes a bowl, platter or other serving items will hold happy memories for your children. I have a large apple shaped bowl that was a wedding gift to my mother, and I use it frequently. It was used on many occasions when I was growing up.