HINTS FROM HELOISE A desk that travels

DEAR HELOISE >> A rectangularshaped metal cake pan with a lid makes an excellent TRAVEL DESK for writing or drawing. You can store paper, crayons, markers and more inside the pan, and can use the top as a desk for kids to lay paper on and color or draw pictures of passing scenes.

— Simone in Bethlehem, Pa. DEAR HELOISE >> I inherited my great-grandmother’s beautiful grapefruit spoon, but we use it only when we have grapefruit. The rest of the time it just sits in a drawer. Are there other ways to use this lovely spoon?

— Maxine R., Pratt, Kan. DEAR MAXINE R. >> Maxine, grapefruit spoons can really come in handy when you want to core tomatoes or apples. DEAR HELOISE >> How can I prevent my three young boys from constantly having chapped lips all winter?

— Rae-Ann S., Cambridge, Mass. DEAR RAE-ANN S. >> Rae-Ann, put petroleum jelly on their lips when they go outside. Get them each a lip balm, and have them use it during the day. DEAR HELOISE >> How do bakers get that shiny crust on their pies?

— Norma L., Florence, Ore. DEAR NORMA L. >> Norma, they use vinegar! That’s right — they take the pie crust out of the oven a little before it finishes baking, brush the crust with white vinegar, then return it to the oven to finish baking.

P.S. And speaking of vinegar, let’s correct a couple of beliefs concerning one of my favorites:

1. Adding vinegar to the water when poaching eggs will not keep the whites from running. Nor will it make it easier to peel a hard-boiled egg.

2. Adding vinegar to the washer to set colors does not work. Modern dyes are unaffected by vinegar. DEAR HELOISE >> While cooking a couple of potatoes in my microwave, one of them exploded. Why did that happen? — Pam C., Ironwood, Mich. DEAR PAM C. >> Pam, always take a fork and poke holes in the potatoes before cooking in the microwave. This lets the steam out and prevents an exploding problem. DEAR HELOISE >> Just a reminder to your many readers to mulch their gardens in October. We all get busy and sometimes forget these things, but your plants will survive harsh winter storms with a nice, thick coat of mulch. It will retain not only warmth, but moisture as well.

— Wendy L., Elk River, Minn. DEAR WENDY L. >> DID YOU KNOW? DEAR READERS >> A profiterole is a pastry or cream puff filled with custard and drizzled with chocolate sauce — super sweet! Write to Heloise at P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; Fax 210-HELOISE; or email Heloise@ Heloise.com.