Washing wine glasses

DEARHELOISE » Should I put my wine glasses in the dishwasher?

— Cindy in Indiana Cindy, yes, hand-washing wine glasses runs the risk of breaking them by dropping them in the sink. So washing them in the dishwasher is best. Load them on the top rack, if possible. They shouldn’t touch each other or any other items. Use a rinse aid if you have hard water, and set the dishwasher on a non-heated drying cycle.

Cornbread dressing

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so I thought I’d share my mother’s original cornbread dressing recipe, which hopefully will be a big hit with your family. To make it you’ll need:

1 cup of turkey broth from cooking the giblets and neck, or 1 cup chicken broth

6-8 slices of stale bread, torn into pieces

1 ½ packed cups of crumbled cornbread

1 stick of butter or margarine

½ to 1 cup chopped celery

½ cup chopped onion

2 eggs, beaten

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 teaspoon sage

Pour broth over breadcrumbs and cornbread in a large bowl. Mix until all the “bread” is moist. Using a large skillet, saute the celery and onions in butter until tender. Combine the bread mixture, celery, onions, beaten eggs, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and sage. Mix well.

To cook separately, place the dressing in a large casserole dish that has been coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 35- 45 minutes.

Anodized aluminum

DEARHELOISE » I was given a set of anodized aluminum cookware as a wedding gift, but I know nothing about this type of cookware. How safe is it to use every day?

— Paula in Delaware Paula, these surfaces are hardened and sealed by an electrochemical process to get a nonstick, scratch-resistant surface that allows for fat-free cooking. These pots and pans tend to be durable, cook evenly and quickly and don’t leach materials into foods.

IS IT ORGANIC?

DEARHELOISE » What qualifies a fruit or vegetable to be organic? Are they really better for us?

— Patty in Mississippi Patty, organically grown fruits and vegetables are those farmed without the use of synthetic pesticides or unnatural fertilizers, which remain on the food and need to be thoroughly washed off before eating. Organic foods are more nutritious, having more antioxidants, and people with food allergies find their symptoms lessen if they eat only organic foods.

Everyone, including wildlife, benefits from organic farming.