Storing ‘natural’ peanut butter

Dear Heloise: I buy the natural peanut butter, the kind where you have to stir the oil into the solid peanut butter. I usually store the peanut butter jar upside down so the oil collects at the bottom of the jar. In this way, I can stir the oil into the peanut butter without splashing it all over my counters.

— Mary-Ann R., Aurora, Colorado

Baked Italian chicken

Dear Heloise: During these warm days of the year, I like to make a nice dinner for my family, but I hate spending time in the kitchen. We have a pool, and we like to have dinner outside on warmer summer nights by the pool. Anything that’s quick to prepare, tastes good and allows me to spend time with my family is fine with me.

— Courtney B., Boerne, Texas

Courtney, my baked Italian chicken is one of my favorite go-to recipes for summer dining. It’s simple to make and has only a few ingredients. You’ll need:

1 chicken, cut up or equivalent in parts

1 8-ounce bottle low-fat (or regular) Italian salad dressing

1 medium onion, peeled and sliced 4 medium potatoes, sliced (peeled or not) into bite-size pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with a nonstick spray. Place the chicken in the casserole dish and cover with the Italian dressing. Top with onions and potatoes. Bake for about 1 hour or until done.

Serve this with a tossed salad and some good bread, and you have a tasty, nutritious dinner that basically keeps you out of the kitchen and doing the things you enjoy.

If dinners like this are something you enjoy, you can get a copy of my “All-Time Favorite Recipes” pamphlet. Just go to www.Heloise.com or send a stamped (75 cents), self-addressed, long envelope, along with $5 to: All-Time Favorite, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-50011.

Why spend the beauty of summer cooking in a kitchen when you can be enjoying activities you really like to do and spending time with the people you love? — Heloise