Entertaining your children for the holidays
Dear Heloise: With the holidays upon us, I love having a big dinner at my home for my family and friends. We have the adult’s table and the children’s table. For the children’s table, I cover it with thick white paper that comes on a roll and tape it down under the edges of the table. Then, I get out crayons, colored pencils and markers. Last year, I told them to draw the stable where Jesus was born and the Three Wise Men, along with Mary and Joseph. One of the very young kids got a little confused and drew three pilgrims, one of which was presenting Mary and Joseph with a baked turkey. Still, it kept them busy and out of the kitchen while dinner was being prepared.
— Mavis H., Seneca Falls, NY Mavis, that is a great idea for the children. I had one reader write and tell me that she does something very similar but on blank place mats. Either way, most children enjoy being creative.
— Heloise
Shopping idea
Dear Heloise: In my family, we have 11 grandchildren, and with the coming holidays in December, I like to get a head start on shopping for my grandchildren. I don’t buy for the adults, but I really enjoy shopping for the kids.
To make sure it’s affordable for me, I actually start shopping in July. I’ll see something (usually on sale), think of one of the kids and know that one of the children would enjoy that item as a gift. I purchase the item and put a child’s name in the box or bag to remind me of who gets what. When the holidays get here, I have a nice gift for each child, and the expense was spread out so that it wasn’t a big shock financially at the end of the year.
— Rose W., Ironwood, Mich.
Wooden kitchen utensils
Dear Heloise: I love to use wooden spoons and other utensils when I’m cooking. I guess it’s because we used wooden kitchen bowls and spoons so often when I was growing up. To clean them, never place them in a dishwasher. Use hot water and a little salt and scrub with microfiber cloth. Rinse well.
Afterward, you might want to give the wooden items a soak in hydrogen peroxide for about 20 minutes. This step does NOT have to be done every time you use something wooden, but try to do it about once a month. Then, heavily coat the wooden items in mineral oil. Some folks swear by olive oil instead, but I use mineral oil and let the items soak it in overnight. In the morning, just wipe off the excess oil. Once in a while, buy yourself a few new wooden kitchen tools.
— Lorrain P., El Paso, Texas
No more stains
Dear Heloise: My favorite coffee cup was stained, so I mixed together a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and salt, and made a paste out of it. Then, I took a small section of a paper towel, covered the inside of the cup and let it sit for two hours. I then scrubbed the cup with the paste, and it came out sparkling clean.
— Casey L., Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.