HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: My husband has to travel a couple of nights a week for business, which often leaves me free at dinnertime. Instead of going out to eat dinner alone, I plan ahead. Whenever I make a big dinner, I set aside a portion and freeze it. On the evenings my husband is gone, I microwave my “Mini Me-Meal” and enjoy a homecooked dinner

while watching my favorite shows on TV. — Sheila R., Tyler, Texas DEAR HELOISE: I had so many recipes I’d cut out of magazines that would get lost or torn. Finally, I bought a large photo album, and now I keep all my recipes in there. I have four such books: one for main dishes, one for vegetables and pasta, one for desserts, and one for heart-healthy recipes. Now I don’t lose recipes, and it’s so easy to find the one I want.

— Angie C., Henderson, Nev. DEAR HELOISE: I always hated the way oil would gather at the top of the peanut butter jar. I usually made a mess when I tried to stir it together with the peanut butter. Finally, a neighbor of mine told me to turn the jar upside-down on my pantry shelf. It was a little trick he learned from your column. Thanks, Heloise, for many years of informative information.

— Kathy and Susan,

Glenrock, Wyo. DEAR HELOISE: My husband and two sons love oatmeal at breakfast. They used to eat a sugary brand of oatmeal, but I didn’t like them consuming so much sugar. Things had to change. Now I make oatmeal with 1% fat milk instead of water and add just a little honey and some fruit. My husband liked the idea of eating healthier. The boys became accustomed to it very quickly, but then like most teenage boys, they just inhale food rather than eating it.

— Margie B., York, Pa. DEAR HELOISE: When I’m stopped at a red light or at a drive-thru, I often memorize the license plate number of the vehicle ahead of me. This is a good memory booster. — C.J., Waco, Texas

DEAR HELOISE: One day at a discount store, I examined the small ponytail elastics on display. I bought them and decided to try them in place of rubber bands. When I tested them, I found that for most small items, these are superior because they don’t break, they do not get twisted up, they are easy to handle and they can also be used on packages for the freezer. — Priscilla Zanni, Vancouver, Wash.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email