HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: For years, I’ve been using various kitchen tools to help me in the kitchen and do jobs that they weren’t originally designed for. I thought I’d share some of these with you and your readers:

■ I use a tea strainer filled with herbs and spices to flavor soups and stews. You just have to remove the strainer before serving. You can also fill a strainer with confectioners’ sugar and use it to sprinkle the sugar over pastries such as cakes and muffins.

■ I use an old potato masher to break up ground beef and sausage while it’s cooking. m I use an egg slicer to cut small, firm tomatoes, eggs and strawberries.

■ I use a milk frother to mix other small batches of things. I recently mixed whipping cream with my frother to add on top of a pudding that I made.

■ I tenderize chicken and meat by wrapping it in cling wrap, then using my metal rolling pin to pound the meat. m I’ve known a number of people who use a pastry slicer to blend or chop up eggs for an egg salad or to chop up potatoes to make hash browns.

— Dianna F., Erie, Pa.

DEAR HELOISE: We recently were out on a picnic, and our dog got away from us and ran after a squirrel. We stayed until after dark looking for our beloved dog. Finally, we had to go home.

A day later, a man called to say that he’d found our dog. Our dog had been microchipped, which is what saved him from ending up at a shelter or the city pound, or wandering off never to be found. Please urge all your readers to get their pets microchipped. And have them wear a tag that says they are microchipped.

— Marilyn Y., Macon, Ga.

DEAR HELOISE: My husband and I gladly give to our church and local charities. We look at Charity Navigator to check on a multitude of mail from those needing our money.

How do we find enough to give? When it’s too rainy to golf, we use that money to give to others. I also do my nails myself once in a while so I can give that money to others. (Do I fix my own hair? Never. I do have to feel fairly good about myself.)

I love reading your column daily!

— B.S., in California

DEAR HELOISE: Two for one: After each shower, I wipe it down with a sponge and, in the process, I will get my stretches and bends in without thinking about it, and always a clean shower.

— Dot from Michigan