Chill your pie-making tools

DEAR HELOISE >> Years ago when I'd help my mother make pies, she always told me to take the bowl, the mixing blades to the blender or mixer, spoons and anything else I used to make pies, and place them all in the refrigerator overnight. I also would put the marble slab we used in there as well. When we got ready to bake, everything was chilled, and for reasons I can't explain, the crust was always as light as a feather. My mother said it was because we chilled everything beforehand.

— Shannon M., Orem, Utah

DEAR HELOISE >> Please repeat your potato soup recipe so I can make it now that the weather has gotten so cold. My husband and I love a bowl of very hot soup and a salad on these chilly evenings.

— Karen T., Port Huron, Michigan

DEAR KAREN >> I'd love to repeat it for you. One of things I like best about winter is hot soup, so here it is. You'll need:

INGREDIENTS

4 medium potatoes, cubed

1 small onion, chopped

1 tablespoon shortening

1 cup water

2 cups milk

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

Dash of pepper

PROCEDURE

First, cook potatoes, onion, shortening and water in a large pot until potatoes are soft. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20to 30 minutes. This makes about 4 servings.

If you like a bowl of homemade soup on a cold winter day or evening you'll love my pamphlet “Heloise's Spectacular Soups.” And it's so easy to get a copy of this pamphlet. Just go to: Heloise.com or send $5, along with a stamped, self-addressed, long envelope to: Heloise/Soups, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

Here's an additional tasty tip: You can puree celery and onions in a blender and add the combination to most soups for extra flavor, without a whole lot of extra calories.

DEAR HELOISE >> My family loves it when I make homemade pizza, and I enjoy knowing everything I use is fresh and wholesome. However, even when I use a non-stick spray on my pizza pan, I still get dough that sticks to the pan. What am I doing wrong?

— Laura A., Bellevue, Washington

DEAR LAURA >> Try this: After spraying the pan with the non-sticking spray, sprinkle a tablespoon of cornmeal on the pan before placing the dough on it.

DEAR HELOISE >> I was in the middle of making a meatloaf when I found I was out of bread crumbs. Instead of driving to the grocery store, I reached for a box of oatmeal, and the meatloaf turned out just fine.

— Gloria C., Ocean Springs, Mississippi

DEAR GLORIA >> You can also use instant mashed potatoes or crushed soda crackers in an emergency like that, and the results will still be very tasty.