A new year’s cleaning
Dear Heloise: With a new year comes the desire to clean out my pantry in the kitchen. It’s a great time to get rid of those foods that are out of date or those that have been invaded by insects, usually weevils. I use a cup of bleach to a gallon of water to wash down the shelves, then I dry them and return the food to the pantry. Everything is organized and clean for the new year. — Mazie J., Klamath Falls, Ore.
Mazie, that’s a great idea! To all my readers, I wish for you a happy and healthy 2020! — Heloise
SWEET CEMENT
Dear Heloise: After years of having my brown sugar turn into cement once it was opened, I found a solution. I sealed it in a vacuum sealer, and voila! Even after a month or two, it is still soft. I thought others might find this helpful. — Pat C., Bessemer, Ala.
CHERRY SURPRISE
Dear Heloise: Please reprint your Cherry Surprise recipe. I haven’t made it in a long time and have forgotten how, but it was the special request of my son who is coming home on leave from the military. — Carrie in Mississippi
Carrie, anything for our men and women in uniform!
You’ll need to cream together 2 sticks butter or margarine and 2 cups sugar. Beat 3 eggs and add into the butter/sugar mixture. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons almond extract and 1 pint sour cream. Then add 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt; mix to blend. Last, stir in 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries and 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts. Bake in a greased and floured tube pan at 325 F for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. When the cake has cooled, sprinkle on powdered sugar.
If you like this delicious, easy-to-prepare dessert, you’ll love my pamphlet Heloise’s Cake Recipes. To get a copy, send a stamped (70 cents), self-addressed, long envelope, along with $3, to: Heloise/Cakes, Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Or you can order it online at www. Heloise.com. FYI: When using powdered cake mix, put the water in the bowl first, then the dry mix. This helps prevent powder pockets at the bottom of the bowl. — Heloise
GONE TO SEED
Dear Heloise: I always had a problem when I cleaned peppers. I never could get all the seeds out. I seemed to work forever to get them all out, but always had a lot left.
I don’t know how I found this out, but now I use a grapefruit spoon, and it works like a charm. Just scrape the inside of the pepper, and out they come. — Big D. in Ohio
HANDY HINTS
Dear Readers: Here are a few handy hints:
■ Microwave a lemon for 12-14 seconds and you’ll increase the juice it produces.
■ Use latex gloves to open stubborn jar lids.
■ Instead of using toothpicks for closing up stuffed pork chops or chicken breasts, try raw spaghetti. It’s edible!
— Heloise
Household Hints
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, 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.