Washing wine glasses
Dear Heloise: Should I put my wine glasses in the dishwasher? — Cindy in Indiana
Cindy, yes, hand-washing wine glasses runs the risk of breaking them by dropping them in the sink. So washing them in the dishwasher is best. Load them on the top rack, if possible. They shouldn't touch each other or any other items. Use a rinse aid if you have hard water, and set the dishwasher on a non-heated drying cycle. — Heloise
CORNBREAD DRESSING
Dear Readers: Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so I thought I'd share my mother's original cornbread dressing recipe, which hopefully will be a big hit with your family. To make it you'll need:
1cupofturkeybroth from cooking thegibletsand neck, or1cupchicken broth 6-8slicesofstalebread,
torn intopieces
1 ½ packedcupsof
crumbledcornbread 1 stickofbutteror
margarine ½ to1cupchoppedcelery ½ cupchoppedonion 2eggs, beaten ¾ teaspoonsalt ½ teaspoonpepper 1 teaspoonpoultry
seasoning 1 teaspoonsage
Pour broth over breadcrumbs and cornbread in a large bowl. Mix until all the“bread”is moist. Using a large skillet, saute the celeryand onions in butter until tender. Combine the breadmixture, celery, onions, beaten eggs, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and sage. Mixwell.
To cook separately, place the dressing in a large casserole dish that has been coatedwith cooking spray. Coverand bake at 325
degrees for35-45 minutes.
This recipe, along with six more of my mother's originals, are in my “Heloise's Main Dishes and More” pamphlet. To get a copy, visit www. Heloise.com or send $3, along with a long, selfaddressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope to: Heloise's/Main Dishes, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. This cornbread dressing is not only delicious with turkey, but is a tasty complement to a holiday ham. — Heloise
ANODIZED ALUMINUM
Dear Heloise: I was given a set of anodized aluminum cookware as a wedding gift, but I know nothing about this type of cookware. How safe is it to use every day? — Paula in Delaware
Paula, these surfaces are hardened and sealed by an electro-chemical process to get a nonstick, scratch-resistant surface that allows for fat-free cooking. These pots and pans tend to be durable, cook evenly and quickly and don't leach materials into foods. — Heloise
IS IT ORGANIC?
Dear Heloise: What qualifies a fruit or vegetable to be organic? Are they really better for us? — Patty in Mississippi
Patty, organically grown fruits and vegetables are those farmed without the use of synthetic pesticides or unnatural fertilizers, which remain on the food and need to be thoroughly washed off before eating. Organic foods are more nutritious, having more antioxidants, and people with food allergies find their symptoms lessen if they eat only organic foods.
Everyone, including wildlife, benefits from organic farming. — Heloise
Send amoney-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, SanAntonio, TX78279-5000, 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 inmy column.