Muffin tin makes for excellent to-go box

Dear Heloise: Our Bible study group is 12 ladies. We have a brunch at the end of the year. We all bring a favorite dish, and everything is delicious. One friend could not attend, so I brought a 12-sectioned muffin tin to the brunch and placed one food item in each muffin section. I delivered it to her after the brunch so that she would be able to enjoy our brunch goodies. — Corrinne Berk- land, Universal City, Texas

Shoe hint

Dear Heloise: Years ago when I worked in an office, whenever I found a brand and style of shoe that I loved, I would buy a pair in every color that I liked. One day I discovered at lunchtime that I had accidentally put on two different colored shoes — one black and one gray. After that, I used a permanent marker to write the color of the shoe on the underside of each shoe where it would not wear off. I was never embarrassed (in that way) again. — Madeline C., Rutland, Vermont

Baking soda solution

Dear Readers: To remove burned food from cookware, fill the pan with enough water to cover the bottom, add 3 tablespoons of baking soda and simmer on the stove until the burned food comes off.

Baking soda also can be used for cleaning, deodor- izing and cooking. Learn more uses in my pamphlet “Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes.” To get a copy, send $5 and a long, self-ad- dressed, stamped (78 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. — Heloise

Getting rid of hiccups

Dear Heloise: I saw on TV that a doctor developed a straw that restricts the flow of the drink, and that action gets rid of hiccups. But instead of buying one, I took a reg- ular straw like you get with a fast food drink or you can buy in a pack at the dollar store. I pinched it near the top to restrict the flow as I was trying to sip a drink. That action got rid of my hiccups quickly, just as the adver- tised straw says it can do. I didn’t have to go out and buy something; I already have recycled straws at home. — Kathy Rodriguez, via email