HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: Both my husband and I love fresh carrots from the garden. However, my husband is English, and he believes that carrots should be boiled until they are very soft, just as his mother fixed them when he was a boy. I think they lose most of their nutrients and are just plain unappetizing prepared that way. How should carrots be cooked?

— Lucy R., Maine DEAR READER: The way carrots are cooked depends in part on personal preference. I like mine steamed. I cut up young carrots to about ¼- to ½-inch pieces, then I steam them for about five to six minutes. They retain some of their crunchy texture, and there is less vitamin C loss. If you want a softer carrot, steam them for about 10 to 12 minutes. I also like carrots baked, because it brings out a nutty/smoky taste when they are roasted about 20 minutes. Try one of these methods and see how you and your husband like carrots cooked some way other than boiling.

DEAR HELOISE: You have a recipe for cookies from cake mixes that I’ve always loved. I must have lost the recipe. Could you reprint it?

— Ada F., Sparks, Nev. DEAR READER: Here it is:

Heloise’s Cookies From Cake Mix

Choose any flavor of cake mix you’d like, and add up to ¼ cup of nuts, raisins or chocolate chips, or any combination of these three ingredients.

1 (18.25-ounce) box of cake mix 2 eggs

½ cup of vegetable oil

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix only the above ingredients in a large bowl until blended. Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. You must watch carefully, because they brown very quickly.

DEAR HELOISE: When I see a commercial about steak, it’s always half-raw in the middle. Is that the proper way to cook a steak?

— Gina W., Louisiana DEAR READER: You should cook steak to your own tastes. Since there are so many illnesses caused by bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cooking meat to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees. You might prefer a higher internal temperature, but, it depends on personal preference.