HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: I have a collection of mismatched socks. I never throw them away because they are perfect for dusting figurines. I just spray the cleaning solution onto the sock, and I can get into small places by putting my hand inside of the sock and gently moving it around. This is a great way to keep collectables dirt-free.

— Harriette N., Lima, Ohio

DEAR HELOISE: About a month ago, I was trying a new recipe that called for plantains. I figured since bananas are the same as plantains, I’d just use one of the bananas I had on hand. The recipe turned out to be a disaster. What went wrong? Aren’t plantains the same as bananas?

— Carmella W., Bozeman, Mont.

DEAR CARMELLA: There is a difference between bananas and plantains. First, plantains are larger than most bananas, and their skin is thicker. They also have a higher starch content than a banana. A plantain is ripe when the skin turns yellow or brown. If the skin is green, it’s not ripe yet. One of the best things about a plantain is that it can be eaten with sweet or savory dishes. It’s not unusual to cook a plantain with vegetables, and they are delicious when fried.

Bananas are best eaten with other fruit or when peeled and eaten as a snack. They are very rarely eaten in savory dishes.

DEAR HELOISE: This past winter, I seemed to catch a cold every other week! The worst part was having a sore throat and the disgusting throat spray I had to use to deaden the pain. In my mind, I told myself that this must be what swamp algae must taste like. Finally, I took a large tablespoon and turned it bowl-side up to cover my tongue before I sprayed my throat. This way, I covered my taste buds and still managed to deaden my throat.

— Sandra J., Newberry, S.C.

DEAR HELOISE: We have two blue-eyed white cats that were born deaf. It’s not unusual for their breed. Since they cannot hear us, we developed hand signals to keep them interested and communicate with them. They caught on quickly, and although we do talk to them, it’s our facial expressions and hand signals that really speak for us. They know the sign for “pretty kitty” and usually purr when they’re paid a compliment.

— Bob and Karen, Murray, Utah