Smaller-size soup cans just don’t measure up

Dear Readers: Here is this week’s Sound Off, about the downsizing of canned products:

“I have a Sound Off: the downsizing of canned foods, especially cream soups. The smaller sizes mess up a lot of recipes I use them in. I usually double the recipes and have been adding another can of soup, which makes things a little more soupy than they should be.”—Beverly in Little Rock, Ark.

Beverly, the can size (or volume) has shrunk through the years. Are you using an old recipe? If you are doubling the ingredients to make two batches, the smaller size should make it less soupy rather than more. Most call for condensed soup. If you are using the regular soup, then yes, it’s probably going to be soupy. Readers, can anyone help Beverly?— Heloise

FAST FACTS Dear Readers: Here are other uses for fabric scraps:

Tie around a circular form and make a wreath.

Use to make a patchwork throw.—Heloise

RUST BEGONE Dear Heloise: What would you suggest is the best way to clean rust off a wrought-iron garden piece? It’s too big to dip or soak. If I sand it down, can I just cover it with a rust-preventing product? Won’t the rust just come back?—L. Vela, via email

Sounds like you are thinking in the right direction! Rust is not just an ugly sight, it’s the metal being dissolved. Do sand down as much as you can without harming the piece. Next, vinegar to the rescue! You will need a lot, so buy a gallon or two of plain old white or apple-cider vinegar. Next, place some old towels or a lot of paper towels over the rust spots, pour on the vinegar and let it soak. Check once in a while, and when you see the rust coming up on the towels, pour on more vinegar! Keep at it until you have removed as much as possible. Hose down the garden piece. Let dry, and you should be ready to paint with a paint that inhibits rust. Vinegar can work wonders on a lot of household problems. Want to find other solutions with this one simple bottle? Order my pamphlet to find out what else you can do with vinegar. To receive, go to my website, www.Heloise.com, or send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope to: Heloise/ Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Have a rusty padlock that no longer opens? Soak it in some vinegar to get it working again.—Heloise