Helpful Hints

DEAR HELOISE: I remember reading that it is easier to separate eggs when they are cold. Is this true?

-- Jenna D. in Indiana

DEAR READER: Yes, it is true. Cold eggs are easier to separate because everything is cold and not as runny. However, the older the egg, the more runny it will be. So a fresh egg is easier to separate, too. Depending on the recipe, most do call for room-temperature eggs. What to do? Separate the egg and set it out until it reaches room temperature.

DEAR HELOISE: I'd like to share a simple trick for keeping sour cream and cottage cheese from getting moldy after opening. Simply turn the carton upside down in the refrigerator.

-- Judy J., Allen, Texas

DEAR READER: Be sure the lid is on tight, and shake the contents down to make sure they cover the lid. Then place in a bowl or on a plate in case of leaking. I didn't one time ... and never again!

DEAR HELOISE: I bake a lot of cakes. I don't have the best handwriting when writing a message or decorating the cakes. I use a toothpick to "draw" the letters first or sketch out the design. Then I just follow the "nice-looking letters" with the decorating bag. Much better than trying to redo a mistake. I once spelled my mother-in-law's name wrong!

-- No Name in

Upstate New York

DEAR READER: Yikes! Bet that won't happen again.

DEAR HELOISE: I do love ice cream. Since it takes some time for me to eat a full gallon or a larger carton, I have found that placing wax paper over the ice cream once it has been opened will stop it from becoming icy on top, since the wax paper acts as a shield.

My daughter-in-law now uses this idea and says that it works wonderfully. I also make chocolate-pudding pies with no meringue on top, so I use wax paper on them, and they do not dry out or get a film on top.

-- Frankie Stanford,

Chillicothe, Texas

DEAR HELOISE: I have lived in several homes that had a pantry/broom closet, most of which only had about three high shelves.

I hang a shoe bag on the inside of the door. In its pockets I store all the smaller items that I need places for. For example, everything from spice packets to chocolate chips to rice.

-- Joy N., via email

DEAR HELOISE: I have one more sure way to avoid stinging/tearing eyes when chopping onions: I put a small, personal fan on the counter, turn it on low and then direct it over the onions. I have chopped five large onions without one stinging tear.

-- Rita, via email

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email

Heloise@Heloise.com

Food on 06/17/2015

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