DEAR HELOISE: There is a great way to grate cheese and not have a mess afterward. Use a stand-alone box grater and place it inside a very large plastic bag. Zip-close bags are best for this task. Grate the cheese, and you'll notice that it all goes into the bag. Take out what you need, then zip it shut and put the rest in the refrigerator.
-- Lucy A., Mesa, Ariz.
DEAR HELOISE: What is meant when a label says "from concentrate"? My husband says juice from concentrate is of poorer quality.
-- Penny F., Illinois
DEAR READER: Penny, water is removed from the product (usually fruit), and it becomes "concentrated." Water is later added back to restore the concentrated product to its normal state for consumption. This does not affect the vitamins and minerals in the juice.
DEAR HELOISE: I have a cucumber dish that my friends love, and it's so easy to make:
1 or 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup sour cream
Place sliced cucumber in a bowl. Mix sour cream and vinegar together, and gently stir into cucumbers. Chill for 30 minutes.
-- Frances G., Indiana
DEAR HELOISE: When a recipe calls for a "dry" white wine, I never know what to use. Any suggestions?
-- Candice V., Wyoming
DEAR READER: A dry white wine could be pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc or chardonnay, for example. When a recipe calls for dry, it's probably best to stick with a dry wine rather than substituting a sweet wine.
DEAR HELOISE: My husband calls me the "Dollar Store Diva" because I find so many great buys in those types of places. One of my favorite tricks is to buy cheap plastic plates, especially seasonal ones, and use them to give away cookies, cake, etc. They're so much prettier than plain paper plates, and can always be reused.
-- Danielle D., Texas
DEAR HELOISE: I love a breath mint that comes in a little tin. When I'm finished with the mints, I paint the tins and attach a label describing what's inside. I have one for extra earring backs, one for single earrings (in case I find their mate), one for safety pins, etc.
-- Carrie D., Maine
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 03/21/2018