DEAR HELOISE: On a blustery day, there's nothing as satisfying as a hot bowl of soup. You had a recipe for an Italian soup that was out of this world. Would you repeat that recipe?
-- Olivia G., Edina, Minn.
DEAR READER: Yes, of course, and here it is:
Italian Pasta Soup
3 16-ounce cans stewed tomatoes
2 16-ounce cans cannellini beans (small white beans)
4 cups water
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 small onion, diced
2 carrots, sliced
Pinch each of sweet basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, salt, pepper
3 to 6 hot dogs, sliced
1 cup (raw) elbow macaroni (prepared according to package directions)
In a large pot, heat stewed tomatoes and cannellini beans. Add the 32 ounces of water. Stir in celery, onion and carrots. Sprinkle with basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until vegetables are cooked, about 1 hour. Add sliced hot dogs and simmer an additional 15 minutes. In another pot, cook elbow macaroni until firm, but don't overcook. Rinse and drain. Add to soup, stir and serve. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Homemade soup in a thermos at school or the office is always a nice treat.
DEAR HELOISE: I found some type of algae floating in a bottle of vinegar in my pantry. This is a rice vinegar I bought for an Asian dish I was preparing, but now I'm afraid to use it.
-- Anna R., Florida
DEAR READER: Anna, those feathery bits that float in vinegar are called the "mother," and they are relatively harmless. They appear in unpasteurized vinegar because of the nonfermented sugar or alcohol. Use a strainer to strain out the mother, and the vinegar should be safe to use.
DEAR HELOISE: Can wine go bad?
-- Patty C., Washington
DEAR READER: Once in a while wine will go bad. Look for mold growth under the foil capsule. Red wine may have a tendency to look cloudy. Do not use it if that happens. If you taste vinegar in the wine, or the cork has been leaking, it may be spoiled or has been improperly stored. Wine usually is stored on its side to keep the cork wet, which is vital to keeping wine safe.
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 04/11/2018