DEAR HELOISE: This is a hint on how to cook vegetables: If they are grown underground, put them in cold water and then cook. If they are grown above ground, put them in boiling water and cook.
-- V.J. in North Carolina
DEAR HELOISE: I would like to know how to clean the dark burnt spots off the inside of pans without scratching.
-- Dennis Y., California
DEAR READER: Try one of the following:
Pour white vinegar in the bottom of the pan and soak for 30 minutes or longer, then scrub and rinse.
Put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Simmer on the stove until the gunk starts to lift. With scrubbing, the pot should be sparkling clean.
DEAR HELOISE: Plastic or wood cutting boards -- which is the best to use when preparing food?
-- Maria G. in San Antonio
DEAR READER: Plastic cutting boards are considered safer because they aren't as likely to harbor bacteria. If you use a wooden board, you can clean it with a mixture of 2 teaspoons of chlorine bleach plus 1 teaspoon of vinegar in a gallon of water. Re-season the wooden cutting board by rubbing it with mineral oil. Do not use a salad oil, as it might become rancid.
DEAR HELOISE: I have a recipe for the best hamburgers. Take two parts of lean hamburger meat and one part of ground sausage, mix well and shape into patties. Barbecue on the grill, fry or broil.
We were on vacation in Texas. We ate a hamburger, and it was good. The owner told me what they used.
-- Opal A., California
DEAR READERS: Here's a fun recipe your family will love: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil with the box of your favorite cake mix. (Use only the above ingredients, not the ingredients listed on the box.) You can add other things like nuts, raisins or chocolate chips to make your cookies special. Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes and let cool before serving.
The family gets homemade cookies without a lot of fuss or mess. And anytime you need to bake a lot of cookies for some function, this is the easy way to do it.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
Food on 08/14/2019