HELPFUL HINTS

— DEAR READERS: Here is this week’s sound off, about sick children in a doctor’s waiting room:

“My daughter’s pediatrician has the waiting room broken up into two sections. There is a ‘well’ waiting area and a ‘sick’ waiting area. When my daughter is sick and I take her to the doctor, I am the only one sitting in the ‘sick’ area. Everyone else has his or her sick kids in the other part of the waiting room, contaminating it! I am sure I am not the only one who follows the guidelines and gets frustrated by this.

  • Sonya in Colorado

Oh my! The doctor’s office is where you should be safe from germs; however, it’s not safe, in many cases. Arm yourself with hand sanitizer or wipes. If you are really upset, ask the receptionist if there is somewhere you can wait away from all of the sick children.

DEAR READERS: Other uses for compact-disc cases:

Slip colored paper inside and use as coasters.

Place DVDs in them.

Hold recipe cards to protect from splatters.

Make into picture frames.

Place under candles to protect the surface from wax.

DEAR HELOISE: I remember you had a recipe for “One-Pot Chicken,” I believe is what you called it. Could you reprint that recipe?

  • Janie in Utah

DEAR READER: Heloise’s One-Pot Chicken, Potatoes and Peas is easy to make, low-cost and delicious. I would be happy to print it. You need:1 cup chopped onion 1 cup diced potato ( ½ -inch cubes) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped celery 1 cup water 1 bay leaf 1/8 teaspoon thyme Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 cup canned peas 2 3-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Take a large, heavy skillet and heat it. Add onion and potato, and cook over medium heat until they start to brown.

Add remaining ingredients except peas and chicken. Bring to a boil and stir. Add chicken and reduce heat to simmer.

Cover and cook for about 12 minutes. Add peas and continue cooking until liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes. Serve and garnish with parsley. Buy chicken when it’s on sale and freeze it, and you will always have some on hand.

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

ActiveStyle, Pages 30 on 02/18/2013

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