DEAR HELOISE: My husband is the manager of a large supermarket, and he believes we all must be "supermarket smart" to get the most for our money. Here are some things your readers may not know:
• If you find large ice crystals on the outside of packaged frozen foods, it means the items were thawed and then refrozen. Never purchase this type of product.
• Jars that are sticky on the sides may have been opened or sampled, but no matter what, don't buy an item if it's sticky on the outside.
• When buying fruits or vegetables, remember that it's the heaviest, not necessarily the largest, that are the best value for your money.
• Don't be afraid to return an item. If it doesn't meet your expectations or the manufacturer's promises, return it.
-- Laura O., Florida
DEAR READERS:
• After boiling potatoes, save the water to polish silver. Put a dish towel on the bottom of the pot to protect the silver, then place your silver items in the tepid water.
• Stung by a jellyfish? Use meat tenderizer to relieve the pain. Mix 1/2 teaspoon with 1 teaspoon water and apply. This also works on tick and bug bites.
• Baking powder will keep its full strength for about one year.
DEAR HELOISE: Here is my favorite salmon recipe. It's so easy, and the salmon takes on a nice flavor without a strong "fishy" taste:
4 to 6 salmon steaks
1 cup dry white wine
Juice of one lemon (at room temperature)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon capers
Combine all ingredients in a glass baking pan, and marinate the salmon steaks for 30 minutes, turning the salmon once so both sides are coated. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees 15 to 18 minutes. Do not overcook.
-- Norma R., Salem, Ore.
DEAR HELOISE: This has always worked for me. Take 1 tablespoon of dessert gelatin and add to a gallon of water. Mix well and pour over the dirt in your garden. The gelatin helps plants hold water, and the organisms in the dirt are fed by the sugar.
-- Lillian D.,
Bellflower, Calif.
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
Food on 05/10/2017