DEAR HELOISE: A rectangular-shaped metal cake pan with a lid makes an excellent travel desk for writing or drawing. You can store paper, crayons, markers and more inside the pan, and can use the top as a desk for kids to lay paper on and color or draw pictures of passing scenes.
-- Simone in Bethlehem, Pa.
DEAR HELOISE: I inherited my great-grandmother's beautiful grapefruit spoon, but we use it only when we have grapefruit. The rest of the time it just sits in a drawer. Are there other ways to use this lovely spoon?
-- Maxine R., Pratt, Kan.
DEAR READER: Grapefruit spoons can really come in handy when you want to core tomatoes or apples.
DEAR HELOISE: How can I prevent my three young boys from constantly having chapped lips all winter?
-- Rae-Ann S.,
Cambridge, Mass.
DEAR READER: Put petroleum jelly on their lips when they go outside. Get them each a lip balm, and have them use it during the day.
DEAR HELOISE: How do bakers get that shiny crust on their pies?
-- Norma L.,
Florence, Ore.
DEAR READER: They use vinegar. They take the pie crust out of the oven a little before it finishes baking, brush the crust with white vinegar, then return it to the oven to finish baking.
DEAR HELOISE: While cooking a couple of potatoes in my microwave, one of them exploded. Why did that happen?
-- Pam C., Michigan
DEAR READER: Always take a fork and poke holes in the potatoes before cooking in the microwave. This lets the steam out and prevents an exploding problem.
DEAR HELOISE: Just a reminder to your many readers to mulch their gardens in October. We all get busy and sometimes forget these things, but your plants will survive harsh winter storms with a nice, thick coat of mulch. It will retain not only warmth, but moisture as well.
-- Wendy L.,
Elk River, Minn.
DEAR READERS: A profiterole is a pastry or cream puff filled with custard and drizzled with chocolate sauce -- super sweet.
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
MovieStyle on 10/26/2018