DEAR HELOISE: With a new year comes the desire to clean out my pantry in the kitchen. It's a great time to get rid of those foods that are out of date or those that have been invaded by insects. I use a cup of bleach to a gallon of water to wash down the shelves, then I dry them and return the food to the pantry. Everything is organized and clean for the new year.
-- Mazie J., Oregon
DEAR READERS: I wish you a happy and healthy 2020.
-- Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: After years of having my brown sugar turn into cement once it was opened, I found a solution. I sealed it in a vacuum sealer, and voila. Even after a month or two, it is still soft.
-- Pat C., Bessemer, Ala.
DEAR HELOISE: Please reprint your Cherry Surprise recipe. I haven't made it in a long time, but it was the special request of my son who is coming home on leave from the military.
-- Carrie in Mississippi
DEAR READER: You'll need to cream together 2 sticks butter or margarine and 2 cups sugar. Beat 3 eggs and add into the butter/sugar mixture. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons almond extract and 1 pint sour cream. Then add 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt; mix to blend. Last, stir in 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries and 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts. Bake in a greased and floured tube pan at 325 degrees for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. When the cake has cooled, sprinkle on powdered sugar.
FYI: When using powdered cake mix, put the water in the bowl first, then the mix. This helps prevent powder pockets at the bottom of the bowl.
DEAR HELOISE: I always had a problem when I cleaned peppers. I never could get all the seeds out. I seemed to work forever to get them all out, but always had a lot left.
Now I use a grapefruit spoon, and it works like a charm. Just scrape the inside of the pepper, and out they come.
-- Big D. in Ohio
DEAR READERS: Here are a few handy hints:
• Microwave a lemon for 12-14 seconds and you'll increase the juice it produces.
• Use latex gloves to open stubborn jar lids.
• Instead of using toothpicks for closing up stuffed pork chops or chicken breasts, try raw spaghetti. It's edible.
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
Food on 01/01/2020