HELOISE Reader doesn't know beans about ingredient

Dear Heloise: I have a barbecue bean recipe that calls for pork and beans, kidney beans and pink beans. What are pink beans? No one here has heard of anything called pink beans. Since you're from Texas, I figured you'd know. Linda Fajardo, Rapid City, S.D.
Well, you stumped me! I might be from Texas, and we love our chili here, but I wasn't aware of pink beans. After some research, here is what we found out: You can buy them dried or canned. The beans are pink, light-colored, have a meaty flavor and are firm when cooked. Some people put them in chili and other recipes. You can usually substitute either kidney or pinto beans if you can't find pink beans. Enjoy! Heloise
P.S. Many traditional Texas chili recipes do not use beans -- there is an ongoing debate about whether beans should be in chili.
Dear Heloise: Here's a fast and easy way to make guacamole. Just mash your favorite salsa with avocados, add the juice of one lime or one lemon, and add salt and pepper to taste! It's delicious and does away with having to chop tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, cilantro and garlic. Alice Cox, Irvine, Calif.
Well, here in San Antonio, guacamole is almost a religion! Keep in mind that there are different types or brands of salsa -- some are chunky and hot; others are pretty runny and bland. So, experiment to find your favorite. It's up to you. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When I buy a package of vermicelli, spaghetti, linguine, angel hair or any similar pasta, I break it up into a couple of pieces before putting it in the storage canister. That way, I don't have to do it when cooking because it's already done. Some of the pasta I put in storage bags and label the weight/amount and/or the recipe it is for. No guessing when it comes time to cook. And a real timesaver, too. Bonnie Bjornstad, Cullman, Ala.
Did you know that spaghetti can be stored on a pantry shelf in an airtight container for as long as two years? Speaking of spaghetti, my mother, the original Heloise, had a special Italian spaghetti sauce recipe that she got from a famous chef, and it's delicious! If you would like a copy of the recipe, please send $3 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (60 cents) envelope to: Heloise/MDM, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279. This four-page pamphlet has many of my other favorite recipes, like Peking Roast and Shrimp Dijon. Here's an interesting piece of trivia about pasta: Did you know that there are more than 600 different shapes of pasta available worldwide? Who doesn't love pasta? Heloise
Dear Heloise: This is for the reader who wrote that she had some glasses stuck together. Not long ago, I had the same problem with some juice glasses. A friend suggested I put them in the freezer for a few hours. I did as she suggested, and it worked like a charm. Best of luck! Avadele in Katy, Texas
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate