Potluck adds nostalgia with favorite childhood foods

Dear Heloise: We grew up in a family of six kids and two parents, and were checking the Heloise books for lots of things.
Recently, at a family gathering, we had been talking about things we liked as kids. Now that both of our parents are gone, we try to make sure we continue having family gatherings.
At our most recent gathering, we were asked to bring eight servings of a favorite childhood food. We had a great time talking about each dish and why people chose the ones they did.
We had everything from colored milk and ants on a log to sparkling grape juice. A brother-in-law brought shepherd's pie like his mom made. We had lots of comfort foods, and there were several desserts.
We talked about times when we ate the foods we loved, and shared some memories of our parents, in-laws and grandparents. We even caught a glimpse of one brother surveying the dessert table just as Dad would have done. Susie Beck Watson, Indianapolis
What a great theme idea for a party -- potluck with nostalgia and a twist! Here's a hint: Ask guests to bring copies of the recipes to share with those who also might fall in love with someone's favorite childhood dish. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Do you have any suggestions on how to use or recycle the ties that we receive with plastic food bags? Katherine Brahm, New Carrollton, Md.
Here are a few, for starters:
UUse as an emergency ornament hanger for the Christmas tree.
UTwist around the stem of a wineglass to easily identify at a gathering.
UIt makes a great "stitch holder" when you want to put your knitting down for a while.
UWhen making a wreath, use twist-ties to fasten greenery and decorations.
UNeed a piece of wire in a pinch? Peel off the "coating" and you have one. Heloise
Dear Heloise: The holidays are here, and my mom and I are packing boxes to be shipped to Florida and North Carolina. Instead of using newspaper or those annoying peanuts, we use household paper goods to take up the extra space. Individual rolls of toilet paper, paper towels and napkins are things we all use, and there is no waste for the garbage dump. Ellen, via e-mail
Sound off
Dear Heloise: I hate using a restroom in a restaurant where there are no paper towels, only those hot-air blowers -- especially if the faucets cannot be turned off without touching them with the inside of your hand. There is no way to prevent recontaminating your hands. Thank goodness I carry waterless hand sanitizer with me. It is even more disturbing when I know that this is the restroom for the employees also. Unfortunately, many well-known fast-food establishments are like this. Jeannine Aucoin, Henniker, N.H.
Jeannine, many readers agree with you, and I do also. My added comment? If there are paper towels, in many restrooms you have to walk across the room to get them! Who planned this design? Heloise
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate