Vinegar can be used to keep berries fresher longer

Dear Heloise: More on uses for vinegar, this time balsamic: Strawberries, boysenberries and blueberries are great fresh, but they get mushy and moldy too quickly. I slice the strawberries (leave the other berries whole), then sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar per 8 ounces of berries and add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar and mix into the berries. Some people might want more vinegar; it's a matter of taste.
The vinegar arrests mold growth before it starts and keeps the berries firm. Treated this way, the berries can last a week or more in the refrigerator. Judith, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Hmmm, this sounded strange, but I tested it. I mixed the sugar and balsamic vinegar together until the sugar was almost dissolved, and then added it to blackberries. Surprisingly, the flavor was good -- at least to me, as I love balsamic vinegar. That gives me an idea! How about mixing up a homemade vinaigrette with your choice of berry, balsamic vinegar and a little sugar to taste blended in a blender for minute or so? And for more cooking hints and recipes, you can order my Fantabulous Vinegar pamphlet by sending $4 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (63 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Did you know that vinegar will keep most cheese mold-free? Wrap the cheese in a vinegar-soaked paper towel and store it in the fridge -- that's all there is to it. Heloise
Dear Readers: Here's a Tasty Tidbits quiz: What berry has seeds on the outside? I'll give you a clue -- it is the most popular berry around, and it's red in color and contains vitamin C. What's your guess? The answer: the strawberry! Heloise
Dear Heloise: I know you have been asked this question a few hundred times, but here it is again: What can be done to restore honey that has crystallized? Mine is in a plastic jar. Roselyn B., via e-mail
We don't want this to "bee" a problem for you. So, remove the lid and place the container in a bowl of very hot (not boiling) water and allow to sit. Once the water starts to cool, replace it with hot. When the crystals are completely gone, the honey is as good as new!
Did you know that storing honey in the refrigerator can actually speed up the crystallization process? So, store honey at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I love mixed nuts, and someone just gave me a big jar. Having high blood pressure, I don't ingest much salt, and I had an idea. I filled the jar with warm water and washed all the salt off the nuts. Then I put them in a shallow dish with a couple of paper towels and put them in the microwave for a minute. MMMM! Diane S. from Texas
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate