Savor the flavor of homemade vanilla extract

Dear Heloise: Many years ago, you published a recipe for vanilla extract. I seem to recall that it involved letting a vanilla bean soak in liquor. Would you please repeat this recipe for me? M.G.M. in Texas

You need several vanilla beans and a 1-liter bottle of vodka or rum. Insert one or two beans into the bottle of liquor and let it ferment for at least 30 days. If you want a stronger flavor, let it ferment longer. As you use the vanilla extract, add more liquor to replace what you use. When it becomes weak, just start a new one with fresh vanilla beans. Heloise

Dear Heloise: When peeling shrimp, deboning a chicken or doing anything messy, I place a plastic bag on my counter with a folded newspaper inside. As I clean, I put the waste inside the bag. When I’m finished, all I have to do is tie up the bag and place it in the garbage. No mess on the counter to be cleaned.

One more hint: I don’t bake much and therefore do not have a dough board. I have learned that if I first wipe the counter with a damp cloth, I then can place a piece of foil on it and the foil will hold well enough to roll out the dough. When finished, I just fold up the foil and place it in the garbage. Judy Myers, Jasper, Texas

Dear Heloise: I would like to share a recipe that I have been using for years to cook bacon. Dip each slice in flour, patting both sides, and then place the strips on a greased cookie tray lined with foil. Bake for about 20 minutes or until crisp in a 400-degree preheated oven. These slices are especially good for bacon sandwiches. Leftovers can be heated in the microwave for one minute. Evelyn Gillich, Rockaway, N.J.

Dear Heloise: Certain strains of squash are sometimes hard to cut in half. Microwaving them for a few minutes can soften the skin and make cutting them easier.

One more hint: I’m at the age when it makes sense to use my sterling flatware every day, but I don’t like to put it in the dishwasher. I keep a cooking-utensil crock next to the sink with soapy water in it. After meals, I just drop the silverware in and let it sit until it’s time to hand-wash. The crock with silver handles sticking out is not unattractive. Kathryne Jacobs, Laguna Woods, Calif.

Dear Heloise: When my spice container is close to empty, I turn it upside down so it’s easy to remember what to buy. I watch for spice sales and stock up on the ones I use often. I also mark the date with the permanent marker on the top of the spice container. This works well for me, and I save a little money, too! Ramona Richardson, via e-mail

SBltSend 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