Experts don’t recommend freezing sour cream

Dear Heloise: I like sour cream for mashed potatoes, but it always goes bad. Now I buy large quantities when it’s on sale and put it in freezer trays, then pop them out when needed. Marge in Texas

Marge, we did some checking and found that sour-cream processors say not to freeze it. They say that the texture changes because it separates when frozen and may not be appetizing.

But, they do say that if you plan on using it when baking or cooking, it will probably be OK. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I hated throwing away the plastic bags loose fruit and vegetables come in, so I started saving them in a foam can cooler to save room. Whenever I cook, I use them to throw away small trash items, like vegetable peels and wrappings. It’s like a garbage bowl, but you don’t have to wash it or keep running to and from the trash can. Jenn L., Fort Myers, Fla.

Dear Heloise: A few years ago, my brother was on a fishing trip in Canada. He was in charge of getting the coffee going in the morning. One of his buddies noticed him fumbling around trying to get the coffee filters to come apart. He told him to turn the filters inside-out and reshape, and they would come apart much easier. Works great. Bill in Florida

Dear Heloise: My family loves it when I make potato soup. To make it a little easier, instead of cutting the potatoes into chunks and then boiling, I shred them. I can just cook the potatoes with the other ingredients. It’s quicker for me, and my family enjoys it! Melissa Powers, Thompson’s Station, Tenn.

Yum! A steaming cup of potato soup sounds good to me! I have put together some favorite soup recipes from family and friends. With cooler weather right around the corner, this is the perfect time for soup! To receive a copy, please send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (59 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Soup, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or visit www.Heloise.com for ordering information. A sprinkling of red-pepper flakes adds just a little heat and flavor to any soup. Give it a try! Heloise

Dear Heloise: I save the inner plastic/cellophane bags from cereal boxes. The smaller bags are good for wrapping sandwiches in lunch boxes, wrapping leftover baked goods or cheese, or for storing food in the freezer. I carefully open the seams on very large bags and lay them out flat. They are great for rolling cookie dough or pie crust, and do not slide around as much as waxed paper. If I am making refrigerator cookies, I roll the dough in the plastic/cellophane and twist the ends before placing the dough in the refrigerator to chill. If desired, the bags can be washed and used again and again. Maggie, Prescott Valley, Ariz.

SBlt 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