HELOISE: Ideas help solve onion tears

Dear Readers: Want to avoid tearing up when you cut up onions? Let’s review Onions 101. Why do they make you cry? When you cut onions, that releases a gas, which reacts chemically to the water in your eyes and causes you to cry. Take these steps to help prevent onion tears:

Store onions in the refrigerator for several days, or put them in the freezer for just 30 to 45 minutes before slicing. When you cut onions cold, they are less apt to induce tears.

Put a piece of bread, a toothpick or a wooden match between your front teeth while you mince onions. It will remind you to breathe through your mouth instead of your nose (like when you snorkel or scuba-dive).

Use swimming goggles when you tackle onion cutting — really!

Here’s to no tears!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Thank you for your terrific column, which I read daily in the Orange County (Calif.) Register. Here’s my hint: I enjoy homemade turkey soup but don’t enjoy cooking a large turkey to obtain the bones. Last week, my supermarket was selling roasted one-half turkey breasts. Those bones were enough to make a nice potful of soup. And I also “cheated” on the veggies. I bought a tray of already-chopped and cleaned celery, carrots, broccoli, red onions and grape tomatoes. All I added of my own were the seasonings. As a bonus, my home smelled wonderful for the next three days. It brought back memories of my grandma. Thank you again for all your help.

T. Maldonado, Laguna Woods, Calif.

Dear Heloise: I save jelly and jam jars, and when they are almost empty, I pour pancake syrup in them and heat slightly (lid off) in the microwave, replace the lid and shake slightly. I have flavored, warm syrup for my pancakes and French toast.

Chrissy Kulp, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Last night, I needed bread crumbs for a breaded chicken recipe and discovered I had none in the cupboard. But I did find a package of bruschetta that we received in a food gift basket recently. Still in the pouch, I pounded them into crumbs with my meat pounder. It saved the day, and because the bruschetta was seasoned, I didn’t have to add any extra spices. This would work well with croutons, too.

Cristina from California

Dear Heloise: After I buy brown or powdered sugar, I immediately transfer it to a plastic zipper bag. When I need to measure some, I insert the cup into the bag, fill it, and then use the side of the bag to pack it down. Saves cleanup.

Donna, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I read your column all the time and just love your hints! I read the hint about sloppy Joes in hot-dog buns. We’ve been doing them for quite a while, and we call them “sloppy dogs.”

Jeri, Merrillville, Ind.

King Features Syndicate