HELOISE: Label meat to find it easily

Good morning, Heloise: I often buy meat in a quantity that will provide five or six meals. I bring it home, separate, vacuum-seal, label and store it in the freezer.

Pretty soon, I had no idea what meat I had in there or where. So I bought a box of those great big plastic bags. I labeled one “beef,” one “chicken” and the other “misc.,” like pork, fish, ham, etc.

When I am wondering what kind of meat to have for dinner, I just pull out one of those bags, see what looks good and also see if I am getting low on a particular “cut” and need to buy more.

It is so simple, and I am not losing an expensive filet mignon under the frozen broccoli because I didn’t remember that it was there!

Jeanne from California

Dear Heloise: It is that time again when I get the urge to clean my kitchen cupboards. There are hard-to-reach places, so I bought a toilet brush (the kind that has a rough scrubber). I take a rag, wet it just enough to wrap around the brush, and I can clean many places in and around my cupboards.

Pat Zoccali, Warren, Ohio

As long as the brush is clearly marked for kitchen use only!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: When baking muffins, I use the paper cups. I find that placing the paper cups on my countertop to fill them with batter is easier since they are open wider than when in the muffin pans. I then place the filled liners into the muffin pan and bake. Sure beats the times I have spilled some of the batter on the pan, and it does make cleanup easier.

K.D. in Texas

We tested your hint in the office. The cups didn’t seem to open much wider; however, it did cut down on the mess of spilling it on the muffin pan. Another hint? Use a gravy ladle to make the process easier.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: The other day you had a number of hints regarding the use of slow cookers. The slow-cooker liners are a huge help in cleaning up, but I would forget to use them! My solution is to store the box of liners in the slow cooker when not it use! Works every time!

A Reader, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I love tea — hot and cold! I have a variety of flavors and types of tea. I like keeping them in ceramic canisters, which look nicer than boxes and tins, but it’s difficult to tell what is in which canister. I write on them in dry-erase marker — the contents are evident at a glance, and they are easy to change!

Kim Otte in New Market, Ala.

Love this simple hint that makes life and teatime a little easier. Here’s a cup of tea to you!

Heloise

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate