Heloise Hints

1. Use potato water for soups and sauces because it offers nutrition and the starch add body.
2. Sub in potato water for the liquid in making bread. It will improve the bread’s
flavor.
3. Add potato water as the water called for in making a chocolate cake.

1. Select a variety of candles that you have, pillars and tapes of different heights and shapes.
2. Put them in clay or ceramic flowerpots and fill with colored sand or rocks to keep them stable. Then place on colorful small plates.
3. Cluster them in the center of the table. To pull it all together, tie ribbons around the candles or add fresh flowers or greenery from the garden.

1.Use half the fat—butter, margarine, oil or shortening— called for in the original recipes and them replace the amount removed with fruit purée.
2. Applesauce works best for lighter-colored baked goods, while prune purée is better for chocolate cakes, cookies and dark muffins.

1. Grab a cotton ball, dip it into whole milk and wash only the tops of each leaf.
2. Mix a bit of mayonnaise and water apply to the top of leaves.
3. Use a tad of mineral oil to rub over the top of the leaves for a real shine.

1. Put the avocados into a paper bag with an apple.
2. Punch holes in the bag and let sit for 2 or 3 days. The avocados will ripen.
3. Then squeeze fresh lime juice on top of slices, sprinkle with salt and wrap in a tortilla.

* Use instant, powdered orange breakfast drink. Put 2 to 3 tablespoons in the dishwasher cup.
* Run the dishwasher through the wash cycle—with dishes is fine.
* The citric acid will remove the stains and your dishes will come out cleaner!

If your silk flowers look dusty or are sagging, here a quickie dusting hint that will perk up these beautiful flowers in your home. They should look “fresher!”

* Put the flowers into a plastic bag with several tablespoons of household salt.
* Hold the stems and seal the bag shut.
* Shake hard and the dust will cling to the salt.

* Shake hard and the dust will cling to the salt.

1. Put the tablecloth into the dryer, along with a damp towel.
2. Turn the dryer on to the fluff cycle and let run for a few minutes.
3. Check: The wrinkles should be gone!

1. Fill your bathtub with about ½-inch of water.
2. Put each of your plants on a saucer and put into the tub.
3. Cover the tub or each plant with a dry cleaning bag or two to create a mini-terrarium.

1. Sift dry ingredients, so they don’t lump together.
2. Freeze the berries you’re using, so that when you drop them into the batter they won’t sink to the bottom.