HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Heloise: If you stay in someone's vacation home, as a thank-you gift, look around to see if the owner needs practical items like garbage cans, pots and pans, dishes, etc., or make a thank-you box that includes a stapler, tape, pens and pencils, notepads, rubber bands, paper, scissors, envelopes, clips, etc. -- G.L.K., Madison, N.J.

Anyone who owns or rents a vacation or weekend place knows what it takes to stock the place. Although flowers and food are traditional, practical items can be a nice alternative. Thanks for the reminder. -- Heloise

HELOISE'S TEST YOUR HINT IQ

Which of the following can you use as an emergency substitute for honey in a recipe?

A. Corn syrup

B. Maple syrup

C. Jelly

The "honey" of an answer is A. Corn syrup can be substituted for honey in most recipes. Remember, though, it's not as sweet as honey, so the dessert won't be as sweet, and the texture and flavor might be a little different. -- Heloise

STUCK-ON FOOD

Dear Heloise: As a mother of four daughters learning to cook, I have stuck-on food in a number of pans and pots. I happened to grab an ice scraper one day, and I thought, if it works on windshields without scratching, it will work on my pans.

It did, and now it is a necessary tool around my sink. It works for stuck-on food on the floor, tabletops, for cookie dough, pie crust, etc. It just really gets it up. My husband brought in mud, and I got the scraper. When they go on sale, I stock up. -- A Reader, Via E-mail

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise

P.O. Box 795000

San Antonio, TX 78279-5000

Fax: 210-HELOISE

E-mail: Heloise(at)Heloise.com