HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Readers:

Have you ever wondered what the top five Heloise Vinegar Hints are? Well, wonder no more, because here they are:

1. Coffee maker-- Use to clean and remove mineral deposits. Just fill the reservoir with undiluted vinegar, turn it on and let it go through the brew cycle, turn off, pour the vinegar back in and let sit 20 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Follow by running water through several times. Bonus hint: Put 1/2 cup baking soda down the sink drain, then pour in the hot vinegar. Let sit 10 minutes and flush with 30 seconds of cold water.

2. Cloudy drinking glasses-- Soak in warm-to-hot full-strength vinegar for half an hour or so, and scrub with a ball of nylon net. If they still look milky, unfortunately they are etched.

3. Tenderize tough cuts of meat, such as pot roast -- First, pierce the meat with a sharp knife, then marinate in 1 cup of apple-cider vinegar mixed with enough water to cover the meat. Cover the container and let the meat marinate in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours. Remove meat, pat dry and cook or broil.

4. Make a great money-saving window cleaner-- Mix equal amounts of household vinegar and water. Put in a spray bottle and label clearly. Along with newspaper, use this cleaner to make those windows sparkle.

5. Weeds be gone-- Pour full-strength vinegar onto weeds growing around curbs or sidewalk cracks. Dear Heloise:

We travel with antique cars for tours and shows. We use paper towels to keep our old machines looking good.

The Sunday newspaper wrappers are excellent for keeping full rolls of paper towels from getting wet during our travels. Be sure the bags are not damaged and leak. Just puff into the bag and see if it holds air; if so, you are good to go. They keep rags and items organized and clean in vehicle trunks, too.

John Young, San Antonio

Dear Readers:

We all know tomatoes are good for us, and one way to be sure to have our daily dose is to drink a glass of tomato juice. But you don't need to purchase expensive, store-bought juice.

Try making your own. Mix 1 part tomato paste with 3 parts cold water (adjust to your taste), then blend in a blender until it's smooth and creamy. You can add salt and pepper, other vegetables, salsa or whatever strikes your fancy. It is cheap to make, but it's rich in flavor. And if you have a little tomato paste left over, add a little horseradish and lemon, and you'll have a quick cocktail sauce.

2008King Features Syndicate