Use mustard seeds as a salt substitute
HINTS FROM HELOISE
HELOISE
Dear Heloise: I love to cook, but my doctor warned me about using too much salt.
A friend of mine suggested a salt substitute that works wonderfully. I fill a pepper mill with mustard seeds, and it adds a little zip to the item that I'm cooking without a strong mustard taste. After I tried whole mustard seeds, I also tried other whole seeds to give my dishes an original taste. My friends love it, as does my family. — Brandon E., in Independence, Missouri
When cooking fish
Dear Heloise: Every time I eat fish at a restaurant, it's dry and sometimes too "fishy." They let the fish thaw out completely after it's frozen, which isn't good. Do this instead: Let the fish thaw out at room temperature for no longer than 30 to 35 minutes. Cook the fish while it's still firm and slightly frozen. It'll be moist and flavorful because the taste hasn't drained away. — Wade Y., in Montana
Safe animal repellent
Dear Heloise: There's a much safer way to repel animals from plants and your house than mothballs. I take coffee grounds after making my coffee in the morning and afternoon, let them dry out, and just fling them on the ground around the plants that I want to protect. I have a beautiful oak leaf hydrangea that the deer were using as a salad bar, but since I've been spreading the coffee grounds around it (and on the leaves), the deer have left it alone.
An added bonus is that coffee grounds contain nitrogen. I also understand that some coffee shops will give you their used grounds. Who knew I was drinking a cup of nitrogen for breakfast?! — Anna M., via email
Anna, yes, coffee grounds repel some "critters," and I use it when planting things in my yard. Additionally, you can plant basil to repel flies. You can pour ammonia on a cloth and place this in a garden to repel dogs and cats, and you also can tie bars of deodorant soap on fences and trees to help keep deer away. Many animals dislike the small of garlic and pepper, so you can use these to repel any number of wildlife. — Heloise
Cloth napkins
Dear Heloise: In response to Ruth M., in Michigan, who's used cloth napkins since 1970, I'd say she's certainly made a difference! I realized a couple years ago that I was saving my nice napkins — for what? They sit in a basket on my counter now, and we use them daily. They're easily laundered and folded. — Wanda W., in Dayton, Ohio
Wanda, I not only use cloth napkins, I use my good china frequently, as well as my fine crystal goblets and wine glasses. Why should we wait to use our finer things? I've noticed that when I use my better things, I'm able to slow down and enjoy them more.
If we only live once, why not enjoy the things that we worked hard to obtain? — Heloise
