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Kitchen clutter

Dear Heloise: No matter what I do, my kitchen drawers are always a mess. Buying drawer organizers seemed quite expensive, so I made my own using empty granola bar boxes that I cut and taped to hold my commonly used items. Now I have beautifully organized drawers that never fail to bring a smile to my face. — Carol in Ohio

HOMEMADE FROSTING

Dear Heloise: I love to bake treats for my family. My husband was especially fond of your cream cheese frosting, but I have misplaced the recipe. Would you please reprint that, so I can make it for his birthday cake? — Ann-Marie in Louisiana

Ann-Marie, that is one of my husband’s favorites, too! Here it is! You’ll need:

2 cups part-skim milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup Neufchatel cheese

6 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Optional: After icing the cake, sprinkle the icing with chopped nuts.

You’ll find numerous hints and recipes in my pamphlet “Heloise’s Cake Recipes.” To order, visit www.Heloise.com or send $3 along with a long, self-addressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Cakes, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

FYI: The wedding cake as we know it today originated with the wedding of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany to Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1882.

MUSHROOM MECHANICS

Dear Heloise: I love mushrooms in so many dishes, but every time I try to prepare them, they are either rubbery or mushy. What am I doing wrong? — Darla in Tennessee

Darla, here is a list of some Do’s and Don’ts to help you:

— Do refrigerate them as soon as you get home.

— Do store them in a paper bag, rather than plastic.

— Don’t clean them until you are ready to use them. Rinse quickly and dry with a soft paper towel.

— Don’t soak fresh mushrooms. They can quickly absorb water, which will ruin the taste and texture. — Heloise

FISH STICKS

Dear Heloise: My kids love fish sticks, so when I cook them for their lunch, I take the amount I need from the original box, then I put the remaining fish sticks in a plastic freezer bag. Before I toss out the box, I cut out the heating instructions and place them in the bag. — Sharon in Alabama

WEBSITE

Dear Readers: Check out my new website at Heloise.com for pet pal photos, recipes, creative ideas and answers to your questions. — Heloise

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