Dear Heloise: I have a few hints for those who worry that their pie crusts aren’t as flaky as they would like. First, while making the dough, place all utensils in the refrigerator. Make sure they’re cold before taking them out. After you’ve made your dough and the utensils are cold, roll out the dough. Always handle the dough as little as possible. Take a fork and punch a few holes in the bottom of the pie crust — but just a few.

After you have the dough in the chilled pie plate and a crust on the top, take a piece of tin foil and fold it in half. Cut out a circle the size of your pie and lay it over the edge of the pie to keep your crust from burning.

Some people like to use butter for their pie crusts, but I’ve always had better luck with a vegetable shortening. — Ann T., Majestic, Kentucky

CHERRY SURPRISE

Dear Heloise: I lost my recipe for your Cherry Surprise. Since my kids loved it, I’d like to make it again. But I need you to publish the recipe because I don’t remember the measurements for all of the ingredients. Thank you. — Jackie K., Owosso, Michigan

Jackie, here is my Cherry Surprise recipe:

Cream together 2 sticks of butter or margarine and 2 cups of sugar. Beat 3 eggs and add into the above ingredients. Mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons of almond extract and 1 pint of sour cream. Then add 3 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt; mix to blend. Last, stir in 1 cup maraschino cherries and 1 1/2 cups of chopped nuts.

Bake in a greased and floured tube pan at 325 degrees for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

If you want icing for it, combine powdered sugar, cherry juice and a drop of vanilla. Mix well and spread over cooled cake. — Heloise

LEFTOVER POTATOES

Dear Heloise: I love to cook potatoes and carrots with a pot roast, but we often have leftover potatoes. The next day, I usually serve open-face, hot roast beef sandwiches and mash the leftover potatoes. Since they were cooked with the roast, they have a nice flavor, besides the butter and milk I add. — Lois R., Sun City, Arizona