Dear Heloise: I often purchase the frozen pie shells to bake pies, and I have difficulty removing slices from the pan after they are baked; the pie crust is always stuck. Do you have any suggestions for how to make this easy without breaking up the slices? -- Carole Owings, Wildwood, Fla.
Dear Carol: Here are some hints to consider. Switch brands to see if a different one does not stick -- it may be that simple. It may be the type of pie you are baking. If you pre-bake the pie crust, poke holes in it, bake, then add the filling.
However, if you are baking a pie with filling (pecan, pumpkin or blue- or blackberry), do not poke the shell with a fork. Doing so will let sticky liquid seep through and will cause the crust to stick. Do let the pie (and crust) cool before cutting.
Last resort? Remove the frozen crust, grease the pan, put the crust back in and proceed. -- Heloise
Dear Heloise: Every year around the holidays, I buy a bottle of co*cktail sauce. I use only a small amount. It sits in the refrigerator for several months, then I toss it out. Is there any other use for it? I checked the label, and it only lists shrimp. Should I just buy more shrimp? -- Dan in McDonald, Ohio
Dear Dan: Don't toss the sauce or buy more shrimp. This sauce is basically "spicy ketchup," so get adventurous. Put it on burgers, hot dogs and fries. It works with crab, too.
It makes a zingy "dip" when poured over cream cheese. I run a fork through the slab of soft cream cheese to score it, then pour on the sauce. Set out with crackers, and you have quick-and-easy eating. -- Heloise
Dear Heloise: I purchased a 12-cup coffee maker. It's the same model as my previous one. The paper coffee filters almost always collapse, and grounds end up in the coffee. Any help would be appreciated. -- Bonnie
Dear Bonnie: Yes, the same filters (do be sure they are the "old" filters) should work. However, I bought some "same brand, same size" filters on the Internet, and they did this too. You can wet the filter to make it stick or try a permanent filter that you wash out. -- Heloise
Dear Heloise: I buy honey at a big-box store. After a while, it crystallizes, and I would heat it in a pot of water to thin it out.
I solved my problem by putting it into small jars. If it starts to crystallize, I put it on the top rack of the dishwasher. When the cycle is finished, the honey is back to the way it was before. It works perfectly. Just be sure the lid is on tight. -- Shirley L. in Florida
Dear Shirley: This is a honey of a hint, and I love it. -- Heloise
Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; Fax: (210) 435-6473 or send e-mail to Heloise@Heloise.com.
