Dear Heloise:A couple of years ago, you printed a recipe in your column. It was so good, and I made it several times and then lost it. The recipe started with pistachio pudding. Can you please reprint the recipe for me? Thanks so much. — Althea Palmer, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Althea, you know what's especially nice about this recipe? It can be used as a salad or a dessert.
PISTACHIO AMBROSIA
1 small box instant pistachio pudding mix
1 (16 ounces) can chunky pineapple
1 (8 ounces) can crushed pineapple
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
12 to 16 ounces nondairy whipped topping (thawed)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Combine the cans of pineapple (including the juice), then sprinkle the pudding mix over the pineapple and let sit for a couple of minutes. Gently mix in the coconut and nuts, then blend in the whipped topping and marshmallows. Place in the refrigerator for at least two hours to let the flavors blend together, and then it's ready to serve. Delicious!
Dear Heloise:I had so many jars of jelly and preserves in my refrigerator that I bought a see-through plastic shoe box, put it on a refrigerator shelf and filled it with the jars of preserves and so forth. Now, I just pull the plastic box out and select what I need. — Maxine Jackson, Farmerville, La.
Dear Heloise: I use a grapefruit spoon to clean out the interiors of peppers, and I use an ice-cream scoop to remove the seeds from melons.
I also discovered that partially used onions and peppers keep better when first wrapped in paper towels and then in foil. They keep much better than in plastic wrap or bags. — Lyla S. Jackson, Minneapolis
Dear Heloise: I used a suggestion from your column about mixing meatloaf in a plastic zipper-top bag and took it one step further. I used the bag to mix meatballs. Then I cut off the corner of the bag and "piped" the meatballs onto the baking pan, and threw the bag away when I was done. It was so neat and easy. — No Longer Needy in Kansas
Dear Heloise: No matter what they invent for cleaning, there is a time when you must end up on your knees — scrubbing, dusting or repairing. My knees are aging with me, and it is getting more difficult. Now, I use a new or partly new roll of paper towels to kneel on. It is soft, and if I need a sheet of paper towel, all I have to do is rip it off. — Kathleen L. Dowling, Summit, N.J.
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