Dear Heloise:For several years, I have used the cake-mix cookie recipe to make brownies. I use chocolate cake mix and add chocolate chips. Then I press it into a 9-by-13-inch pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. I started doing this when I was cooking for a private school. The kids and teachers loved them. — Vilene DuBose, San Angelo, Texas

The recipe for brownies from a cake mix has been printed many times in this column, and it's a winner with our readers! We will share it again for those readers who haven't tried them. You will need:

1 egg

3/4 cup water plus more as needed

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1 (18.25 ounces) box devil's-food cake mix

Nothing else!

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch pan. Mix the egg, water and nuts in a large bowl. Add the dry cake mix; stir well, but don't overbeat. If the batter needs a little more water, add a teaspoonful at a time. But don't add too much, because the batter should be thick. Don't overmix — just mix enough so that there is no "powder" showing.

Pour into the prepared pan, being sure to smooth the top evenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes for chewy brownies; if you like them a little drier, bake a few minutes longer. — Heloise

Dear Readers: What is a brownie? Well, this became quite difficult to research, as the origin of brownies is not clear, but they have been popular in the U.S. since the 19th century. Some say it was the result of a chocolate-cake-recipe error, but they certainly are delicious, aren't they? — Heloise

Dear Heloise: Just tried something new that you might be interested in. For a very healthy snack, rinse and drain garbanzo beans and spread on a cookie sheet. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle on some grill seasoning. Cook at about 300 degrees for 30 minutes or until crunchy, stirring occasionally. Very good! — Vicky, via e-mail

We tested this, and they are yummy. I also "roasted" them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and used a Greek seasoning, and we ate them up in the office! — Heloise

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Dear Heloise: Here's a hint for taking the clutter out of storing plastic store bags:

Get a good-size shoe box, or one of similar shape. Tape or glue the top on, cover it with pretty gift wrap, cut a large slit in the middle of one end, cut out the opposite end and tack or tape the box — endwise — on the wall.

Tuck the bags in the top and pull them out through the slit at the bottom — no clutter! — Helen Shaffer, Gautier, Miss.


Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax: 210-435-6473; e-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com. © King Features Syndicate Inc.

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