Dear Heloise: Here in North Carolina we grow and eat some mighty fine cantaloupe. Trouble is, those darn seeds get all over the place and make a big mess. If you have an old-time kitchen without a sink disposal (or are camping and such), the problem is even worse. Here is a little discovery I stumbled onto when cleaning a melon on the kitchen counter next to my wife’s automatic coffee maker. I saw a stack of those crinkly-edged filters, and the solution to dealing with the messy seeding problem popped right into my summer-fried brain.
Depending on the thickness of the coffee filters, the number of melons to be seeded and perhaps the conjunction of the planets, select one to three filters _ it works just fine if you don’t put them in a bowl _ and scoop the cantaloupe seeds into the coffee filter. A soup ladle or ice-cream scoop works better for me than a large serving spoon. When you are done you can grasp the sides of the filters together and toss the seeds into the trash or, better yet, the compost heap. _ Dodds Meddock, Hillsborough, N.C.
Dear Heloise: When I buy meat in large quantities, I freeze some by first dividing it among small zippered freezer bags and then putting several packages in a big bag. I tear out the labels printed on the meat package from the store and put them inside the big bag, so it’s easy to see and read just what is in the bag.
Dear Heloise: I keep my nylon scrubber in the small top basket in my dishwasher, where it’s always easy to find, very handy and it gets washed with each load of dishes.
Dear Heloise: I have a fun, decorative idea for covering my children’s schoolbooks. Throughout the school year, ordinary book covers do not hold up through the wear and tear of book bags, etc. I use vinyl tablecloths (they are usually very inexpensive) for book covers.
I just cut out the piece to fit the book and use strapping tape and end up with colorful, creative books! I also sometimes use decorative gift bags from department stores. The vinyl is heavier than regular book covers, and it lasts longer. My two girls just love the book covers! _ Dianna Yost, Juniata, Neb.
Send your hints to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or fax them to 1-210-HELOISE.
