Set clear boundaries with your neighbors
DEAR ANNIE: I have a neighbor whom I used to enjoy very much. We would chat at the mailbox, exchange holiday cookies and occasionally sit on each other’s porch for a friendly visit. She was the kind of neighbor everyone hopes to have close by. Lately, though, things have changed. She now drops by without calling, often at the worst possible times. More than once, I have opened the door in my exercise clothes, with dinner half-cooked and papers spread all over the kitchen table, only to find her smiling and ready to settle in for a long visit. If I say I am busy, she laughs it off and ...
Instant Pot Jewish brisket adds sweet, savory flavor
Cookbook author Jeffrey Eisner has an Instant Pot Jewish brisket recipe with tender meat in a simple sweet and savory sauce. Brisket is a classic dish for Passover and Eisner says it’s a good addition to other holiday dinners too. He leans on ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic and lots of onions. Brisket often tastes even better the next day. So Eisner recommends cooking it ahead, slicing it and chilling it overnight with the sauce. You brown the brisket first, then pressure cook it until soft. After it rests, thicken the sauce with cornstarch. Then you return the slices ...
Add zing to stew with beer
DEAR HELOISE: I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I received a copy of your book “In The Kitchen with Heloise” at my bridal shower, and I’ve tried some of your ideas for cooking. You mentioned using beer as a substitute for wine in stews to get a delicious, rich sauce. I tried it, and wow! It was out of this world. Everyone loved it, and I was asked what made my beef stew so good. I said Heloise gave me the recipe. — Georgia W., in Bloomington, Indiana DEAR HELOISE: My sister and her husband are planning a visit very soon, and she had only one request, which ...
Verena writes the column this week, helping busy mom
Hello readers! This is Lovina's daughter Verena writing once again. Mom has been extra busy preparing for church services, so I decided to help her out by writing the column and give her an extra week of not having to worry about writing. When she has to, she does a very good job to sit down and write when she is very busy and has many other things to do. It is 4:30 in the afternoon and I just got home. All of us sisters were at Mom’s for today. Elizabeth and Susan were cleaning the walls and ceiling on the main floor. Loretta, Lovina and I watched the children and kept the dishes ...
Don’t take risks with positive HPV test
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 35-year-old female. My doctor did a Pap smear and a human papilloma virus (HPV) test that was positive for one of the “risk types” (16, 18 and 45 according to my chart) — but not one of the really bad ones. I am otherwise healthy. My Pap smears have always been normal. I never did get my HPV vaccine. Should I get it? Should I worry? What are the chances of it going away? I am engaged to be married; how do I tell him? — V.S.P. ANSWER: HPV is the cause of cervical cancer in women and head and neck cancer in men. Although there are many different types, ...