Hints from Heloise: Stretch that hydroponic lettuce

DEAR HELOISE: With regard to living lettuce (hydroponically grown lettuce that comes in a plastic container), I agree that it is so good.

I took it one step further. Once I had used all the leaves, I told my husband that I was going to plant the roots outside with the rest of the lettuce I have grown. He laughed, but I laughed last when it grew again, and we had salad from that plant for a long time. I've had success four of the six times I've tried it!

Waste not, want not!

– Nancy L. In New Jersey

DEAR NANCY: Wow! You certainly got your money's worth! So, how did that "last laugh" salad taste? Yummy, I hope.

P.S.: Visit www.Heloise.com, for links to my Facebook and Twitter pages – hints, fun facts and more! Come see photos and check out what's happening.

DEAR HELOISE: I have often used the recipe for War Cake that was in your column years ago. I have a couple of suggestions: 1) Add candied fruit. 2) Add 1/4 cup of vegetable oil and exchange a portion of the flour for a package of instant pumpkin pudding (This pudding is sold seasonally).

The results are amazing.

– Nancy In Indiana

DEAR NANCY: Nancy, that's the great thing about recipes – they can be altered!

Readers, here is the War Cake recipe. Mix together:

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups hot water

2 teaspoons shortening

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup raisins

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

Save for later:

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 teaspoons hot water

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tube-style pan. Take the first seven ingredients and place in a medium to large saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes after the mixture has started to bubble. Take off the stove and cool completely.

After the mixture is cool, add the 3 cups of flour and 1 teaspoon of baking soda that has been dissolved in 2 teaspoons of hot water. Mix well. Place the entire mixture in the greased pan and bake for 1 hour.

This recipe and others can be found in my Heloise's Cake Recipes pamphlet. To receive one, send $3 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (66 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Cakes, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

A toothpick inserted into a cake will come out clean when the cake is done cooking. No toothpicks? Use a piece of uncooked spaghetti.

DEAR HELOISE: Those of us with children have always had the problem of multiple boxes of opened cereal. When I put my groceries in the pantry, I place the cereal boxes upside down.

My household of five is allowed three open boxes at a time, which are stored right side up. When one is empty, then another can be turned right side up and opened. No more multiple boxes of stale cereal.

– Janice In Ohio

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