Long live the great celery!

Dear Heloise: CELERY gets rotten so fast that I used to throw a lot of it away. Now when I buy a new stalk, I wrap the whole thing in paper towels and put it back in the long, plastic bag it came in. It stays fresh to the end. — Marion D., Harvey Cedars, N.J.

Cinnamon coffee

Dear Heloise: Would you reprint your Cinnamon Coffee recipe? My mother loved it, and she’s coming for a visit. — Giselle T., Fremont, Ohio

Gisell e,hereitis: Sprinkle a little ground cinnamon in your coffee cup, add some sweetener of your choice and then pour in the coffee. Add creamer or skim milk and stir well. You also can add some nutmeg or allspice. This is a very simple but tastydrinkthatsomany people have enjoyed. If you like this and would care to try some of the other recipes in my Heloise’s Flavored Coffee and Teas pamphlet, just send asta mped (71 cents), selfaddressed, long envelope, along with $3, to: Heloise/Coffee & Tea, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Or you can order it online at www. Heloise.com. These recipes are great to add a little zip to everyday drinks. — Heloise

Read labels!

Dear Heloise: People don’t read labels on the products they buy, and they really should. So many products will say “low fat,” but what’s their idea of low fat? Is it 5 grams, 10 grams or 22 grams of fat? How much sugar, corn syrup and other non-nutritional things are added? Anything that has hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil contains fat. If you’re on a low-sodium diet or if you’re diabetic, you definitely need to read labels. — Roger D., Bloomington, Ill.

Nut substitutes

Dear Heloise: If you have a recipe that calls for nuts and you have someone in your family or a fri endwhocann ot eat nuts, or you just don’t have any nuts on hand, substitute a rice cereal, using the same amount as in the recipe.

Also, you can always substitute walnuts for pecans in a recipe. The taste will vary a little, but both nuts make great pies. — Dawn P., Bryant, Ark.

Sweet potatoes

Dear Heloise: My family loves french fries, but they also love curly sweet potatofriescookedinoli ve oil. I t’sanice c hangeof pace and is very tasty with fish or chicken. The sweet potato fries are cooked justlikeregularfr ench fries. So easy, and it can be enjoyed all year. — Kathy M., Durango, Colo.

Just a reminder

Dear Readers: If you have a gas leak (you’ll smell it), open windows, then go to a neighbor’s and call the gas company immediately. Do not go home until the repair person from the gas company say sthatitisOK. — Heloise