A Guide to Helpful Hints

HELPFUL HINTS: If you drink jasmine tea or any of the lighter bodied teas like Formosa Ooling, which have their own natural sweetness. you shouldn't need to add sugar to your tea. They also work for making ice tea.

* Calorie-free club soda adds sparkle to iced fruit juices, makes them go further and reduces calories per portion.

* For tea flavoring, dissolve hard lemon drops or mint candy in your tea. They quickly melt and keep the tea brisk.

* Most diets call for 8 ounces glasses of milk and 4 ounces of fruit juice. Check your glassware. Having the exact size glass ensures the correct serving amount.

* Make your own spiced tea or cider. Place orange peels, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks in a 6 inch square piece of cheesecloth. Gather the corners and tie with a string. Steep in hot cider or tea for 10 minutes or even longer for stronger flavor.

* Always chill juices or sodas before adding to beverage recipes.

* To cool your punch, float an ice ring made from the punch rather than using cubes. Not only is this quite decorative, but it also won't dilute the punch as it melts.

* Place fresh or dried mint in the bottom of a cup of hot chocolate for a cool, refreshing taste.

* One lemon yields about 1/4 cup juice; one orange yields about 1/3 cup juice. This is helpful when making fresh orange juice or lemonade.

* NEVER boil coffee; it brings out the acid and causes a bitter taste. Store ground coffee in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.

* Always use COLD water in electric drip coffee makers. Use 1 to 2 Tablespoons ground coffee for each cup of water.

* Seeds and nuts, both shelled and unshelled, keep best and longest when stored in the freezer. Unshelled nuts crack more easily when frozen. Nuts and seeds can be used directly from the freezer.

* Cheeses should be served at room temperature, approximately 70 degrees.

* To prevent cheese from sticking to a grater, spray the grater with cookig spray before grating.