Dear Heloise: I buy canned bean dip for my family. They eat several cans a week, and I was wondering if there was a way to make it at home? I would sure appreciate it. —Carolyn in Utah

Carolyn, I would be happy to share this recipe with you, one that was originally printed in 1971! The ingredients you need are:

2 cups of pinto beans, cooked or canned (drained)
2 slices of very crisp bacon
A pinch of garlic
A pinch of chili powder

Put the above ingredients in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth, or leave a little chunky if you like more body. Refrigerate until cooled, and it's ready to sample. Let us know what you think! — Heloise

P.S.: I try to keep several cans of nonfat refried beans in the pantry to use as a quick bean dip. I add hot sauce or salsa until it's the right taste and texture.

Dear Heloise: When making stuffed peppers, I always have a hard time standing them up in a baking dish. Now I put them in a Bundt pan, and they stand up perfectly. I was able to fit five good-size peppers in the pan. Just wanted to share this idea. — Lea Palombo, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I make and pack my lunch the night before I go to work. I recently came up with the idea of putting my car keys in my bag along with my lunch, and I haven't forgotten it since! I thought your other readers might benefit from this helpful hint. — Nancy Wall, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I was out of milk one morning and dislike black coffee, so I went searching for creamer. I had a butter-pecan-flavored drink supplement, so I tried that. It was so delicious that it is now my favorite way to have coffee. — Theresa Trial, San Antonio

Dear Readers: Did you know that you lose most of the nutrients in a cucumber when you peel it? It's true. The peel on a cucumber contains all of the vitamins, such as A, B-6 and C.

If you're not crazy about the taste or texture of the peel, instead of completely removing it, use a vegetable peeler and leave thin strips of peel. When sliced, you'll hardly notice it, and you'll be getting some of the nutritional value. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: I found that the slow cookers that do not have the removable pots have become popular but are hard to clean. But even if you have let the food become stuck on the pot, this works. Rinse out food that is not stuck on. Fill the cooker with water and some dish soap. Plug the pot back in and turn on high for about 30 minutes. The pot will be easier to clean — no scraping involved. — Tina Sullivan, via e-mail

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Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax: 210-435-6473; e-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com © King Features Syndicate Inc.