Add club soda to batter for lighter, sweeter pancakes

Dear Heloise: I lost the recipe for Heloise's pancakes using tonic water or some carbonated drink. I went to your Web site, but I couldn't find it. I really miss this recipe! I moved, and now it is missing. Hope you can help. Thanks.

— Rose, via e-mail

Happy to help with this longtime favorite recipe. Basically, you can use any pancake recipe; just substitute club soda for the liquid. (You may be able to use tonic water, but the taste will be tart!)

Or, you can use any flavor soda pop. The carbonation gives pancakes and waffles a lighter texture, and the soda gives them a sweeter taste! I'm sure other readers will agree that these pancakes are the yummiest! This mixture doesn't store well, so make up only as much as you will use.

— Heloise

Dear Heloise: Here are a few of my favorite money-saving hints:

 To stretch baked beans, brown about 1/2 pound ground beef and add to the beans.

 If you need to stretch potato salad, add instant potatoes (which have been prepared).

 If I am short on time, I will purchase potato salad and add more pickles and more boiled eggs.

— Mary Martha Walker, Orlando, Fla.

Dear Heloise: A while ago, you shared how to get rid of smells in the microwave, and recently, my daughter burned popcorn in our microwave, which still smells terrible. Can you tell me what the secret is to getting rid of foul odors in the microwave?

— Susan in Springfield, N.J.

This is one of the Heloise Top Ten Questions that comes in, so here's the update: Wipe down the inside of the microwave with a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda. Then use another clean, damp sponge to remove the baking soda.

Mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of water in a 4-cup or larger microwave-safe bowl. Place in the microwave and heat on high until the water boils. Then let it sit for 10-15 minutes. The water will cool down, and then you can remove the bowl and wipe the walls with a sponge.

Practically every home and office has a microwave, but the truth is that keeping it stain-free is a constant chore. Of course, the best thing to do is clean a food spill ASAP!