Send recipes, hints to 527 Phillip Rd. in Niles or call 683-7266.

Many readers have offered suggestions for satisfying a sweet tooth. They note that white chocolate is available in in sugar-free form, and that this chocolate may be utilized in the same manner as the regular chocolate-flavored coatings. Whether you combine it with a cereal, fruit nuts or whatever, the choice is yours.

Another tip: Although chocolate is delicious when eaten, but if it happens to stain a table covering, it loses its popularity with the hostess! Act quickly to treat the stain with cold water and a detergent.

Rinse damaged spot thoroughly, then allow to dry. Once dry, if the spot remains visible, resort to using a bit of cleaning fluid.

For alcoholic beverage stains, immediately soak in cold water before the stain has a chance to set, then immediately sponge the area with a liquid detergent in a bit of water with vinegar.

Melt Aways

1½ cups Milkcote chocolate coating

2/3 cups vegetable shortening, melted

Several drops peppermint oil

Milkcoate chocolate

Use a double boiler and place the Milkcote coating over hot — not boiling — water. Add shortening and peppermint, but just a small amount at a time and beat well after each addition. Chill mixture in fridge until it forms a soft custard-type consistency. Place in mixing bowl and beat for 30 seconds; do not overbeat. Pour into 10-by-13-inch pan lined with waxed paper. Cover with waxed paper, then gently tap the pan to level the mixture. Immediately place in fridge and allow to cool until firm. Do not allow it to become hard. Cut in squares. Dip into melted and cooled Milkcote coating.

Cream cheese balls

(1) 8-oz. package cream cheese

Approx. ¾ cup pecans, finely chopped

Milkcote or Whitecote chocolate

Cream the cream cheese, then gradually add pecans. Place in fridge and chill until cream cheese can be formed into balls, then dip balls into melted chocolate coating.

Black walnut caramels

1 1/3 cups black walnuts

¾ cup sweetened condensed milk

2 cups light corn syrup

3 cups brown sugar, packed

1 cup butter

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and condensed milk in heavy pan. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture boils. Continue cooking until mixture reaches 248 degrees, stirring to prevent it from scorching. Remove from heat and stir in walnuts and extract. Pour into two buttered, 8-inch square pans. When firm, cut and wrap in waxed paper squares. Note: These caramels are best if stored in fridge. Yields approx. 98 pieces.

Holiday Divinity

3 cups granulated sugar

¾ cup water

2 egg whites

½ cup flaked coconut

¾ cup light corn syrup

¼ tsp. salt

(1) 3-oz. vanilla extract

½ cup pecans, finely chopped

Place sugar, corn syrup, water and salt into two-quart saucepan. Place tight lid on pan and bring ingredients to boil. Remove lid and place thermometer in pan. Continue cooking, without any stirring until mixture reaches 250 degrees.

Immediately remove pan from heat and set aside. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and hold. Add gelatin and beat into egg whites.

Pour hot syrup very slowly over flavored, beaten egg whites, beating constantly on high until soft peaks form and hold.

Add vanilla, coconut and nuts, then drop by spoonful on waxed paper. Yields approx. 75 candies.

After the initial rush on the fruitcake, it sometimes loses its appeal after a period of days. If this happens in your household, try this recipe.

Fruit-nut drops

1 lb. white chocolate coating

1 cup natural cereal of your choice

1 cup dried apricots, chopped

½ cup raisins

Approx. ½ cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Melt chocolate in top of double boiler, then add remaining ingredients and stir until mixture is well coated.

Drop mixture by spoonful on waxed paper. Place in fridge until firm. Yields approx. 1.75 pounds of candy.

It seems like each decade introduces us to new foods. Cappuccino is just one of these new, tasty flavors that now appears on menus far and wide. It is just espresso combined with steamed milk and often topped with a dash of cinnamon.

Until this 10-letter word was introduced to society, many young people would not allow a beverage of this type to enter their mouths.

Cappuccino-flavored icing

2 tbsps. butter, softened

2 tsps. cappuccino mix

1-2 tbsps. milk

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1½ cups confectioner’s sugar

Beat all ingredients, then smooth over warm rolls from the oven.

Protect your purse

Two of my readers report that purse snatchers are in our area. Consider carrying some type of very small purse that could be concealed on your person. The only other alternative might be a purse with a good strong handle that you could get a good strong grip on.

Quick baked potatoes

Do you know that when preparing baked potatoes, you can cut the baking time almost in half if you parbroil the potatoes for about five minutes first?

Wine with sweets

To the reader who inquired as to what type of wine should be served when partaking of coffee and dessert — I would imagine either a sweet wine or port, or even perhaps a cream sherry.