Keeping

guacamole fresh

Dear Heloise: To keep guacamole from turning brown after making it, place the pit into the mixture, and it will stay nice and green. — Carolyn Y., in Abilene, Texas

Carolyn, I’m sorry to say that this is only a myth. The avocado seed does not prevent guacamole from oxidizing to a brown color, except for the small area directly under the seed. Instead, use a cling film and place it on top of the guacamole so that the film rests on the guacamole with no air between the food and the film. — Heloise

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POLLUTION FROM TOURISM

Dear Heloise: I wanted to write in about your response to Janice G. in a letter entitled: “To travel or not to travel?” Something more important than people’s travel preferences is the habitability of the planet. Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. Plane flights, boat rides, souvenirs and lodging — they all contribute to tourism’s carbon footprint.

Greenhouse gas emissions from international tourism are growing by 3.5% every year — about twice as fast as the overall economy. This contributes to collapsing infrastructure, spreading diseases, encroaching oceans, food supply failures, heat waves, and killer storms. Will we let our preferences jeopardize our children’s future? — Andrew H., via email

Andrew, there is an organization called the Climate Accountability Institute that wants the biggest polluters, which are the companies that produce oil and gas, to be monitored and made accountable for their contribution to global warming and air pollution. Tourism takes a backseat to these companies. The men and women who were born in the 21st century are probably the ones who have the greatest influence on how our planet is maintained.

As for tourism, I imagine the lure of faraway places will always hold their charm. Having traveled extensively, I can honestly say my jaw dropped the first time I walked into the Coliseum in Rome, Stonehenge in England, and the Sistine Chapel, as well as when I saw Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” in Florence, Italy.

We each need to do our part as guardians of the planet before we hand it over to the next generation. — Heloise

REFRESHING A TEDDY BEAR

Dear Heloise: Do you need to freshen a teddy bear? Take a fabric softener sheet (a used one), spray it with your favorite air freshener, and rub down the teddy bear. He will smell and look great. — Fran R., in San Antonio

Fran, for our pet lovers, be sure to toss some of your dog’s cloth toys in the laundry when you do your wash. It will freshen up their toys. Below is another letter on how to refresh toys. — Heloise

MR. FLUFFY AND PETE

Dear Heloise: I know children get very attached to some of their toys, but of all of my daughter’s toys, she loved Mr. Fluffy and Pete the Octopus most of all. She dragged them everywhere she went, so needless to say, they got filthy. The mere suggestion that they needed a bath caused my daughter to cry and carry on because she was sure that Mr. Fluffy would drown. Pete might survive, but Mr. Fluffy would be unable to swim.

While she was napping one afternoon, I scooped up the two toys and tossed them in the washer and dryer. When she woke up, both toys were spotless. All she noticed was how nice they smelled. — Brenda K., in Ogden, Utah