HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: I’m having a debate with my motherin-law concerning blackstrap molasses and regular molasses. She says they are not the same thing, but I think they are the same thing. Who is correct?

— Hope W., Bellevue, Wash. DEAR READER: Sorry, but your mother-in-law is correct. Molasses, which comes from the juice of sugar cane or sugar beets, is boiled down to remove the sugar crystals. It’s the number of times the juice is boiled that makes all the difference.

Light or regular molasses is produced after the second boiling. Blackstrap molasses is what comes from a third boiling, and it’s very bitter.

DEAR HELOISE: We remodeled our kitchen this year, and somehow my little book with all of my favorite recipes disappeared. Your spaghetti sauce was in there. And now that the weather has gotten cold, my husband has been asking me to make spaghetti. Would you please reprint it?

— Dorothy S., Muskegon, Mich. DEAR READER: This was originally my mother’s recipe and has stood the test of time. Here it is.

Heloise’s Spaghetti & Sauce

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup butter

1 cup finely chopped onions

1 pound ground beef

4 strips bacon, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped fine

3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

1 bay leaf, chopped fine

1 tablespoon salt Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 teaspoon crushed dry red pepper

2 ounces red wine

2 (15-ounce) cans whole tomatoes or tomato sauce

1 small can tomato paste

1 cup water

1 finely chopped carrot Cooked pasta

Heat olive oil over low heat in a pot large enough to hold all ingredients. Add butter and simmer until melted. Add onions and saute until lightly browned. Add ground beef and bacon; saute until browned, stirring occasionally.

Add garlic, parsley, bay leaf, salt, black pepper and red pepper. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Add wine, cover and “steam” for a few minutes more.

Add tomatoes or tomato sauce, paste and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the chopped carrot. Cover and cook over very low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally. Serve over your favorite pasta.