Dear Heloise: The flames from the burners on my gas stove do not burn evenly. What should I do to correct this problem?-Olivia T., Smyrna, Del.
Olivia, first remove the grates over each burner and look carefully to see if the holes are clogged. Clean them well with a toothbrush and make certain they're grease-free. Then, using a toothpick, poke open each little hole to be sure there is nothing blocking them. That should do the trick! (If it doesn't, please contact the manufacturer.)-Heloise
GO BANANAS
Dear Heloise: Do you know what is causing all the spots on bananas? They are disgusting, and I end up throwing so much fruit away. These spots were not in bananas years ago. Is it a disease?-Marian D., Colorado Springs, Colo.
Marian, the banana, which botanically is a berry, develops those brown spots because the starch turns to higher levels of sugar. There is nothing wrong with the banana if it has "freckles," and in fact, in a Japanese study at the University of Tokyo, researchers discovered that overripe bananas were rich in antioxidants. -Heloise
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