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Ice That Oil!

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By MARY A. KEITH

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 23, 2008

Do I really have to keep olive oil in the refrigerator like they said on TV? My refrigerator is getting to be more full of supplies than it is fresh food!

Olive and most other oils will keep fine on the shelf for months or more, as long as they're not hot. Keeping them in the dark will help preserve their flavor too. If you buy so much that you won't use it all in five to six months, then refrigerate it. Specialty oils like walnut, almond or other nut oils will retain flavor and color much better in the refrigerator.

What can I use as a substitute for whole wheat pastry flour? It's a recipe for pumpkin muffins, and I don't want to buy a whole bag for one recipe.

For something as small as muffins, you could probably get away with using regular whole wheat flour. Because the main difference between pastry and regular flour is a little bit more protein, adding a teaspoon or two of dry powdered milk would increase the protein without affecting much else in the recipe. Try that.

I got a bunch of wonderful fresh cucumbers and would like to make pickles. But I don't want to have to cook them. Can I do that?

You can make ice-box or refrigerator pickles. They don't have to be processed in boiling water, but they must be kept refrigerated the whole time. It will take about a week in the refrigerator for the flavor to develop, so don't plan on using them immediately.

I made one batch of apple butter in the crock pot. It cooked OK, but the flavor is very mild. Can I use cinnamon stick instead of ground cinnamon to build up the flavor in the next batch?

You can use cinnamon sticks while it cooks, but don't put pieces of cinnamon stick in the jar if you can it or store it a long time. The flavor will get too strong.

Is it OK to leave out the salt in a corn muffin recipe? I'm trying to reduce sodium, and the recipe already has baking powder and soda.

Salt can be omitted in most baked goods except yeast breads without problem. Salt helps enhance flavor, so they might taste a little flat, or a little less sweet without the salt.

Mary A. Keith, a nutrition and health agent at Hillsborough County Extension, can be reached at (813) 744-5519 or mkeith@ufl.edu.

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