photo by tale kinker

DEAR SARA: How long will chicken last in the fridge after it has been cooked? I pressure-cooked a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts five nights ago and used some of them. I planned to use the rest the next night, so I put the leftovers and the chicken broth from the pressure cooker into a large bowl in the fridge. Would they still be OK to use for dinner tonight? — scrap candles, e-mail

DEAR SCRAP CANDLES: Some will argue this point, but I wouldn’t eat cooked chicken after three days in the refrigerator. Many people forget about their leftovers. Years ago, I started a habit of immediately cutting my leftover chicken and mixing it with mayonnaise for sandwiches to eat the following day. With other leftovers, I sometimes wrap them for the freezer, so they don’t go to waste.

DEAR SARA: I need ideas for frosting. I made a cake for my sister’s birthday, and I made too much frosting. I didn’t read the package of powdered sugar, so I put double the amount. Then I had to add more chocolate and butter. Now I have a double batch in the freezer. I really want to use it for something other than cakes. I want something that can be easily frozen and my husband can take for lunch. If it’s in the freezer (locked), we will be less tempted to eat it all in two days. — Lisette, New York

DEAR LISETTE: You can use it on brownies. You can spread some on graham-cracker squares and sandwich two squares together. Or make mini homemade pop tarts. Roll your favorite piecrust dough into a rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out strips 2 inches wide and 3 inches long. Take one rectangle of dough and spread approximately 1 teaspoon of your favorite jam or chocolate-hazelnut spread on it. Cover with another dough rectangle. Crimp the edges with a fork or your fingers to seal. Bake at 450 F for seven minutes. Once cooled, spread your frosting on top and add sprinkles. If you make them any larger than suggested, pierce the dough with a fork or cut a slit in the top to vent. I use glaze on mine, but your frosting will taste good, too. Don’t toast these. It would make a good dip for pretzels, or combine it with peanut butter and use as a fruit dip.

DEAR SARA: I read your column about laundry-room supplies. I remember my mom using Fels Naptha soap on us if we had poison ivy. What do you use it for in the laundry? Thanks. — Laura, Pennsylvania

DEAR LAURA: It can be used to treat stains on clothing. It works well on baby-formula stains, perspiration stains, chocolate and grease stains. You wet the bar and rub it onto the stained clothing. There are quite a few homemade laundry-detergent recipes that include Fels Naptha. Here’s one: 1 cup grated Fels Naptha soap, 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax (great laundry booster) and 1/2 cup washing soda (not to be confused with baking soda). Mix and store in airtight container or bag. Use 3 tablespoons per laundry load, and use 1/4 to 3/4 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle as your fabric softener.

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