CLICK HERE to respond to newsletter replies, requests and tips. Please include date of newsletter, name of recipe and number of servings.  Remember to include your name within the message as well.

This nut butter is good for you - there is no salt added. This is from Planters Peanut test kitchen.

Unsalted Nut Butter
2 cups Planters Dry Roasted Unsalted Cashews or Unsalted Peanuts
3 Tbsp Planters Oil
1 tsp honey

Place cashews or peanuts in a blender or food processor. Blend on high speed until coarsely chopped. Continue blending, adding oil in a steady stream. Add honey and blend until smooth and creamy. Makes 1/4 cup.
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www.watkinsonline.com/hutto
sunnywatkinsgirl@aol.com
Order: 765-271-9041

Watkins Gourmet Extracts will make your ice tea sparkle with no added calories!
#21705 raspberry
#21367 peach
#21386 strawberry
#21389 pineapple

Thought for the Day
No matter what happened in the past the future is spotless.

Hi Nancy! I am looking for some suggestions from your readers for lunch ideas for my husband. He works outside so there is no where for him to heat anything and he is really tired of sandwiches. Sometimes on the weekend we get a pizza and he likes to take that with him, but I need other ideas. Thanks in advance to everyone.
Lyn in Houston

In reply to Robbie IN- I am also looking for recipes for a convection oven. Please let me know how I can obtain them.
Thank you
Gwen

I'm looking for a fried chocolate pie or chocolate fried pie recipe. I would appreciate your help in locating this recipe my grandma once used.
Thanks, Paige

Does anyone have a good recipe for a Reuben casserole, and also a good chocolate chip cookie, every time I use the recipe on the back of the Nestle morsel bag the cookies always seem to come out so flat, more like a pancake then a cookie.
Thanks, Sally in Pa

This is for Phyllis in KY 2/16:

Cindy’s Waldorf Chicken Salad
2-10oz cans Swanson’s White Chicken Breast
2 stalks celery, chopped finely
10-15 red seedless grapes, quartered (or smaller if large grape)
1/2c chopped walnuts or pecans (I use walnuts)
1/3-1/2 red delicious apple, chopped
2/3c. Miracle Whip, or to taste

Mix together and chill several hours before serving.
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Cindy in Kansas City

I am new here and I have a couple of questions. I found a recipe in the August 10, 2007 newsletter " Hot Dog Bun Pudding/Custard TNT" . What does TNT mean and what size and type of pan is required?

I love trying new recipes. Thanks Nancy for your wonderful newsletter, I love to open my email and find a newsletter from you.
Janet from Hertford, NC

Hi Nancy, here's a recipe for Italian Wedding Soup that Peggy in E. Tennessee is interested in having:

Italian Wedding Soup

For the meatballs:
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal, pork or turkey
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
1/2 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste

For the soup:
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups spinach, chopped
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Orzo - small grains of pasta shaped like barley.

Large soup pot, baking sheet. Combine the ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, parsley, minced garlic and salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Mix well with a fork and form into tiny meat balls ( smaller than a golf ball) with your hands.

Place meatballs on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees, until brown. Bring chicken broth to a boil, add Orzo and spinach, cooking 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the cheese and serve.
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Joann in South Carolina

I'd like to thank Rich (2/17) for his list of Spinach Salad ingredients. Sounds interesting. The combination I have used for years, that everyone seems to enjoy, is one I used to get in the cafeteria in the hospital where I used to work in Florida. My combination is: baby spinach leaves, crumbled bacon, sliced boiled eggs (or cut in wedges), sliced mushrooms, bean sprouts, 1 quarter red onion (cut in quarters and very thinly sliced), sliced water chestnuts. Also served with Bacon Dressing that sounds like what you use. I'll be trying your combination to compare.
Oma in LA (Lower Alabama)

This is for Susie Indy, who in the 2/17/08 newsletter was looking to substitute cocoa in a recipe calling for unsweetened chocolate. I hope this helps. Chocolate, Unsweetened 1 ounce= 3 tablespoons cocoa plus 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
Robbie IN

Susie, Indy, use 1 tbsp cocoa powder and 1 tbsp butter to equal 1 sq chocolate.
grannym IL

Pork Chop Sauerkraut Casserole
6 pork chops, 1" thick or thinner (may use country style pork ribs or Polish sausage)
1 (27 oz.) can sauerkraut
1 c. chopped onion
1 med. apple, pared, cored, chopped
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 med. potato, pared & grated or diced

Combine the sauerkraut, onion, apple, brown sugar and potato in deep casserole. Cut some of fat from edge of chops. Some people like the fat. Dip in seasoned flour. Brown lightly. Place on top of kraut mixture. Cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/4 hours. Can be cooked in Dutch oven on top of stove too.
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Paige

Green Chile Rice
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 c. chopped onion
4 c. freshly cooked white rice
2 c. sour cream
1 c. cream-style cottage cheese
1 lg. bay leaf, crumbled
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 (4 oz.) cans green chiles, drained, halved lengthwise, leaving seeds
2 c. grated sharp natural Cheddar cheese
Chopped parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet, sauté onion in hot butter until golden. Remove from heat and stir in hot rice, sour cream, cottage cheese, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Toss lightly to mix. In a greased 12 x 8 x 2 inch baking dish, layer half rice mixture in bottom and then half the chiles. Sprinkle half the cheese. Layer the remainder of the rice, remainder of chiles and the remainder of the cheese. Bake uncovered 25 minutes until bubbly and hot. Garnish with chopped parsley. Yield: 10 to 12 servings.
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Linda NM

In the 2/15/08 newsletter Terri was looking for a Chocolate Amaretto recipe. This may be the recipe for which she is searching.
Robbie IN

Chocolate Amaretto Mousse Pie
1 baked 9-inch pie shell (You can use a regular pie shell, a graham cracker shell, a vanilla wafer shell, or a chocolate wafer shell.)

2 envelopes Dream Whip, prepared according to pkg. directions
1-1/2 c. milk
2 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
1/4 c. Amaretto Chocolate shavings

Prepare topping mix according to package directions. Add milk, pudding mix, and Amaretto; beat 2 minutes at high speed of electric mixer. Spoon mixture

into pastry shell. Top with whipped topping and chocolate shavings, if desired. Chill at least 4 hours.
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For Peggy
My version it's tough to put into a recipe because I just eyeball everything but here goes. Best to make the day before without the noodles so you can skim off excess grease.

Italian Wedding Soup
1 whole Chicken to save time you can grab a ready roaster from your grocery
1/2 package acini di pepe (pearl like pasta)
3 stalks celery with leaves sliced thin
couple carrots slices thin
palm full of fresh parsley

Cover chicken with stock or water if using water add 2 or 3 bouillon cubes or 2 tbs chicken soup base simmer for an hr remove chicken and de bone. Return chicken to pot adding in celery and carrots.

For the meatballs I use a mix of pork,veal,beef about 1 lb add an egg some minced onion and seasoned breadcrumbs or saltines your choice.Both work well. Add salt pepper and Italian seasoning. omit the salt if your using salted saltines in your meatballs. Roll to your preferred size add to soup broth and simmer for an hr or longer if you made large meatball. Add your parsley toward the end to maintain it's color. I cook my noodle separately to avoid them sopping up to much of my broth. Add them into hot soup before serving .Season to your taste.
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Ricci in PA

For Peggy in E. Tennessee: Newsletter 2-17 Recipe from my grandmother's handwritten recipe book.
Jae, Central OK

Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake Recipe
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1 cup raisins
2 level tbsp. drippings
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp soda
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon

Cook together sugar, water, raisins, drippings and salt. Let cool. Sift together flour, soda, ginger and cinnamon. Stir into the cooled cooked mixture. Mix well. Bake 1 hour at 350F in a greased loaf pan.

To make a delicious fruit cake add a cup of chopped dates, 1 cup mixed peel, 1/2 cup nuts or drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes.
Source: Heritage Recipes
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Does anyone have a TNT (tried) recipe for Broccoli Salad?
Carolyn B

What date was the Chicken in the Jug posted? Thanks Nancy for all you do. I really enjoy this site. Hard on the ink and paper. HA
Take care of your four legged babies.
Gail Minn.

For Betty T. Ga who had a question about the whipped cream in the Cheesecake Factory Key Lime Cheesecake recipe.

I don't think it goes IN the cheesecake, it goes on TOP.
Whip the cream as you normally would (I add sugar & vanilla) and either serve on top or on the side.
gramaj

Hi Nancy, Some time ago I asked for a copy cat recipe for the Kenny Burger Sauce and actually found this one on Ebay. The only problem is that it makes so much that I am trying to half it because I have so much extra. Here is the recipe, TNT

Kenny Burger Sauce (Copycat/Clone)
1 large can ketchup #10 can, 115 oz
2/3 to 1 cup Mustard
1 cup Sweet Pickle Relish
1/6 cup or 1 and 1/3 ounces salt
Pinch Ground Ginger
2 tsp. Liquid Smoke

I also add garlic powder and a little extra liquid smoke but not too much. Karen was asking for this and I hope she tries it. If anyone else has any variations, I would appreciate it.
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Marie in VA

To Susan that was looking for a pressure cooker recipe source. QVC had a new cookbook on today. It looks good I ordered it. It was written by Bob Warden the man that shows all the cooks essential cook ware.
Phoebe W Atlanta Ga

Coconut Oat Cookies
2 c. rolled oats
2/3 c. coconut
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour, sifted
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream margarine and shortening and sugar together. Beat in each egg, then flavoring. Stir in oats and coconut. Fold in dry ingredients thoroughly. Form into 4 inch rolls, 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Chill several hours. Slice 1/4 inch thick, place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
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Linda NM

Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies
1 c. flour
8 tbsp. butter
4 oz. cream cheese
1 1/3 c. apricot preserves
1 lg. egg white
Sugar, dusting

Mix flour, butter and cheese with pastry blender until crumbly. Form ball. Chill 1 hour. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough thin and cut 3"x2" rectangles. Spread with preserves. Roll to form 2" cylinders. Pinch ends. Beat egg white until frothy. Brush rolls and dust with sugar. Bake 15 minutes.
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Linda NM

Rolled Oat Clusters No Bake Cookies
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. peanut butter
3 c. rolled oats (quick or regular)

Combine sugar, milk, butter and salt, in a heavy 3 quart pot. Stir. Bring to a full boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Add rolled oats. Mix well. Cool until mixture holds shape, slightly. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper. Cool.
Makes about 4 dozen clusters.
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Linda NM

Raisin Puff Cookies
1-1/2 c. raisins
1 c. water

Cook and drain and set aside.
1 c. Crisco
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream shortening, sugar and eggs. Mix flour with soda and salt. Add to cream mixture, along with vanilla and drained raisins. Mix well. Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Roll in sugar to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
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Linda NM

Orange Ball Cookies
1 can Eagle Brand milk
1 lb. orange slices, cut in sm. pieces
1 tbsp. orange juice
2 c. flakes coconut
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together and bake in shallow pan 30 minutes at 275 degrees. Stir often while cooking. Roll into small balls while warm. Roll in powdered sugar.
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Linda NM

Stuffed Butter Date Cookies
1 lb. soft pitted dates
48 walnut halves
2 cubes butter
3 c. packed brown sugar
4 eggs
2 c. sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. soda

Stuff each date with walnut half. Press to hold shape. Cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients. Add stuffed dates, use teaspoon to dip out battered covered date. Place on baking sheet at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool. Frost with Butter Frosting. Heat and brown 1 cube butter. Do not burn. Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar mixed with 1/2 cup flour. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add hot water to spreading consistency.
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Linda NM

Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies

COOKIES
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. oleo
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour

FILLING
1 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. flour
3 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. chopped maraschino cherries, drained

GLAZE
1/4 c. chocolate chips
1 tsp. oleo
1/4 c. powdered sugar
3-4 tsp. water

Mix sugar and oleo. Add egg and vanilla. Stir in flour. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Shape dough into balls. Place 2" apart on cookie sheet. With thumb, make imprint in each cookie. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. Remove from cookie sheet and cool. Mix filling and fill cookie center with 1/2 teaspoon of filling. In saucepan, melt chocolate chips and margarine. Mix in rest of ingredients and drizzle over cookies. Makes 4-1/2 dozen.
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Linda NM

For Bunnie in Parker, CO, please share your favorite shredded cucumber salad recipe. Sounds good. I have a salad shooter down in the cabinet somewhere...I guess I need to pull it out and give it another try. I hate to say it but I'm the kitchen appliance queen ... have them all ... and still like to just get take-out. LOL
Susan in GA

Chow Mein Casserole
1 lb ground beef
3/4 c Celery; chopped
3/4 c Onion; chopped
1 1/4 c Boiling water
1/2 c Uncooked rice
1/2 ts Salt
1 Can chicken and rice soup
4 oz Mushrooms
1 tb Brown sugar
2 ts Soy sauce
1 ts Butter or margarine
1 1/2 c Chow mein noodles

Cook and stir ground beef, celery and onion until hamburger is light brown, then drain. Pour water on rice and add salt in greased 2qt casserole. Stir in hamburger, soup, mushrooms, sugar, soy sauce and margarine. Cover and cook in 350f oven for 30 min; stir. Cook uncovered for 30 min longer. Stir in noodles, serve immediately.

Note: Water chestnuts or bamboo shoots may be added if desired.
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Lisa

To Marie from Hudson in NY RE: Chinese "fast food " made at home.

Sorry I don't know how to make your lo mein brown, but my DH and I have recently developed a taste for Chinese and I would LOVE some recipes so like you I can trim the fat and calories. Maybe you would share with us ?
Thanks. Cheryl, Charlotte

I have been subscribed to this newsletter for 5 years and never knew there was an online part of the newsletter.  I saw the link but never clicked on it.  Wow! I am so excited. I stayed up until 2 in the morning looking at the newsletter archives.

Thought I might share one of my families favorite recipe. 

Spaghetti and Ground Beef Soup
2 lbs. ground beef
2 diced onions
2 diced stalks of celery
1 diced green pepper
1 (12 oz.) can tomato paste
1 (12 oz.) can of whole tomatoes
8 cubed potatoes
2 c. broken spaghetti
1/3 c. of barley
1/2 c. rice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. sugar

Brown ground beef. Sauté onions, celery, green pepper. Put in big pot with 1 quart of water, barley, tomatoes and spices. Cook for 1 hour. Put in potatoes, rice, spaghetti. Then cook for 1 more hour.
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Denise in Chicago

Any chance you have a good vinegar-based BBQ sauce? I am hooked on vinegar-based sauce as found in NC and SC, but can never find a recipe that is not heavily tomato and sugar based. Huge thanks !!!
Kasey

I would like to have a recipe for tamale pie. My mother made it over 40 years ago. It was delicious. I don't have her recipe but maybe someone may have great tamale pie recipe.
Jen

Lemon Meringue Pie
What's the trick to keep the meringue from bleeding into the pie crust? I usually double the amount of egg whites and bake it until it's brown but as it cools it soaks the pie crust with liquid. I hate soggy pie crust!

Thought this might come in handy for some members :)
Gina in Indiana

Overnight Omelet Casserole
Makes 6 servings

1 teaspoon butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup sliced mushrooms
4 slices 100 percent whole-wheat bread
1 egg
3/4 cup cholesterol-free, fat-free, low-calorie egg substitute
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded 2 percent milk Cheddar cheese, divided

Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray coating. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and red pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is tender. Add mushrooms and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are tender. Remove from heat.

Trim crust from bread and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Toss together vegetable mixture and bread cubes; arrange evenly in prepared dish.

Whisk together egg, egg substitute, milk, mustard, pepper, Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread and vegetables in dish. Cover with foil and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Set casserole out of refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 10 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
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To Jennie in NM;
I would like to thank you also for your explanation of RO water. Your in depth explanation gives me a better idea as how the system works.

To Chris in NM; I would like to thank you for the explanation as to what RO water is.
In my entire life, I have never heard of any-thing like this and I am glad to know that something like this can be done.
Thank you again, Joseph J.

For Susie in Indy. Use 1 TB melted butter and 3 TB cocoa powder for 1 ounce square of chocolate.
Theresa in MI

For the ladies looking for a Chinese Brown Sauce, 2/17/08 newsletter: 3/4 cup beef broth, 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Combine ingredients in order and bring to a boil, stirring. Yields about 1/3 cup. This came from About.com:Chinese Food. Lee Kim and Dynasty is a good brand of Oyster sauce to buy. I don't measure as I'm stir frying, I add my broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sugar, I make a slurry with the cornstarch and add it. I use more oyster sauce than the tablespoon, because I like the taste, it doesn't taste like oysters. This sauce can be used with beef and broccoli or with stir fried tofu. I like to add crushed chilies or Chinese garlic chile paste. Hope this is what you ladies are looking for
Eleanor, Calif

To Sharon in TX, sometimes my delete button stops working too, instead it prints little dots. I have discovered it I hit the number lock button on the top on the lift side of the keyboard, it corrects it.
Eve, Snowbound in WI

To Sharon in Texas with her computer problem in the February 17th newsletter. When your delete button isn't working just use the control button and the letter "D". That is the same thing as delete. Often times I just use that anyway.
Linda in SE Iowa

For Sharon in Texas who had a question about her computer in the Feb 17th newsletter. Other than the key beginning to fail, you may have a piece of something that got down into the key area that intermittently causes problems. You might try turning the keyboard over and shaking it to see if anything falls out. However, there is a workaround that is easier than using the delete key. After you highlight the area you want to delete, just hit the space bar. Works just like the delete key and is easier to hit.
Dave in Colorado

Joseph, chicken eat corn. Corn prices are very high because they are making alternative fuel for cars out of it. The same goes for soybeans. Soybeans are in many of our fuels too.
Bette~Indiana

To Joseph J in 2/17 newsletter.
Eggs are expensive now days because of high fuel prices for shipping and cornmeal is now more expensive because they're using the corn to make E85 gas. In other words it's probably going to keep going up as are other products that use corn.
BBin In.

In response to Joseph J. regarding the price of eggs, I have a few hens myself for organic eggs. The cost of raising the hens has gone up dramatically due to the cost of the feed. As with everything else, the cost of transport for the feed, the severe drought in the southeast, etc. has taken a real toll on so many products and this includes feed for the animals as well.
Hope this explains the rise in the cost of eggs for you.
Marlette A, Cleveland TN.

This is for Joseph J in the newsletter of 2/17/08 that was asking why eggs are so high. I can tell him it is because of the cost of the feed has gone up so much. Whole Corn is over $7.50 for a 50 lb bag, whole milo is $5.50 for 50 lb bag and laying crumbles are $8.45 for 50 lbs. Bulk Corn has been so hard to get this winter because they are using it to make fuel. I was paying $11.50 for a 100 lbs of whole corn and this week I went to buy the same hundred pounds and it was over $ 15.50 . Shipping cost is driving the prices up with the high cost of fuel . I hope this answers you question on the cost of eggs.
Pat from SW Okla..

Hi Nancy. This is for Sharon who is having difficulty with delete and backspace. Sharon - I don't know just what you're seeing when this takes place, but I'll tell you this much, just in case it applies. Delete only works if the cursor is to the LEFT of the item you are deleting. Then it deletes it one character at a time. Backspace works if your cursor is to the RIGHT of the item you want to delete - and it only deletes one character at a time as well. If you want to delete an entire word, then you would highlight the word either by clicking and dragging your cursor across the word or by double clicking on the word to highlight it. Then either delete or backspace can be used.

I did have a couple of times using Linux, Firefox and AOL where my delete key stopped working, now that I think of it, and I did have to go past the item to use Backspace. But, I never found what the problem was. It hasn't happened on my computer since my daughter sold hers that we had been using. Maybe it was unique to hers (a Compaq) or maybe it
was related to our OS or our browser (or even AOL) - but I no longer have the problem. The only change has been the computer.

If this doesn't help, then I don't have an answer because this is the only thing I can think of that might be causing you to have to use the backspace key. Good luck!!
Wendy

To Carolyn in West Texas with a question about scar marks on hardwood floors. I watch A LOT of HGTV and on a few episodes when wood was indented or dinged, they suggested taking a wet cloth, placing it over the spot in the wood and leaving it set for a while. The water seeps into the wood and expands the grains of the wood (does not hurt it), After the indents are gone, match the color with a wood fill in pencil, a matching stain or try min-wax. Try your local Home depot or Lowes and see if they have any tips for you as well.
CJ in Ohio