Putting Pans to the Hot-Spot Test

Question: Is there a way to test a pan for hot spots?

Answer: “The quickest and surest method we know is to pour a uniform layer of four or five tablespoons of sugar mixed with a couple of tablespoons of water into the pan, then turn the heat to a low-to-medium setting and wait for the sugar to start to caramelize,” says Howard Hillman, author of “Kitchen Science” (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1981). “If the pan has no hot spots, the sugar will caramelize evenly. If the pan has hot spots, the sugar directly over them will caramelize first, forming a pattern that maps your pan’s hot spots.

“If you discover that your pots have hot spots and you do not wish to replace the equipment, you can minimize the defect by using as low a heat setting as possible or by using a heat diffuser,” says Hillman.

Q: Throughout the years, friends have given me bottles of sweet wine as gifts. As of now I have 15 and don’t know what to do with them. I do like wine coolers. Would you have any recipes or other ideas?

A: Here are three cooling ideas for summer: two beverages and a fruit cup.

CRANBERRY SPRITZER

1/3 cup cranberry juice, chilled

1/2 cup sweet wine, chilled

2 tablespoons Grand Marnier

2 to 3 ice cubes

Club soda, chilled

Combine cranberry juice, wine and Grand Marnier. Pour into tall glass, filling 2/3 full. Add ice cubes, then fill glass with club soda. Makes 1 serving.

WINE MELON CUP

9 to 10 mint sprigs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/3 cup sweet wine

3 cups melon balls or cubes

Wash mint and crush 3 to 4 sprigs between palms of hands. Combine crushed mint, sugar and orange juice in small saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Simmer mixture 5 minutes, then strain. Add lemon juice and wine. Cool.

Arrange melon balls in 6 sherbet glasses and pour syrup over melon. Chill. Garnish with remaining mint sprigs. Makes 6 servings.

Address questions on food preparation to You Asked About . . ., Food Section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. Personal replies cannot be given.