DEAR SUN SPOTS: I was given a partial container of barley greens. Does anyone know of any uses other other than as a dietary supplement? I’ve been looking for recipes, but all I’m finding are recipes calling for pearl barley. Anyone have any suggestions? Thank you. — Martha Burnell, ibnthinkin@gmail.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots didn’t find anything, but she guesses you could use them for salad. Or saute them in oil perhaps. Sun Spots has a recipe that calls for sauteing either kale or spinach in olive oil with bacon bits and garlic (minced garlic in jars works well). Sounds odd, but very tasty. You might try that with some barley greens.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to have a very good recipe for pulled pork. I use my crockpot a lot. It is great. Thank you for your help.— No Name via email

ANSWER: There are a zillion recipes for pulled pork online, but Sun Spots cannot publish them due to copyrights. Hopefully readers will send in their favorites.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: How many calories in an 8-ounce glass of wine? Thank you! — Henry Sakrison, Otisfield

ANSWER: Online sources measure a glass of wine as 5 ounces and report 123 calories. If you do the math, an 8-ounce glass would come in at just under 197 calories.

It doesn’t sound like much, but beverages can really add up. Not just alcohol but sugared soda and juice can quickly use up much of your daily allotment of calories.

For example, if you are a sedentary female over 50, according to a chart on webmd.com, you only need 1,600 calories to maintain your current weight. For men, that number is a little higher, 2,000 to 2,200.

Sun Spots went to a dietitian a few years ago for help eating correctly with her food allergies and was astonished at how little she should eat to not gain weight. Even at her higher activity level, the dietitian recommended keeping her calories under 2,000, preferably about 1,800.

Many restaurants are making it easier to keep track of your calories. Fast-food restaurants often have those numbers posted, or you can ask the cashier for a flier. Here ares some eye-openers: There are 490 calories in a Big Mac, 230 calories in a small French fry and a 140 calories in 12 ounces of Coke.

That’s 860 calories, or more than half of what a plus-50 sedentary woman should eat in one day in just one meal.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Is there anyone in Oxford County who repairs vacuum cleaners? Mine needs an on-off switch. — Barb, Bethel

ANSWER: The only vacuum repair shop that Sun Spots is aware of is the Vac Shak, 485 Pleasant St. in Lewiston, 783-2902.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Does anyone know where I can buy Grandpa’s Garden products? I hate to pay postage ordering online. — Alana Grover, alana@myfairpoint.net

ANSWER: Sun Spots went to Grandpa’s website thinking it might have a retail store locator. It did not, but it did mention that most of the products are Maine made, which got her to thinking that Made in Maine stores might carry them. She called Maine Made and More in Waterville, where she was told they carry some of those products and might be able to order others.

There are four Maine-made stores. The stores in Augusta and Waterville are related, as are those in Bath and Portland: Augusta (622-5723), Waterville (872-7378), Portland (828-1515) and Bath (443-2225).

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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