Q: Can you tell me if it's possible to make crab cakes without using eggs? I am allergic to them.
A: Eggs are used as a binder in many recipes so to eliminate them can be challenging.
Even mayonnaise, which helps to bind crab cakes, contains eggs unless you can find an eggless mayonnaise that is bound with gums.
It is possible that a thick salad dressing, such as the refrigerated variety, can help to bind the crab cake. You may also want to try using a small amount of mashed potatoes to hold the crab cake together.
I'd also suggest baking them in a hot oven rather than sauteing or frying so you won't have to worry about flipping them if they are fragile.
Q: Is iceberg lettuce good for you?
A: Iceberg lettuce is not bad for you, but it does not have significant nutritional value. It is much more beneficial to eat dark, leafy greens such as romaine or bibb lettuce, spinach or cabbage which contain vitamins, potassium and iron.
Tip: Several of our organized readers have written in with their favorite methods of saving clipped recipes.
One favorite method is to use a three-ring binder and a box of page protectors. These will hold an entire page from a magazine or even a newspaper clipping.
Another suggestion is to use a photo album with magnetic pages and slip the clipping under the plastic sheets. A separate album can be used for each category of food.
Send your questions to: What's Cooking, c/o Food & Home, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278. Although personal replies are not possible, questions of general interest will be answered in this column.