DEAR ABBY: I lost your cookbooklet collection! My family and I have really enjoyed some of those recipes. I have loved all the ones I have tried, but my favorites are the desserts. Particularly noteworthy is your Peanut Butter Pie. It is yummy! Please let me know how I can order the booklets again. I need them because I'm having a family celebration for Father's Day. -- SWEET TOOTH IN PHOENIX

DEAR SWEET TOOTH: You and I have something in common –- our affinity for desserts. I have made the Peanut Butter Pie for guests many times, and it has been well received. The last time I prepared it, I thought I'd try to "de-calorie" it. I drained some nonfat yogurt in cheesecloth until it thickened and substituted it for the cream cheese. It worked beautifully. My guests couldn't tell the difference. For readers who might like to try it, here's the original recipe:

HEAVENLY PEANUT BUTTER PIE

CRUST:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup butter (1/2 cube), melted

2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, grated

FILLING: 1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

2 teaspoons butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup salted peanuts (optional)

1 pkg. (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed

In medium bowl, combine cracker crumbs, butter and chocolate; mix well. Reserve 1/4 cup crumb mixture to use as garnish. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate. Chill.

In large bowl, beat together peanut butter, cream cheese and butter. Add sugar and vanilla. Blend well.

Stir in chocolate chips and peanuts. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into chilled crust and garnish with reserved crumb mixture. Chill overnight.

Serves: 8 disciplined people.

My cookbooklet set contains more than 100 tasty recipes for soups, salads, appetizers, main courses and, of course, desserts for special occasions. Order by sending your name and address, plus check or money order for $16 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Shipping and handling are included in the price.

I'm proud to say that some of the recipes included have won blue ribbons in country fairs, while others were featured on the cover of women's magazines. But whether your entertaining is formal or casual, remember it's who you put in the chairs in addition to the food that makes a great party.

DEAR ABBY: My daughter's boyfriend recently stayed at our home for eight days. He's 50; we are in our 60s. He regarded "help yourself" to mean it was OK to drink our liquor from early afternoon to bedtime. How can we have some control over this situation without causing a scene? -- BAR'S CLOSED IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR BAR'S CLOSED: Put a lock on the cabinet where you stow your liquor, or move it out of the house entirely when you know he's planning a return visit. And while you're at it, have a serious conversation with your daughter about her boyfriend's insatiable appetite for alcohol, because it could have a negative impact on her future.

DEAR ABBY: For a few years, I volunteered to tend to an elderly woman through a hospice organization. My role was to visit with her while her son ran errands or enjoyed an evening of entertainment. I grew fond of her and her family.

For my 70th birthday, her daughter, son and daughter-in-law hosted an at-home dinner in my honor. It was good fun. In addition to a tasty dinner and homemade birthday cake, there were presents: wine, gag wine glass and a birthday card with a gift card enclosed. The wine is long gone, and I have used the wine glass ever since.

I left the gift card in the birthday card and set it aside. I recently wanted to buy a $20 coffee mug online, so I pulled out the gift card and was shocked to see the value of the card is almost four times more than the mug I fancied. I feel the gift is too much. How do I gracefully return the very generous gift? -- OVERWHELMED IN WASHINGTON

DEAR OVERWHELMED: Your heart is in the right place, but please do not reject that family's gift of gratitude for what you did for their mother -- and for them -- during a difficult time. To do otherwise would be a breach of etiquette. Your acts of kindness are worth every penny, and you are deserving of what was given to you.

DEAR ABBY: My husband of 55 years never talks to me anymore. Unless I initiate conversation, he sits in silence, staring off into space. He says he has "nothing to say." It drives me crazy. I suppose, after all these years, anything he says has been said before, but still, it leaves me feeling lonely and unloved.

When I tell him how it makes me feel, he says it isn't the case, but he never changes. We don't have TV, and I can read and do crossword puzzles by myself for just so long. I really look forward to the evening, when I can start drinking my whiskey, so I have a little pleasure in my life. I don't have more than a couple of drinks because I understand the health risks, but tell me, what else can I do? -- TALKING TO MYSELF IN TEXAS

DEAR TALKING: What you can do is quit drinking to ease your loneliness and get out of the house. Socialize with others at least once a week. Look into opportunities to volunteer in your community. Take your husband with you if you can pry him out of his chair. The only thing you should NOT do is continue on the path you're on.

P.S. If your husband's passivity is new behavior, consider going with him to the doctor so he can be screened for depression. (While you're there, it might not be a bad idea for you to be screened for it as well.)

DEAR ABBY: This is not a big drama, but I think that if someone wants to give out my email address, they should first ask me for permission. I just received an email from an acquaintance telling me they had given out my email and THEN asking me if that was OK. No, it wasn't! Abby, I'm not in witness protection, but my email address is private. Am I crazy? -- CRANKY ON LONG ISLAND

DEAR CRANKY: Crazy? Not at all. What your nervy acquaintance did was breach whatever privacy is left in our society these days, which was thoughtless, rude and inexcusable.

DEAR ABBY: I had a friend I adored. She was someone I had known for over 20 years, but I had to say goodbye to her. I realized she is a shoplifter and also doesn't tip at restaurants.

When she shoplifted, I was with her. I had no idea she was doing it until we got back to the car and one of the items fell out of her bag. I was appalled. I told her to never do it again when we were together, and I have tried not to shop with her since. I realized she wasn't leaving tips when her receipt blew away with a gust of wind. She was in the restroom when I picked it up and saw there was no tip for the server, who was working very hard.

I told her I didn't feel comfortable going places with her under these circumstances, especially with how things have changed during COVID. The last straw was when I caught her trying to sneak into a musical event. There are musicians in my family, and I know how they and others have struggled during these hard times.

She has more than enough money to cover these costs. I don't understand why she does it. The problem is I feel guilty. Should I reach out and suggest we do things that don't involve music, restaurants or shopping? Maybe we can just go for walks and talk? I miss her friendship. -- TAKEN ABACK IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR TAKEN ABACK: I don't advise it. The woman you "miss" -- I hesitate to refer to her as your "friend" -- is selfish, stingy, dishonest, self-centered and lacks compassion for others. You need her in your life like a moose needs a hat rack. Find walking companions who are caring, generous and honest with whom to "get your steps in."

DEAR ABBY: My younger brother is in his 60s. As a child, he was very active and athletic. Decades later, he is seriously overweight and having trouble with his knees, plus numerous other physical problems. He's addicted to painkillers and takes many other drugs. Over the last 10 years, he has had disagreements with at least 10 people and written mean and spiteful texts. Because of it, he has lost many friends and even his doctor.

He didn't communicate with me unless he wanted my opinion about something he had done or said. If I disagreed, he sent me hateful, upsetting texts as well. Last year, he asked my opinion about something, and when I disagreed with him, he blasted me again. He also doesn't like my husband or stepdaughter and mentioned them in his text. I finally decided I had had enough and quit engaging him. Am I overreacting? -- SECOND THOUGHTS IN GEORGIA

DEAR SECOND THOUGHTS: I don't think so. Because you want to avoid the pain of interacting with your dysfunctional sibling, your solution is both logical and appropriate. Please do not second-guess or punish yourself for protecting yourself.