photo by steakpinball

DEAR SARA: Do you have a recipe that includes jelly beans as an ingredient? I have a half-quart of these things, and rather than eat them mindlessly, I’d like to do something creative. Thanks for any advice. — Kellie V., Arkansas

DEAR KELLIE: They are good on top of frosted cakes, cupcakes (can arrange 5 jelly beans like flower petals), brownies or sugar cookies, or added to Rice Krispies treats. You can melt chocolate and make chocolate-covered jelly beans, or visit Fabulous Foods (www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/article/719/19084) for a recipe for jelly-bean biscotti. Or try noodle nests.

Spring noodle Nests

2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 tablespoon peanut butter, optional
1/4 cup butter
4 cups chow-mein noodles
bag or box of jelly beans

Butter a muffin tin. In a saucepan, combine marshmallows, peanut butter and butter over low heat. Stir until melted. Stir in the chow-mein noodles until coated. Butter fingers and press noodle mixture into the bottom and sides of muffin tin. Add jelly beans to nests. Refrigerate until firm.
Optional suggestions: Combine 4 cups chow-mein noodles and 16 ounces melted chocolate chips and form nests. You can add a leftover Peep with the jelly beans, too.
Note to self: Adding this pic, so I remember to make these.

photo by Sam Howzit

DEAR SARA: I have a Pfaltzgraff kettle that has a few rust spots on the bottom. Since I first noticed them, I haven’t used it, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of it. Is it safe to use? Is there a way to clean it? — Jessica, Washington

DEAR JESSICA: I wouldn’t use it anymore. If it were a cast-iron kettle, then it wouldn’t be a problem to remove the rust by scrubbing and reseasoning to continue using it. I’d keep your kettle for decorative purposes. When replacing your kettle, consider an electric one. It’s faster and requires less energy to heat than a stovetop kettle.

DEAR SARA: I’m looking for a yard broom. Back in the day, people didn’t have grass to cut but did sweep their yards. I’d like to find one for me and one for my mother. Do you know about these brooms or know where I can find them? — M. Hope, Georgia

DEAR M. HOPE: I’ve seen craftsman broom makers at Renaissance Faires. You can contact your closest folk-art center or living-history museum, too. Sometimes broom makers have stands at juried arts-and-craft shows. You can look into making them yourself, too. “Foxfire 3,” a book by Foxfire Fund and Eliot Wigginton, offers instructions.

DEAR SARA: I need an idea for storing foil. I don’t have any extra space in the drawers in my kitchen, so I keep the foil in a plastic zip baggie in the cupboard. The bag falls out nearly every time I open the cupboard. It is so annoying. There has to be a better way, but I’m stumped. — Renee, Ohio

DEAR RENEE: I’ve found that manufacturers often come up with the best packaging solutions to contain their own products. For example, if you wanted to mail Pringles potato chips, using the original container is one of your best options to avoid breakage. That said, I’d roll your foil right back onto an empty tube and put it back into your foil box. I don’t have many foil pieces that accumulate, but if you have more than a few pieces, you could store it flat and between your cookie sheets.

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