photo by boo licious

DEAR SARA: Just wondering if you have any tried-and-true home remedies for sore throats. I’ve had a mild sore throat for the past two to three days off and on, and I’m getting tired of it. My throat looks red and irritated. Any help would be much appreciated. — Q.M., forums

DEAR Q.M.: I’m not a doctor, so my first suggestion is to see your physician to rule out anything serious. To ease the discomfort from a mild sore throat, I’ve gargled warm saltwater; taken an over-the-counter pain reliever, a decongestant or throat lozenges; plugged in a humidifier; drank hot tea with lemon and honey and alternated with plenty of water, frozen juice pops or fruit smoothies. I’ve also used Chloraseptic after a hot shower.

DEAR SARA: Best way to use up dip/salad dressing? I have purchased marked-down veggie trays, which have ranch dressing, and wondered if you have any ideas to use it up. I thought of marinating chicken and dusting in flour or cracker crumbs and baking or adding to meatloaf. Any other ideas? I would appreciate them. It is an ongoing problem. — Fannie, California

DEAR FANNIE: You can use it to make chicken-salad sandwiches, in a pasta salad or on baked potatoes or in mashed potatoes, on homemade pizza or hamburgers. Serve it with chicken nuggets or wings or breaded, fried mushrooms. Hidden Valley Ranch (www.hiddenvalley.com/recipes.php) has some recipes, too.

DEAR SARA: I’m planning a shopping jaunt on Friday, and I want to look for thrift shop(s) along the way where I can stop. Do you shop on certain days? Go looking for certain items during certain parts of the year? Find the best deals move from store to store? How do you plan your thrift shopping? — Judi, New Hampshire

DEAR JUDI: Keep a wish list of items you want or need handy in your purse. Know your size and the sizes of family and friends (for possible gifts). Write down measurements, such as windows or table sizes. Bring a tape measure just in case, too. Remember: If you won’t use it, don’t buy it. But think creatively. Consider things that can be reused or refashioned into something else. Dress comfortably. Bring cash. Some thrift stores accept only cash. Have a good idea of what items cost when brand-new so you don’t pay too much. Merchandise changes rapidly. A good item there one day might not be there the next. Take your time looking. Some items can be misplaced elsewhere in the store. Don’t forget to inspect items closely and try items on to be certain they fit, since items are sold “as is,” and many thrift stores don’t allow returns. Know their store policy. Double-check for safety, too. Here’s a handy safety checklist: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/thrift/thrftck.html.
Many thrift stores have color-coded-tag discount days, seasonal discounts or discounts by department. Thrift-store donations peak in December. Summer is also a good time to shop because many people donate their leftover garage-sale items. Try to drop in frequently, and in the early morning, to get the best results.

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