Use witch hazel to reduce irritation:

I love witch hazel. I use it for a daily astringent and after I get my eyebrows waxed! I run home and wash the area, then wipe away. It reduces the irritation on my sensitive skin. — Anni, email

Easy focaccia bread:

This recipe is for people who are inexperienced with baking bread:
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups flour
roughly 1/8 cup additional flour
additional olive oil
herbs, Parmesan cheese or other toppings as desired

Mix together first five ingredients, then add 2 cups flour. Cover and let stand 5 to 10 hours at room temperature or until dough is doubled in bulk and looks bubbly. Sprinkle 1/8 cup of flour around edge of dough. Using a rubber spatula, pull dough away from bowl, letting flour drop between bowl and dough until dough ball is covered with flour. Use additional flour sparingly as needed. Lightly oil a 12 to 14-inch pizza pan with olive oil and dump dough onto pan. Spread out dough into circle. Brush lightly with more olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan, garlic powder, herbs or toppings of your choice. Gently pat toppings into dough to help them stick. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Cook’s note: I bake this on a 14-inch round cast-iron griddle in the oven. I’ve also made it at camp on the lids of two cast-iron Dutch ovens, with the pots turned upside down over the dough. Super-easy and always a hit. I also use this for pizza crust sometimes by prebaking it for about five minutes before adding the sauce and toppings, then finishing the baking as directed. — S.D., Minnesota

Replace tomatoes when they are out of season:

I love tomato powder. I get mine from the Spice House (thespicehouse.com/spices/tomato-powder). I’ve used it for homemade barbecue sauce and a ketchup substitute. I’ve added it to soup and sauces, too. You can find recipes for using it at the Spice House website, as well as this link to Emergency Essentials: beprepared.com/provident-pantry-dehydrated-tomato-powder-68-oz.html.
The small jar at the Spice House will give you enough to test without spending a lot of money, so you can see if it works for you. I now keep a No. 10 can of tomato powder on hand. I keep the jar stored in the refrigerator, because it’s a dry environment due to the frost-free feature. There are NO anti-caking ingredients in the powder; it’s pure tomato powder. I also put a silica gel packet in the jar to absorb moisture. Make sure you don’t leave the jar open in a humid kitchen.
Here are a few uses for tomato powder:
– For thick tomato paste, mix three parts water with one part tomato powder.
– For tomato sauce, mix four parts water with one part tomato powder.
– For pizza sauce: I mix three teaspoons tomato powder with three tablespoons water. I add a shot of vinegar and a little sweetener (for me, that’s agave nectar or honey), as well as some Italian or pizza spices.
– Karen, Kansas

photo by giammi

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My relative just gave me a nice set of cloth luggage, but the cases have a musty odor. Do you have any suggestions for removing it? — Kay G., email

Dear Kay:

I would leave it open outside on a porch to air out. Next, use an odor absorber, such as kitty litter, baking soda, coffee grounds, charcoal (which you can find in the fish section at the pet store) or newspaper. Place one or more of these absorbers in the luggage and close it tight. After a few days you can remove the absorber and the smell will be much better. In the future, place some crumpled newspaper in the luggage when storing it. You should also look into the line of odor-eliminating products from Smelleze (smelleze.com). The company sells a pouch product that is specifically made for gym bags; I would expect it to work equally well on suitcases.

Dear Sara:

I have a 15-pound Butterball turkey that I purchased frozen in November 2011. It has been in my freezer since then. Would you cook it? From what I have read, the general concern when food has been frozen that long is not so much safety as quality. I have read that one year is the threshold for quality, so I am thinking I could still go for it, but I would love to hear what you think. — Elizabeth, Washington

Dear Elizabeth:

My experience has been that meat or poultry that has been frozen in an at-home freezer for an extended period of time (over a year) develops freezer burn. Two years is really pushing it when it comes to quality. The USDA recommends frozen food be consumed within one year. They also encourage consumers to freeze turkey at 0 degrees F or below and caution that freezer storage times are for best quality. If frozen continuously, turkey products will be safe indefinitely. So yours is safe to cook and eat, but don’t expect high quality. I would thaw it and check the overall quality before cooking it.

Dear Sara:

I just bought a muffin pan to make six jumbo-sized muffins. Compared to regular-sized muffins, how much longer should they take to bake? — Jean, Missouri

Dear Jean:

Generally, at 350 degrees F, they bake for 20 to 30 minutes. I’d check at the 20-minute mark.

Dear Sara:

Can you freeze cereal? It’s on sale here, and I was going to stock up if it can be frozen. — H.F., Oklahoma

Dear H.F.:

Cereal has a long shelf life, so stocking up is a good choice. Check the date on the box. It typically has a best-if-used-by date that’s about nine to 12 months from the purchase date. You have plenty of time to store it and eat it. You can freeze cereal; the problem is the amount of space it takes. Keep in mind that cereal goes on sale often and there are coupons for it regularly, too. If you’re concerned about having multiple boxes open at a time, you can transfer cereal into plastic zip enclosure storage bags (gallon-size) and place the bag right back into the cereal box.

photo by photo jenni

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My friend informed me that although she and her husband are beyond tight with money, they are going on a trip to Europe. She just spent the past year slowly updating her wardrobe, swapping all of her items for newer versions. But even with her new wardrobe, she says she MUST go buy more clothes to wear while away. I’m just baffled why she can’t pack what she’s already got in her closet. Do you shop for new outfit(s)/wardrobe just for travel? — Libby, Canada

Dear Libby:

I wouldn’t buy much for a trip anywhere. I wouldn’t want to look too flashy while traveling abroad for fear of being a target for crime. Plus, packing light is ideal when traveling. I would want some extra spending money to possibly buy some clothing while I am there. For example, maybe my baggage gets lost and I’m stuck in track pants and an over-sized T-shirt. I’d probably buy a new bathing suit or comfortable shoes before my trip, but that’s because these are items I need to replace at the moment and would use during and after my trip. So no, I wouldn’t buy an entire wardrobe for a trip, but in a healthy budget situation, I don’t see any problem with buying a couple of new things (or even more if it’s in the budget). I’m sure many people would put together a new travel kit of essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. If the climate is different, then I can certainly understand buying other new items, too.

In your friend’s situation, with money being tight, a trip to Europe is not a wise decision, and buying an entirely new wardrobe makes it an even worse decision. If I were in her situation, I wouldn’t buy anything new for a trip that was already a financial strain and since she has new clothing in her closet, she should go without.

But as we all know, people make their own decisions and get to live with them. As a friend, I’d ask her if she still wanted all of her clothes in her closet with tags on them. I’m kidding! This is a situation where I don’t think you can say much of anything without appearing envious, and I doubt she’d change anything, anyway. I’d wish her a safe and enjoyable trip.

Dear Sara:

What do you think of the SodaStream? I want one, but I’m on the fence. Can you talk me out of it? — Diana W., Wisconsin

Dear Diana:

From a frugal perspective, it’s not much of a money-saver (to be fair, it actually never claims to be). If you’re a pop drinker, it’s nice to have reusable bottles and control over the ingredients. I do like the actual product itself, and I can see the appeal for home and camping use. I have a SodaStream. It was a gift, and my kids enjoy it. I’m not sure how much use it will get when we run out of syrups and carbonation; it definitely won’t be a high priority on my shopping list. If I was considering buying a new appliance myself, I have to admit that I would prefer saving a bit more money and investing in a Breville juicer or a Vitamix. I love home appliances and kitchen gadgets, but I prefer to have appliances that multi-task and promote healthier choices.

photo by public domain photos

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I have a small carton of 35 percent whipping cream in the fridge. I believe I bought it for a recipe that didn’t come to fruition. I don’t want to waste it, but it’s not getting used and the expiration date is looming. Any suggestions? FYI: I don’t need to make whipped cream, so the obvious suggestion is out. — Libby, Canada

Dear Libby:

You can make butter (shake it in a glass jar), add it to cream soups, or make salad dressing, Alfredo sauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and more. You can freeze it, too. Use a pastry bag with a large tip and place dollops or spoon-drop mounds of it onto a wax-paper-lined or parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, transfer it to an airtight storage container and place back in the freezer. Use it within two months. You can’t whip it after freezing, but you can use it in other recipes. It also works well for hot cocoa.
Here’s a recipe for five-ingredient ice cream, too:
1/2 cup cold milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pint heavy cream
In a medium bowl, stir together cold milk, vanilla, condensed milk and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream. Pour into shallow 2-quart dish, cover and freeze for 4 hours, stirring once after 2 hours or when edges start to harden. Serve or store in an airtight container up to 10 days. — Q.M., Massachusetts

Dear Sara:

I’ve heard coffee grounds can be reused to make additional pots of coffee. Any tips? I heard it was best to refrigerate the old grounds as soon as the pot is done brewing, to prevent mold. What ratio of new grinds to old grinds (plus water) do you use?
I do reuse coffee. I immediately remove the carafe from the burner when the coffee is fresh. Whatever is not immediately consumed is allowed to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. This coffee is either reheated in the microwave until piping hot to be drunk, or it is used to make iced coffee drinks. — Stacey, Pennsylvania

Dear Stacey:

Yes, you can reuse coffee grounds if you want to. This probably isn’t an appealing idea to some people, but if you don’t mind the taste, go ahead. Some people don’t like the taste; it can be bitter because the good flavor has already been extracted. Regarding the ratio, you’ll have to experiment. You might find topping it off with one extra scoop of fresh coffee grounds is enough, but someone else might want to add more scoops to get the flavor where they want it. If the flavor is weak, you can combine it with hot cocoa and make a thrifty mocha. Reusing the grounds in a French press might work best, and I would reuse them as quickly as possible (back-to-back brewing). I’m a bit of a coffee snob, so I recommend reusing the grounds in other ways, such as sprinkling them in your garden. You can freeze your brewed coffee in an ice-cube tray to use later, too. If you find that you are refrigerating a lot of leftover coffee, you could cold-brew it in a French press instead (let it set for 24 hours in the press).

photo by cookipediachef

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I am looking for a recipe for no-knead bread that was printed in your column several years ago. — Russell M., email

Dear Russell:

I’m not sure if it’s the one that was published previously, but here’s a popular one from one of my community members:
No-Knead Bread
6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 packages instant dry yeast
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
3 cups warm water
2 tablespoons shortening
butter

No kneading necessary on this. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In large mixing bowl, combine 3-1/2 cups flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Mix well. Add warm water (125 degrees or so) and shortening to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, gradually stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Cover and allow to rise in warm place until doubled (about 30 minutes). Stir down batter. Spread in greased 9-by-5 or 8-by-4 bread pans. Cover and allow to rise until batter reaches tops of pans, (about 20 to 30 minutes) Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the pans and brush with butter. Allow to cool.
Cook’s notes:
I did everything in my KitchenAid mixer and nothing by hand. Once I got to the stage of gradually adding the remaining 3 cups of flour, I noticed that I did not need all 3 cups and stopped after adding 2 cups. I only waited 15 minutes after baking before slicing, and it sliced very nicely! — Rosie, Canada

And while this next recipe requires kneading, it contains no yeast and I thought you might enjoy it, too. http://www.country-magazine.com/good-neighbors-blog/salt-rising-bread-or-pioneer-bread/

Dear Sara:

I have some questions for the lady in one of your recent columns who buys her vinegar at Sam’s Club. What kind of vinegar does she purchase, and how does she use it for laundry? — Nancy T., email

Dear Nancy:

She is using white vinegar in her washing machine as a fabric softener when she does a load of laundry. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup to your rinse cycle. It can be added to your dishwasher as a rinse aid, too. However, if you find that your rinse aid compartment has a rubber component, simply fill a cup with vinegar and place it in your top rack before you run the cycle.

Dear Sara:

Do you have any ideas about how to remove wood stain or varnish from a door that has gotten onto very light beige carpeting? I had no idea what was causing this stain until I caught my cat urinating on the door. I imagine the urine removed some of the stain/varnish from the door and it has seeped into the carpet. — Peggy M., email

Dear Peggy:

You can try spraying WD-40 on the carpet and blotting it with a soft cloth. If you find the WD-40 leaves an oil stain, use Dawn dishwashing liquid and water to remove the oil stain. I suggest testing an inconspicuous area first.

photo by uits

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Any ideas for what to do with five frozen bananas? I usually do banana muffins, but I’m kind of sick of them. — Sarah, Massachusetts

Dear Sarah:

I’d make banana bread, cake, cookies, pancakes or smoothies. You can make a mock ice cream, too. Simply cut a frozen banana into four sections and blend with a splash of milk in your food processor until creamy. Then enjoy a frozen treat that’s lower in fat than ice cream, but doesn’t sacrifice taste. Can add ingredients such as vanilla, peanut butter or strawberries.

Here’s a banana bread recipe with a wonderful streusel topping:

Banana Bread
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups mashed bananas
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Streusel:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-by-4 loaf pans. Using a mixer, beat butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Gradually, add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until blended. Gradually add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to butter mixture. Beat at low speed until just blended. Stir in bananas, pecans and vanilla. Spoon batter into pans.
For streusel: Stir together brown sugar, toasted pecans, flour, melted butter and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over batter in pans. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool 30 more minutes before slicing. — Nancy, Virginia

Dear Sara:

We have quite a bit of leftover fried chicken from dinner. Any ideas what to make with it? — B.N, Midwest

Dear B.N.:

I eat it cold the following day. It can be used in wraps or chopped for chicken salad sandwiches. Add some to a salad, casserole or soup. Mix shredded chicken with barbecue sauce for sandwiches, use it as a pizza topping or to make chicken fettuccine Alfredo, fried rice, quesadillas, tacos or spaghetti.

Dear Sara:

My son works at a pizza parlor and he brought me 12 containers of dough. Each one makes a 14-inch pizza. I wasn’t sure about freezing them, but went ahead and did it anyway. My question is, can you use pizza dough to make potpies and regular pies? — F.N., Ohio

Dear F.N.:

Freezing the dough is OK, but no, pizza dough isn’t used to make potpies or regular pies. You can make bread sticks, flat bread, calzones, hot pretzels, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls or cinnamon sticks. Pizza bites are tasty, too. Simply roll out the dough, cut it into small squares and place a piece of mozzarella cheese (you can cut string cheese into small pieces) and pepperoni in the center of each dough square. Roll the squares into balls, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese on the top and bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Serve with pizza sauce. Spaghetti or marinara sauce works well, too.

photo by sweetonveg

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Where can I find washing soda? –Janette, Indiana

Dear Janette:

Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda can usually be found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store; if it isn’t there, ask the manager to order it. You can check hardware stores, discount department stores, drugstores or health-food stores as well. You can also check armandhammer.com for the closest retailer that sells it or call Arm and Hammer’s customer service department at (800) 524-1328 to order it directly.

Dear Sara:

Are there any other uses for those packets of ham glaze that come with a spiral cut ham? — Edie, email

Dear Edie:

You can use the glaze on pork, beef, seafood, chicken or vegetables. Many of the glaze packets contain sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger and cardamom. These ingredients would work well for baked goods such as fruit crisps, quick breads or rolls, too.

Dear Sara:

I’m always on the go after school with my kids. It’s cheerleading, ballgames, gymnastics, etc. Sometimes we’re not home until 9 p.m. While I know it’s best to sit down and eat together every night, it’s not always possible. Do you have any suggestions for some travel-friendly meals and snacks I can make, besides sandwiches? — T.L., Kentucky

Dear T.L.:

We’re an active family, too. I pack extra snacks (fruit, popcorn, bagels, etc.) in my kids’ school lunches for them to eat after school and before heading out the door to their activities. In your situation, I’d pack a cooler, snack box/bin and/or a thermos. This will take some extra preparation, but it opens up a wide variety of foods for your family to eat. Most any meal/snack is portable and can be kept hot or cold. I would pack foods that are similar to what you’d pack for lunches, picnics or potlucks. Some examples of foods that can be kept hot in a thermos include pasta dishes, meatballs, chicken nuggets, Sloppy Joe meat, BBQ shredded beef, pork or chicken, soups, stews, meat/poultry and potatoes or rice. Salads, cheeses, yogurt, cottage cheese, hardboiled eggs, deli meats, etc. can be kept cold in a cooler. As for snacks that don’t need to be kept hot or cold, tuna packs, rice cakes, cereal, trail mix, pretzels, raw or dried fruits and veggies, applesauce, nuts and graham crackers are a few. For more ideas that include healthy options, please see my lunch list ideas at frugalvillage.com/forums/food-kids/134225-mix-match-lunchbox-ideas.html.
I’d also talk to other parents with kids in these activities. I’m sure they will have an idea or two. Maybe you can work out a plan where you group together and provide meals and snacks on specific assigned days/weeks to make things easier for all of you.

Dear Sara:

My hubby’s turkey is still pretty undercooked. I didn’t realize this until I started to carve it. It went from the oven to the fridge last night. What can I do with it? Please tell me I can cook it somehow and that I don’t have to toss it. — Nada, Canada

Dear Nada:

Do not continue to fully cook it after refrigerating it. Meat and poultry should never be partially cooked and then cooked fully later because of bacteria. You can only continue to fully cook it if you checked it straight from the oven and then immediately continued to cook it. In the future, use a meat thermometer.

photo by tmib_seattle

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For my birthday, my mother-in-law got me some gift cards. One of the gift cards was for Regal Cinemas. Unfortunately, there is not a Regal Cinemas theater within three hours of where I live, so the gift card is useless to me.
Do you know of a good website that buys, sells and/or trades gift cards? I hear rumors that they’re out there, but I’ve never used one before, and I don’t want to get ripped off! — K.R.J., email

Dear K.R.J.:

There are plenty of sites to choose from. Some of the most popular sites include Plasticjungle.com, Cardpool.com, ABCGiftCards.com, GiftCardGranny.com, GiftCardRescue.com and Swapagift.com. Please compare the exchange options involved, such as shipping costs, maximum payout, minimum and maximum balance, and whether or not you get instant payment.

Dear Sara:

Would you use a wee-wipe? A wee-wipe is an old towel or nappy cut up into small squares to use instead of toilet paper (just for wees). You then toss them into your machine for washing with your other clothes. It isn’t something I would want to use, but I am interested in your opinion. I have old towels I use for the dogs when they have an accident, but I’m not too fond of the thought of handling my own wee-wipes. — Brilly, email

Dear Brilly:

Many Frugal Living readers have shared that they use wee-wipes for their baby, or for their entire family. They sometimes refer to them as family cloth. They make wee-wipes from velour, flannel, terry cloth, etc., and prepare them like baby wipes, or use them coupled with a peri/squirt bottle. After using, many people place them in a zippered wet bag or a small plastic waste can containing bleach and water (similar to a cloth-diaper pail) until laundry time.
I’m not interested in swapping out toilet paper — not even part-time. I understand the reasoning behind finding alternatives to disposable paper products, but as the person who does the laundry, no thank you. But my opinion is, to each his or her own. If you use them, I’d appreciate knowing before you have me as a guest. I don’t like surprises!

Dear Sara:

I want to add healthier snacks to my daughter’s lunch. I’m not sure what to try to give her. I don’t want her to feel as if she’s eating rabbit food every day. What do your kids enjoy in their lunches? — Linda, New York

Dear Linda:

At my house, clementines, snap peas, string cheese, applesauce, yogurt and cucumber are lunch-box snack favorites. There are also some helpful lunch box ideas at frugalvillage.com/forums/food-kids/134225-mix-match-lunchbox-ideas.html.
If your daughter is open to eating salads, soups, pasta dishes, breakfast foods, dinner leftovers, etc., she might not even need a snack in her lunch.

photo by Jason Tester

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We have two very high plant shelves in our house. They are approximately 16 feet high and 3 feet wide. Years ago, we were able to get up there with a 20-foot ladder to clean them, but with our health, that is no longer an option. We have no one in the family on whom we could or would impose. We looked at the new Swiffer extenders, and not only are they too short (we’d still need a ladder), but the heads are too small. We also searched online for cleaning services, but they only seem to do the usual, everyday cleaning. We would welcome any suggestions because it’s filthy up there! — Kathy S., Arizona

Dear Kathy:

You were on the right track with the Swiffer extenders. There are telescoping dusting poles (often called “telepoles”) that are longer (10-30 feet, plus the length of the duster). Many are designed for cleaning ceiling fans and high windows, but they would work well for your situation, too. Amazon.com carries a few, but you can look for them at your local home improvement store (Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.). To help point you in the right direction, the brand Unger has a few telepoles of varying lengths to choose from.

Dear Sara:

My husband left a pen in his work shirt and threw it in the laundry hamper. I didn’t notice and washed the whole thing. Result: a HUGE ink stain that runs down the arm of the shirt. I tried using alcohol, but it isn’t getting all of the stain. I’ve now doused and blotted about five times and there is still a lot of ink. Any suggestions? The shirt is gray and the fabric is a polyester and cotton blend. — M.K., Canada

Dear M.K.:

The rubbing alcohol should work. I’d continue to apply it and dab/blot it. You can try shaving cream, nail polish remover, baking soda-and-water paste and cheap aerosol hairspray (one at a time) to boost your efforts. See which removes the most ink and continue to use that method. It is going to come out in multiple stages and not immediately. Be sure to have a folded towel behind the stained area so the ink doesn’t bleed through the garment.

Dear Sara:

Can you advise me on how to clean my shower? It has brass trim and I have mold and calcification. All cleaners are too strong for the brass. Can you suggest something for me? — Joan A., Arizona

Dear Joan:

Please try Bar Keepers Friend (barkeepersfriend.com) if it’s not lacquered. There’s a coupon available on the website. You can typically find Bar Keepers Friend at Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot and Kmart. You can also try Bon Ami, which can be found in many of the same stores.

Dear Sara:

I enjoyed your article on cookie stamps. Can you give me idea where to find them? — Bonnie, Arizona

Dear Bonnie:

You can find cookie stamps in many retail stores during the holiday season. Their availability can be fairly random and depends on what stores decide to carry them. Try Macy’s. Nordic Ware, Wilton and Norpro are some of the more popular brands found in local stores. I like the clay type available for purchase at Rycraft (cookiestamp.com) and JBK Pottery (jbkpottery.com). Sears sells JBK Pottery, too. QVC, Williams-Sonoma, Pampered Chef and Stampin’ Up sometimes offer cookie stamps. There are also many lovely glass and clay stamps available for sale on eBay.com, Etsy.com and Amazon.com.

photo by Jeremy Levine Design

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I read with interest your suggestion about getting rid of static cling. I use two humidifiers in my house, fabric softener liquid in my wash and fabric softener sheets in my dryer, and still my clothes are full of static! Any more ideas? — Carolyn, email

Dear Carolyn:

Try vinegar as your fabric softener and a ball of foil, tennis balls, dryer balls or a few safety pins attached to a sock or washcloth in your dryer. Avoid mixing synthetic garments with natural fabrics in the dryer. You can pull your clothing out of the dryer before it’s completely dry, or dry on a lower setting and add a damp wash cloth toward the end of the drying time. You can give them a quick snap as you pull them out of the dryer. Lightly spray static guard on them, apply lotion to your skin prior to wearing the items or run a wire hanger or dryer sheet over the garments when wearing them.

Dear Sara:

I have a soft yellow cloth that I use exclusively to polish an instrument. Unfortunately, my daughter found it and used it to remove her nail polish, which now won’t come out. How can I remove the nail polish from this cloth? — Kelly, email

Dear Kelly:

I’ll assume this is an untreated, felt-type polishing cloth. You can use Off bug spray (aerosol). Place a cloth under the stain to catch anything that might bleed through. Saturate the stained area, then rub it with a cloth or toothbrush. Repeat as the stain lifts, then launder as usual. If there’s still a bit of stain remaining, try spraying the stained area with hairspray and launder again. You can try pure acetone, too. These cloths cost around $5, so it might be best to buy a new one. If there’s any residual nail polish, it could scratch your instrument.

Dear Sara:

Do you buy any canned vegetables? I don’t, but I’m feeling the need for long-term storage. I’ve tried different varieties of canned green beans and peas and found them disgusting. I might experiment with canned carrots for soups or add-ins. I’ve never tried canned potatoes because they just seem like a waste of shelf space. Any thoughts? –C.L., Mississippi

Dear C.L.:

I buy a lot of canned tomatoes. I don’t mind canned peas, mushrooms and corn. I will sometimes buy canned beans, such as kidney, pinto, garbanzo, etc. I prefer fresh or frozen vegetables, but I don’t mind buying canned vegetables from time to time if there’s a sale.

Dear Sara:

I bought some silken tofu this weekend, and I want to use it to make smoothies. How much do I use? How do I store it until it’s gone? I will be the only one using it, so it’s not going to go really fast. — Traci, Iowa

Dear Traci:

I’d use about 1/2 cup of silken tofu in smoothies for two servings. As for storage, rinse any remaining tofu and cover it with fresh water. Change the water daily and use the tofu within a week.

photo by helloimnik

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