2/1/09

Leftovers? While the jury is still out on plastic food containers (some believe they leach toxins into food, especially when the food is heated up in the microwave), why take the risk? Visit a restaurant supply store and stock up on stainless steel food storage containers. They come in a variety of sizes, have matching lids, are strong and durable, and won't stain when you store last night's spaghetti marinara. Bonus! If you ever need to throw 'em away, they're 100 percent recyclable; just toss them into the curbside recycling bin. (Just don't put 'em in the microwave!)

1/31/09

Tired of junk mail? The easiest and most vocal way to stop it is to simply write "return to sender: remove from list" on the junk mail and drop it in a mailbox. It'll be returned to the sender (and they'll have to pay a postage fee for its return), and they'll get the message loud and clear to stop soliciting you. You can also try www.donotmail.org to begin the process of stopping junk mail.

1/30/09

Trash to Treasure: Remember that large terra cotta saucer that once was the base of a now-dead houseplant? Well, rescue it from the garage and give it a second life. Give it a good scrub and place all your cooking essentials on top of it: olive oil, vinegars, salt, spices and more. Keep it by the stove for quick access when you're cooking up a storm. The terra cotta will keep everything organized and will serve as a barrier between your countertops and messy spills.