03/02/12

Skip the packaged produce. If you find yourself with three peppers in a cellophane bag or prerinsed salad mixes in plastic tubs in your grocery cart, put them back. The prewashed produce may seem convenient, but pound for pound those items cost way more. And given the recent news that prewashed mixes aren't necessarily clean, you may find yourself washing the food again anyway. Invest in a salad spinner to save money in the long run. Plus, you'll know exactly how your baby spinach salad was washed before you serve it for dinner.

03/01/12

Pastry chefs say it's best to roll dough, make chocolates and do baking prep work on marble countertops since it stays cool to the touch. If you don't have a marble countertop and don't want to make the investment, head to the scrap heap. Countertop fabricators often have slabs of marble waste left over from the holes they cut to fit sinks when installing new countertops. Those slabs can be purchased for a few dollars -- or you can get them for free if you become friendly with your local fabricator.

02/29/12

There are lots of compost bins you can buy at the store that feature tight-fitting lids, pretty designs and integrated carbon filters to absorb odors. However, instead of buying one, you can always repurpose an old stockpot into a compost bin. A stainless steel one works best since it can be washed, but any pot with a tight lid will work to keep odors and insects at bay. If you don't have a stockpot available, you can typically find used ones at any thrift store.