5/2/13

Do you make fresh-squeezed carrot juice in your juicer? Wonder what to do with the pulp? Instead of throwing the nutrient- and fiber-rich waste into the trash, sprinkle some on a plate and place it in the yard. Soon you’ll see a flock of birds feasting away. Many wild birds love the vegetable waste from produce like carrots, kale and celery. And when there’s more pulp than birds to feed, just mix it in the garden and rake it into the soil; it will quickly break down into beneficial mulch your plants will love.

5/1/13

Ever have a desire to bake something sweet and realize you have regular granulated sugar but not powdered? Instead of running to the store, think like MacGyver: Use your coffee grinder. In a pinch, a clean coffee grinder can turn regular sugar into powdered. And it can also do more than just grind coffee: Use it for spices, bread crumbs and even to turn dried rice into rice flour to coat chicken for a gluten-free crust.

4/30/13

When a major appliance goes bust, many people go to the store and buy a new one immediately. But with new high-tech appliances costing thousands of dollars, a simple $75 to $100 fix can bring your refrigerator, dishwasher or washer/dryer back to perfect working order and save you money. The life cycle of major appliances like fridges, freezers, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers is between 10 and 15 years. A window box air conditioner lasts about seven years. If your appliance falls within those spans, consider a repair before replacement.