When a recipe calls for an unusual flour made from almonds, rice or oats, running to the store or looking for another recipe aren’t your only options. You can make these flours in your own home. All you need are raw almonds, white rice or uncooked oats. Toss the ingredient into your food processor and put it to work. As the blades process the ingredient, they’ll transform it into a fluffy flour in just seconds. The tougher the ingredient, the longer it’ll take to make, but no ingredient should take more than a minute to transform into flour.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Imagine you find a piece of wooden furniture at a thrift shop or flea market that’s perfect for your home, but there’s a dent in it. There’s no need to pass on it when you can cover it up and make it look as good as new. Whether it’s a scratch, a mark or a deep dent, all you have to do is light a candle and drip melted wax into the blemish. When the wax cools, buff it with a microfiber towel to polish it to a smooth finish. Then use a furniture marker that’s the same color as the stain on the furniture to color the wax. In minutes, it’ll look like there was never any damage.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’re looking for another reason to quit smoking (beyond your health and wallet), here’s one: It’s a detriment to wildlife. It’s estimated that nearly 25 percent of all roadside trash is cigarette butts. Many of these butts end up in aquatic habitats, where they leach chemicals into the water. When fish get the chemicals into their bloodstream, they get transferred to the wild animals that eat the fish. Research shows that cigarette butts are also among the top risks of poisoning to household pets. For help quitting, visit tobaccofreelife.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION