Those with backyard gardens often face a dilemma: what to do with a bumper crop of tomatoes. It may seem like summer fruit all ripens at the exact same time, but that doesn't mean you need to eat it right away, or make a giant pot of time-consuming sauce. One thing you can do is grate tomatoes on the largest side of a box grater and freeze the juicy, pulpy mixture. The coarsely grated tomatoes can be frozen flat in freezer bags, and when you need fresh tomatoes for a sauce, soup or stew in the future, just retrieve the frozen mix and use right away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us are looking for preservative-free skin care products to avoid toxins like parabens. But the reality is, preservatives are needed to ensure that harmful mold and bacteria don't grow inside our favorite moisturizers and other personal care products. The solution isn't to resort to chemicals, but to read labels correctly. You can safely use food-grade preservatives like potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, or safe alcohols like organic ethanol, witch hazel and benzyl alcohol. Look for these on labels when you're shopping for skin care products.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you want to help lessen strain on the electrical grid and save money, try this: Run your dishwasher at night. You can load up your dishwasher throughout the day and after dinner, then turn it on right before you head to bed. The grid is less strained during overnight hours, and it's cheaper, too. Energy costs decrease during the hours when we're traditionally away from home, before 4 p.m. and after 9 p.m. Running appliances like the laundry machine and dishwasher at night is both economical and ecological.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION