Everyday Cheapskate

Whether or not today's tips submitted by our readers save time or money, one thing is certain: You're about to learn some very clever tricks and tips to make your life easier in the kitchen.

ICE-CREAM SAVER. You can eliminate freezer burn on your ice cream by storing the container upside down in your freezer. It really works! — Jan C., e-mail

QUICK COMPOST. Even though we compost our kitchen waste, it takes a long time to break down, and sometimes we need the compost immediately to start our garden. So we help ours along this way: In our food processor every night, we grind up produce peels, leftover coffee grounds and filters, and other items that compost loves. This gives the breakdown process a head start. — V.L., Texas

BONUS TREAT. Prevent ice cream from dripping out of the bottom of a cone by pushing a marshmallow into the cone before adding the ice cream. The marshmallow stops drips and is a little extra treat after the ice cream is gone! — Brenda S., e-mail

SHINY STEEL. We have stainless steel appliances in our kitchen. I always battle to get them looking nice and clean without buying expensive polishing cream. Recently I tried rubbing olive oil on them, and they look wonderful! My husband even commented on how nice the refrigerator looks. — Julie J., e-mail

MEATLOAF CUPCAKE. For a new twist on meatloaf, I fill the cups in a cupcake pan with the meat mixture and bake for about a half-hour.

This creates perfect individual-sized servings, and I freeze leftovers for quick grab-and-go meals. Cupcake meatloaf is also a great solution for singles, and kids love them, too! — Mary, Maine

OUTDOOR KITCHEN. My family enjoys eating outdoors. I've found a cheap way to keep foods chilled on the table on a hot day. I was inspired by expensive trays designed to hold serving bowls over ice, but I make my own for free. I save two-piece domed plastic containers from takeout meals. To travel, I pack the food in the bottom part of the container and cover it with the lid. I keep it in the ice chest until we're ready to eat. When I unpack the food for our meal, I take the lids off the containers and fill them with ice. Then I set the bottom part atop the ice-filled lid, and the food stays cold. — Lynn, e-mail

REPAIR WONDER. I had had my food processor for more than three years when I started having difficulty getting the cover off the bowl and the bowl off the base. It seemed as if the plastic parts had expanded, and I was beyond my warranty period. A new bowl, cover and pusher would have cost about $90. I solved the problem by rubbing the rims of the bowl and lid with vegetable oil. It works like new again! — Kris, Wisconsin

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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