NOW HERE'S A TIP

• “My best friend recently had her first child. For her baby shower, we decided to get together and cook her several meals that could be frozen and go right from the freezer to the oven. This way, she has many meals to grab in the first few sleepless weeks.” — E.S. in Mississippi

• Need to save money grocery shopping? Studies show that if you shop when the store is least busy, you’ll make smarter decisions. Try shopping at off-peak hours, such as later in the evening or early in the morning. Or try your store on Wednesday, traditionally the least busy day of the week.

• “I was making cookies last week and needed to roll out the dough, but I couldn’t find my rolling pin anywhere. In a pinch, I pulled a bottle of wine off my wine rack and wrapped it tightly in plastic wrap. It did the trick. I’m thinking I just might save the next empty bottle, clean the label off and use it as a rolling pin. I can store it right there in my rack!” — O.V. in Oregon

• Add shredded veggies to tomato sauce to up the veggie quotient. Many vegetables can be included without adding many calories and will not change the taste that much. Try carrots, squash or sweet potatoes. You can even add a tablespoon or two of canned, pureed pumpkin.

• “I like the smaller size of kids’ meals at the drive-thru. I save the toys in a box, then I drop them off with a teacher friend to use as rewards in her classroom.” — A Reader, via email

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.