Tips can heat up summer grilling

Should I keep a zester? A strainer? A potato masher? A mandoline?

A: I would keep the zester (a microplane?) and strainer. Both are pretty handy. The potato masher might be expendable. I don’t own a mandoline.

Q: Frequently when cutting ripe avocados, I find black blemishes inside. Are these similar to the bruises on bananas — not pretty, but safe to eat?

A: Growers say they are caused by concentrations of oil content, over-ripening or bruising. I cut them out, and that's what the growers recommend, too. But when there's a lot of discoloration, chances are good that the avocado won't taste as good.

Q: What's the secret to getting sweet potato fries crispy?

A: Give them a good spritz of olive oil cooking spray and bake in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with foil.

Q: My boyfriend smoked two racks of ribs this weekend. They were delicious; however, the sauce burnt and got stuck to the aluminum foil. Do you have any tips?

A: During the last 10 minutes of cooking, remove the foil and add the sauce.