Take the time to ensure food safety
When you go to the grocery store, pay attention to the food you buy to be sure that it’s safe for your family to eat. Here are several things you should look for at the supermarket.
■ Check the sell-by or best-usedby dates. Make sure they are far enough in the future so you don’t have to toss out the food.
■ Examine the cleanliness of the seafood, meat and prepared food counters. Be aware that cooked shrimp should not be displayed on the same ice bed as raw fish because it could become contaminated.
■ Purchase only Grade A eggs.
■ Never buy dented cans. The contents could be tainted.
■ Look for pasteurized dairy products. Unpasteurized dairy might not be good for people with weakened immune systems.
■ Separate raw meat and seafood. Carry in sealed bags so dripping juice does not contaminate other food. Keep an insulated cooler in your car to transport hot and cold foods. ■ Take groceries home right away after shopping and put them away ASAP.
When bed sheets fade or become worn and old, don’t throw them out. Wash them first and then reuse them around the house. Here are several ideas.
■ Use as a dust cover for furniture.
■ Cover items stored in the attic. ■ Make a tent for a child’s rainy day.
■ Use as a tablecloth for outdoor picnics.
■ Make costumes for Halloween or parties.
■ Cut up and put in your dog’s bed.
My kids are always starving when they get home from school or even after virtual teaching is completed. And they love this easy-to-make crunchy treat. I just mix rice cereal with marshmallow cream. Then I butter my hands (and the pan) and press the mixture into the pan and put it in the refrigerator.
— Barbara in Virginia
Get your family involved with taking care of laundry. Explain how they can help by taking care of their clothes too. Give each child a different color laundry basket for his or her room that they fill up and take to the laundry room when it’s full. After clothes have been washed and dried, they are returned to their basket. Show them how to sort clothing by color and how to fold clothing. Demonstrate how to turn on and operate the washer and dryer when they are old enough.
Check it often for damage, because it can get whipped around in the rain and wind and get damaged. It also can collect dirt and grime. Here’s how to clean it.
If you have a newer flag that’s acetate, nylon or cotton, handwash it in cool water with a gentle detergent, rinse thoroughly and then lay it flat to dry. But if you have an older flag that could be valuable, dryclean it.
Write to P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.