Food Tips: Kitchen tips

Help around the kitchen:

-- Freeze soup in a muffin tin for easy-to-use servings that won't take up much space. Place the pan in an inch of hot water to loosen the frozen rounds and use a paring knife to pry them out. Store them in a resealable freezer bag.

-- The only way to truly know if a jar of spices or dried herbs is fresh is by tasting the contents. If it's not appetizing, it's not worth adding to your dish.

-- Stop tossing out leftover tomato paste. Use a can opener to open the can on both ends and push the paste out in a roll. Freeze the roll in a resealable plastic bag.

-- Use the cut end of a halved lemon to clean a cutting board. For tougher stains, sprinkle with some coarse salt to scrub the board clean.

-- Sign up for your local farmers'-market newsletter to learn about upcoming farm stands and what's in season. Use the information to plan meals and draw up a shopping list.

-- Eliminate static cling in plastic wrap by storing the wrap in the freezer. Even a few minutes will help before tackling a pile of leftovers.

-- When you need minced garlic, run a big batch through the food processor so that you can freeze the extras in ice-cube trays. Just pop them out once frozen and store them in a freezer bag or container.