photo by adactio
DEAR SARA: Can I freeze deli-style sliced ham? The ham that we like to take in our lunch is on sale half price this week, so I want to stock up. Can I freeze it if I put it in freezer bags? Will it taste OK thawed? — champagnium, Nova Scotia
DEAR CHAMPAGNIUM: Yes, you can freeze deli-style ham and various other cold cuts, too. Place them in freezer bags or airtight freezer containers. You can divide them with wax paper and individual serving amounts so they’re easy to separate and thaw. Or ask your deli whether they’ll separate them with paper when they slice and package them. Thaw cold cuts in your refrigerator a day before using them. They will taste fine. You’ll discover they will pick up extra moisture, but ham is often packed in water. If you think they’re too wet, blot them with a paper towel. Don’t freeze for longer than a month.
DEAR SARA: A close friend of mine is moving into a new house. I want to buy him a housewarming gift, but it has to be ecofriendly. He’s single. Any suggestions? My price range can be up to $200. A few of us can go in on a group gift because we’re all stumped on what to buy. Any suggestions? Bonus points if it’s frugal, too. — Lee, via e-mail
DEAR LEE: Try a push mower for a frugal and green gift. You can get a decent one for under $200. They’ve made them lighter and easier to push than the older-style models. It’s quiet, has no fumes and is great exercise, too. Another frugal, green gift idea is a Wonderwash. It’s a manual clothes washer. It costs around $45. It holds about five pounds of clothing. It’s faster than a standard washing machine, doesn’t use electricity and uses less detergent and less water. It’s portable, too. Visit www.laundry-alternative.com, or call (888) 813-9559.
DEAR SARA: I have small clay pots with saucers that I’d like to use on my enclosed porch. I don’t want to paint them, but I want them to look different than plain orange pots. I’d like ideas for plants for them, too. — Sheila, via e-mail
DEAR SHEILA: Hot-glue green sheet moss on the outside of the pot. Use baby tears or succulents in them. Once you’ve planted your flowers, set the pot on top of the saucer and tuck a bit of sheet moss between the saucer and the pot. If you’re feeling crafty, you could tie a raffia bow around the pot. You can add a mushroom bird and glue a bit of raffia to its beak so it looks as if it’s using it for nesting material.
DEAR SARA: My daughter-in-law’s birthday is in August. She appreciates my bargain shopping and loves when I give her goodies that I’ve found at end-of-season sales. I want to give her a frugal gift for her birthday that’s useful and bought on clearance in August. Any ideas? — Cheryl J., via e-mail
DEAR CHERYL J.: You can find beach towels on clearance in August. Quality beach towels are expensive if you’re paying full price, but by late summer they are discounted heavily. It’s a good time to pick up grilling accessories and yard and garden tools and accessories, too.
译文:
趁着熟食店的肉低价销售，买下并冷藏它们
photo by adactio
亲爱的萨拉： 我能冷冻从熟食店买来的切片火腿吗？这个星期这种火腿半价销售，而它是我们喜爱的午餐，所以我想趁着它低价销售多买些来储存。我可以把火腿放在冷藏袋冷藏吗？它解冻后口感还行吗？
DEAR CHAMPAGNIUM: 你可以冷藏熟食火腿，也可以冷藏不同种类的熟食肉。你可以把它们置于冷藏袋内或密闭的冷藏容器内进行冷藏。你可以按照个人食用的量用蜡纸分好它们，以方便分装和解冻。或者你可以询问熟食店，问他们在切片和包装的时候是否会用蜡纸分装。提前一天解冻放在冰箱里的肉，这样他们的肉质会更好。那些冷冻在冰箱里的肉会有多余的水分，但火腿通常是带水包装的。如果你认为肉的水分太多的话，你可以用纸巾包住它们。最后记住，不要把它们冷藏超过一个月。.
DEAR SARA: 我的一个好朋友要乔迁新居。我想给她买一个乔迁礼物，但是它得是环保的。他现在是单身。您对于礼物的选择有什么建议吗？礼物的价钱可以达200元。我们几个朋友可以合买给他一份礼物因为我们都不知道该买什么。有什么建议吗？便宜当然是最好的啦. — Lee, via e-mail
DEAR LEE: 手推割草机怎么样？这是个便宜又环保的礼物。你可以以于200元的价格以下买到一个合适的。 它们比老式的割草机更轻更易推。它工作起来很安静，没有烟而且也是种很好的运动. 另一个简单环保的礼物选择是神奇洗衣机. 它是手工的洗衣机，价钱大约是45元. 它一次能够容纳5磅的衣服。它洗衣服的速度比一般洗衣机要快，不用电，用洗衣粉少，用水少。它也很轻便。你可以上http://www.laundry-alternative.com/浏览或拨打 (888) 813-9559咨询。
DEAR SARA: 我有一些小黏土坩埚，它们有附套的碟子。我想在我家里的封闭门廊里用。我不想重新油漆它们，但我想让他们看上去比普通的桔黄色罐子来的不同。我也想知道在这些里面该种些什么植物。 — Sheila, via e-mail
DEAR SHEILA: 你可以在坩埚的外面用热粘接剂粘上一片片苔藓，里面种的植物建议是baby tears或肉质植物之类的。一旦你在坩埚里种了花，你要把坩埚放在碟子的顶部，并且在坩埚与碟子之间塞进一些苔藓。如果你想法多的话，你可以用拉菲那树的枝条缠绕在坩埚外作装饰。你还可以加上一只工艺鸟。在鸟嘴上粘一些拉菲那树枝条，让它看上去像正在用树枝建鸟巢。
DEAR SARA: 我媳妇的生日在八月。她很羡慕我的还价购物本领，也非常喜欢我给她在换季甩卖中买的东西。 我想给她买一个礼物，要实惠，有用，而且在八月会清仓处理的。你有什么建议吗？I — Cheryl J., via e-mail
DEAR CHERYL J.: 你可以发现在八月沙滩巾会清仓处理. 一条质量好的沙滩巾非常贵,但在夏末他们会降价非常多。 同样，买隔栅的附件、在庭院花园使用的工具和附件也是个不错的选择。