Do you have any suggestions for storing craft supplies?
CMl33, via e-mail
For an organizer that’s lightweight and portable, you might make a roll-up caddy. All you need as your base is a standard fabric place mat.
1. Put a place mat on your work surface, vertically for long supplies (such as rulers and scissors) or horizontally for short ones (such as small paintbrushes).
2. Fold the bottom up about 4 or 5 inches; pin, and sew the edges, sandwiching a folded piece of twill tape in one side for a tie.
3. Using a ruler and a water-soluble marker, measure and mark vertical lines at intervals to create pockets just wide enough to fit your supplies. Pin, and sew.
4. Fold the top of the place mat down to just above tops of supplies to make a flap. Iron, then topstitch, leaving a 1/8-inch seam allowance. To store, roll up mat and tie twill tape around it to secure.
If your collection of supplies has grown beyond the scope of a portable organizer, you might want to transform a small space, such as an armoire or closet, into a storage space. Then add any of the following custom touches:
* Install cafe-curtain rods (or 3/8-inch painted dowels) to the inside of the door (be sure to position them so that the door can shut tightly). Hang tools – brushes, scissors and more – from S hooks attached to a rod. Drape art papers over other rods (closely spaced dowels will keep papers from slithering away).
* To maximize storage space for small jars or spools of ribbon, install extra-small shelves. You might also store small containers on two-tiered lazy Susans (single-level ones are best for tall bottles). Label both sides of each container so that its contents can be viewed easily.
I’m looking for a recipe for flaxseed granola.
Claudia, via e-mail
Flaxseed is a wonderfully nutritious addition to granola. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, the essential polyunsaturated fats that may reduce the risk of heart disease, and is also rich in fiber and lignans, hormones thought to inhibit some cancers. Best of all, flaxseed has a pleasantly nutty flavor.
The following granola recipe is sweetened with honey and dried cranberries and raisins, and also includes a touch of flaxseed oil. The granola makes a tasty breakfast or an energy-boosting afternoon snack.
Granola with flaxseed
(Makes 5 1/2 cups)
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup sliced blanched almonds (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon ground golden flaxseed (from about 1 1/2 teaspoons whole)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss together oats, coconut and almonds in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk together vegetable oil and honey in a small bowl; stir into oats mixture. Spread out oats mixture on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; toss with flaxseed oil. Let cool completely.
3. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in dried cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds and ground flaxseed.
Granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, up to one week.
What is the best way to clean a television screen?
Care Kerns, via e-mail
Always consult your owner’s manual for advice before cleaning any electrical device.
To clean traditional (cathode ray tube) or plasma screens, turn off and unplug the television, and let it cool to room temperature before proceeding. Spray eyeglass cleaner on a lint-free cloth, and gently wipe the screen.
Never spray anything directly on a screen (this can be harmful and will void the manufacturer’s warranty on most screens). Note that such cleaners should not be used on LCD (liquid crystal display) and some antiglare screens, which should just be wiped with a dry lint-free cloth.
Send questions to Living, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 609 Greenwich St., 6th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10014-3610. E-mail living@nytimes.com.
2005 MSLO LLC
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
