Love Garlic Flavor, But Not the Cloves?

Put a toothpick through the whole clove of garlic before adding it to sauces or other recipes. When it's cooked, pick it out before serving.

Check Off

Make a list with these items on it: furnace filters, windows and doors, snow shovel.

- Furnace filters should be replaced regularly, but the chances of that getting done are better at the beginning of the heating season. Buy them by the case for a better price.

- Check all windows and doors for proper operation. Make sure the storm doors are working and all there and inspect the weather stripping around doors for wear. Most of this stripping is easily replaced, and it saves a lot on energy bills.

- Find your snow shovel now; they're really expensive during a snowstorm.

Check off this list and go relax.

Roof Check

Make it part of your fall inspection to check the roof of your house closely. While you're up on the ladder cleaning out the gutters, take a look at the roof. Cracking, curling shingles are signs of wear. Excessive amounts of gravel in the gutter also indicate an aging roof. Keep track of these roof-wear signs and start budgeting for a new roof a couple years in advance. Don't wait until the roof leaks to replace it.

- Stephen Corwin

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001