Do-it-yourself food and toothpaste

Making your own flavored yogurt is cheap and much better for you.

By JoAnn Derson
| 5:43 a.m. January 8, 2015

Winter Park - Maitland Observer
Neighborhood

• Making your own flavored yogurt is cheap and much better for you. You can avoid a lot of added sugar. Start with plain, unflavored yogurt and add pureed fruits, toasted oats, honey, vanilla or almond extract, or plumped-up raisins (add enough hot water to cover a tablespoon of raisins and let sit for a minute or two). Yummy.

• "My son was allergic to something in store-bought toothpaste, and the ones at the health-food and specialty stores seemed so expensive. I got a 'recipe' to make toothpaste, and it works so well that we all use it now. Just mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a pinch of sea salt and some peppermint oil (stir in a few drops at a time). I keep it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake a bit into a little cup, and dip your toothbrush into it. It scrubs off stains and is refreshing. The salty taste takes some getting used to, but it feels really clean for hours. Love it!" – K.S. in Florida

• "A pinch of salt tossed in the coffee grounds will cut the bitterness in lower-quality coffee. This is especially useful if you get a good deal on a can of coffee that's not your normal brand." – P.L. in New Jersey

• You can easily extend the amount of ground meat you have with lentils or oatmeal. They maintain a meaty texture and take up some of the flavor of the meat. There's a reason Grandma used oatmeal in her meatballs, too: It helps the meat retain moisture.

• "If you stick the end of your celery stalks in a cup of water and rocks (or in some very damp dirt), they will begin to regrow. This is a great way to have a never-ending supply of celery. You also can regrow scallions from the root end." – Y.L.J. in Missouri