Here's another reason to skip buying mealy peaches in the middle of winter: They have more pesticides on them than any other fruit in the supermarket. Conventional peaches that are imported from outside the country when they aren't in season are the fruit most treated with chemical pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group. Skip peaches when they're out of season and enjoy them when they are grown and harvested locally. If you really want peaches out of season, consider organic frozen ones. They may not be the freshest, but they are guaranteed to have been grown without any chemical pesticides.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Vintage enamelware serving pieces and cookware are common items you'll find at flea markets, antique stores and thrift shops. They were common in the late 19th and the early part of the 20th century, and they're very pretty, too. But are they safe to use now for serving food and cooking? Most likely not. Back in the day, there was little regulation on what manufacturers could use to make enamelware, so vintage pieces often have additives like lead and cadmium. If you do find and purchase old enamelware, use it for display or decoration only.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Not only is pre-shredded cheese from the supermarket expensive, but it also comes in hard-to-recycle plastic packaging. One way to go green and save money is to buy blocks of cheese from the cheese counter and shred them yourself. To save time, shred the entire block of cheese at once and store the shredded cheese in a large reusable freezer bag. To prevent the shredded cheese from sticking together, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the freezer bag and shake to lightly coat the cheese; the cornstarch will also help keep the shredded cheese fresh longer.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION