February 1981

EDITOR at large

In this month's main food article, "Calorie-Trimmed Recipes," you'll be introduced to a tasty dish called Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce. It has 70 percent fewer calories than most gingerbread, and it was tested seven times in the BH&G Test Kitchen before our food editors agreed that it was ready for publication.

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU BANK BY MACHINE?

Many people these days are handling at least some of their routine financial transactions electronically instead of using checks, bank passbooks, or that old-fashioned paper called "cash." "Electronic fund transfers" banking systems (or "EFT") are made possible by computer technology, and they employ a variety of tools, from plastic cards to "cash" machines, computer terminals, and even push-button phones.

Career Education

It's time for a report card on career education. About a decade ago, a noisy debate erupted among parents and educators. The issue: whether schools were doing a satisfactory job of preparing children for the transition from school to the world of work.

SOLAR IDEA HOUSE

This solar eye-catcher--built last year in North Carolina for a low $35 per square foot--is an excellent example of the new wave of homes being planned for the '80s. They come in all sizes, shapes, and styles but share one important ingredient: energy efficiency.

7 Space-Making Projects for Kids' Rooms

Typically, a child's bedroom isn't just a place for sleeping. It's likely to serve as a rec room, study, hobby center, and guest room, too-- but probably not very well.

Video security system

Security light control

Electronic lock

Videodisc player

TIPS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

This feature is written by you. It's a wide-ranging collection of shop hints, installation tips, and repair shortcuts that you-- along with millions like you-- have picked up from your experience as a do-it-yourselfer. We pay $25 for each problem solver we publish. See the box below for submission details.

Could A Home Computer Help You?

We weren't gazing into a crystal ball when we helped design the kitchen computer center on page 98. Computers designed for the home already are in use in 250,000 homes and are predicted to be in half a million by the end of the year. In fact, we at Better Homes and Gardens think the home computer will revolutionize the American home in the next few years.

Test Your Driving IQ

If you haven't had an accident or gotten a ticket in a long time, your driving IQ may be OK. Or it may not be-- some rules of the road can fade from memory when there's little call to use them. You can test your memory of some of the trickier rules of the road by taking the test below. To devise the quiz, we asked driver's license examiners in 17 states for the most-often-missed questions on their states' exams.

Totable table

Well-dressed walls

Plant booster

Consumer aids

Used furniture guide

Should You Get Another Pet?

When there's already a pet or two in your household, adding a new one can be a tricky proposition. First, you'll have to decide whether you're prepared to give the newcomer the necessary time and attention. If you are, you'll want to select your new pet carefully and get him off to a good start with other pets in your family.

Gardener's log

When you're going through your garden catalogs and choosing plants, bulbs, and seeds from mailorder nurseries, consider some ladybugs and praying mantis egg cases. You'll be acquiring some valuable allies in your continual fight against the chewing, sucking pests that try to turn your garden into a banquet.

Hand-Painted Fabric Accessories

Even if your previous painting experience is limited to bedroom walls and garage doors, you can create hand-painted accessories like the wall hanging on page 110 and the projects shown here. Here's how:

THE BEST OF OLD & NEW

As our editors look at kitchens all across the country, one thing becomes increasingly clear-- kitchens today are much more than the traditional triangle of sink, stove, refrigerator. More and more kitchens provide a welcoming place to work, include a cozy family dining spot, possess timeless good looks, and incorporate hardworking materials that will endure for many years to come.

SCRAP CRAFTS

Even if you're pinched for pennies, you can make dozens of great rags-to-riches craft items. All it takes is a bit of Yankee ingenuity plus some leftover yarns, fabrics, what have you. To inspire you, we've assembled a choice selection of scrap-bag projects. You can use them as is or adapt them to suit your raw materials and your taste.

HOW TO CHANGE THE SCENE WITH COLOR

Color, in all its myriad hues, delights the eye. And in a decorating scheme, color can do much more. It can pull together a mix of furnishings... change mood with the light level... create illusion that diverts the eye... and cover up less than perfect proportions.

Caring For Pewter

Although once called the "poor man's silver," pewter pieces today are prized in their own right. You can keep your pewter ware looking its best by protecting its fragile, soft finish with regular care. To help you choose the right care for your pewter, here are some basic cleaning tips:

How to order material from the magazine

WINTER VACATIONS IN AMERICA'S STATE PARKS

When the winter sun glistens on snow-frosted landscapes and there's a nip in the wind, vacationing is at its finest in many of our state parks. These pockets of pristine wilderness, now void of summer throngs, invite quiet exploring and rediscovery of old-fashioned outdoor fun. Since top-notch winter parks are located almost everywhere there's cold weather and snow, and fees for activities are nominal, state parks make perfect destinations for wintertime family outings. Here's a sampling of some of our favorites.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence. If not delighted, each company will happily refund your money.

The Man Next Door

Elaine Cowan, who is on a campaign to break her bad habits, says the only way she has been able to give up smoking thus far is repeatedly. "But I am trying to make it permanently," she adds with determination.