May 1983

EDITOR at large

This month's cover story, "Creative Cooking with What's on Hand," is the outgrowth of an intramural challenge to our food staff. There were 14 participants-- the photo shows the winners-- and they all had such fun that they want to open the game to readers. OK, let's try it.

Tax-Free Investments: A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOUR FAMILY?

Once the privilege of the rich, tax-favored investing has gained broad appeal recently, thanks to an overall rise in personal incomes and changing tax legislation. But these investments are not for everyone. Here's what you should consider before buying.

TRENDS WORTH WATCHING IN OUR SCHOOLS

In recent years most of the news about our public schools has been decidedly downbeat-- declining enrollments, shrinking funds, and controversies about teacher competency and student performance. Yet, in many instances, those very problems have spurred innovative educators and parents to develop exciting new concepts in teaching and school management.

Gardener's log

Turn a hard-to-plant, shady or partially shaded area in your yard into an inviting bright spot with some shadeloving plants. A shade garden demands little maintenance; flowers last longer and require less watering. Any necessary tending can be done comfortably-- out of the sun.

HOW TO FOIL A CAR THIEF

More than one million cars will be stolen this year, and not many will be recovered unharmed. Based on the national average, you or one of your 40 neighbors will be the victim of a thief who steals a car or its contents. And the odds escalate for those who live in certain metropolitan areas. Here are suggestions for turning the odds more in your favor.

Order Featured Items Here

SMOOTH OPENER

TOUGH GARDEN GEAR

DIGITAL SCALE

OUTDOOR WOK

DUSTER

DECK TILES

Rehabbing An Old Brick Bungalow

It's hard to believe that this charming brick bungalow was once a crumbling, boarded-up old house. Virtually ignored for 12 years, the empty building was supposed to be torn down for a new expressway. But when the highway project was shelved, John and Margie Kelly bought the ramshackle house, and transformed it into this stylish new home.

Common Landscaping Problems SOLVED

Do your landscape problems have you stumped? Now's the time to turn those garden eyesores into assets. On these pages you'll find solutions to some of the most common landscape problems. And, in case the solution we feature doesn't meet your landscaping needs, alternative suggestions also are given.

AN UPDATED FAMILY ROOM... WIRED FOR ENTERTAINMENT

So you already have (or you're about to purchase) some of today's exciting electronics gear for your home, but you're not sure how to house all the stuff. Here's help. This ordinary-sized space has all the day-to-day comfort of a family room, yet it's also outfitted as a complete home entertainment and computer center. Practical and good-looking, the multipurpose room offers adaptable ideas for living beautifully with such things as component TV, stereo gear, albums, video and stereo tapes, a video recorder, and even a home computer and its complementary programs and games.

HOW TO COPE WITH YOUR PET'S CRAZY QUIRKS

When you live with a pet day in and day out, you get to know him well. Nevertheless, certain behavioral quirks of dogs and cats still can be baffling. More often than not, these actions are triggered by instincts that can be traced back to the days before dogs and cats were domesticated-- when your pet's ancestors foraged for food, ran in packs, and had to protect themselves from the threat of predators.

A Shady Retreat

Antigues & COLLECTIBLES

Not all that long ago, many of America's goods were carried and stored in baskets, not plastic or cardboard containers. Crops were toted home from the field in sturdy baskets made of ash or hickory, cheeses were aged in baskets with an open hexagonal weave, and fancy hats were protected from dust in finely woven, lidded bonnet baskets.

MINI-GARDENS

Instead of confining your flowers to a secluded border along the back fence, why not plant spirit-lifting pocket gardens wherever your yard needs color? A well-designed garden won't require a lot of maintenance, and you will be rewarded with bumper crops of blooms all summer long.

FOUR GOOD-LOOKING ADDITIONS THAT WORK!

Some home additions look like afterthoughts-- even if constructed with quality materials and workmanship-- while others seem meant to be. The difference, of course, is a matter of good design, not a well-padded building budget. Skillfully planned additions can do much more than expand your living space; they also can enhance the appearance of your house.

All About Tea

Nothing lifts the spirits like a good cup of tea on a spring afternoon. But with so many varieties of tea to choose from, how do you know which ones to buy? Here's a rundown of the types of teas and how they're processed and packaged, plus step-by-step instructions for brewing a perfect pot of tea.

High-Quality Recordings

Have you noticed a section of special albums in the record shop or stereo store, called audiophile recordings or "digitally recorded" albums? These products are better-sounding alternatives to standard mass-produced albums. And, although audiophile recordings are more expensive than most albums, they usually can make a so-so stereo system sound better. Here's a look at the different types.

Installing Plumbing For a Washtub

A washtub is handy for laundry and cleaning up after messy chores. Installing a tub is easy if you use PVC plastic fittings and pipe, and follow these steps.

BEST BUYS IN FAMILY VACATION RESORTS

A summer vacation at a resort should be memorable for the whole family. But it all depends on the resort you choose. Some resorts cater to families-- with comfortable lodgings, a host of activities, good food and service, reasonable rates, and hospitable atmosphere; others don't. To help make sure your family winds up with a winner, we visited scores of resorts coast to coast.

Cookie cooking fun for kids

His turn to cook

More great ideas for windows and walls

Tips, Tools, and 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.

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

"Planting a garden is a warming experience," observes Aunt Alice-- "warm earth, warm sun, and lots of long, warm baths to soak aching backs."