Tips of the Week:

• Demonstrate the use of one specific knife—its advantages, disadvantages, limitations, use, care, storage, design and features.

1. Instead of investing in rolling pins for fondant (wood is too porous), I go to my local hardware or plumbing supply and buy a full piece of PVC and have it cut into 18- or 20-inch pieces. (KS)

• When I give lecture notes, I make handouts with blanks in them. I have the same handout on the overhead transparency. The students fill in blanks throughout the notes as I lecture. This way they can listen and still have to write, but not concentrate on trying to write every word I say. (LS)

• If you are looking for chef coats for your class, try calling your local uniform rental/cleaning company. When the coats are barely worn, they will sell for almost nothing and/or donate the coats to your class. (MM)