Uses for your leftover Easter eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are common leftovers after Easter. Deviled eggs are an obvious solution, but how about a twist this year? You can use avocado as an ingredient, which makes a fun “Green Eggs and Ham”-style treat for kids. For two stuffed-egg recipes using avocado (one with ham and one without), visit eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/get-em-while-the-gettins-good/ and avocadocentral.com/avocado-recipes/view/28130/Ham-and-Avocado-Deviled-Eggs.

Kathy, via email, suggests using Amy's Ham and Cheese Spread as a great stuffing for deviled eggs that uses up leftover ham and dyed Easter eggs.

For the spread: Combine 2 cups chopped ham, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon prepared mustard in a food processor and pulse until blended. Stir in diced onion, dill-pickle relish, chopped hard-boiled egg or chopped celery if desired. You may need to stir a little more by hand to make sure that the mayonnaise and mustard are blended thoroughly. Chill in the refrigerator. Serve on bread or crackers or use to fill deviled eggs.

Reuse gift-wrap: I honestly believe gift wrap is one of the biggest scams of modern society, but you look like a weirdo if you don't wrap gifts. So I started saving ALL the gift-wrap from gifts given to me: I open wrapped presents carefully so I can reuse the paper and I fold tissue paper nicely so it can be reused as well. When I had my first baby, I ended up with so much baby-themed gift wrap that I have reused it for every shower since! And I still have plenty more. Ribbon is also great because it can be saved for art projects and a wide variety of other uses. But the best thing is gift bags! Aside from reusing them, I've sold them at yard sales.

-- Archer, Texas

Coupon warning: I regularly put my unused coupons in the “take one, leave one” basket at our library. However, after I left a few Internet printables and someone copied them, I was temporarily banned from using SmartSource coupons (smartsource.com) because they thought I had copied them. A word of advice: Be careful who you give your Internet printable coupons to, as they can be traced back to you.

-- Lea, Virginia

Ribbon organizer: Place ribbon spools in a small plastic basket with holes (the kind you can find at any dollar store). Organize spools so they're upright, like books on a shelf. Thread two inches or so of ribbon ends through the holes and you can pull the length of ribbon easily. You can also use an old shoe box with holes poked into it, a five-tier slacks hanger in the closet, or even a baby wipes container. For a pictorial, visit instructables.com/id/Recycled-Ribbon-Organizer/?ALLSTEPS

-- Melanie, Florida

Reuse cases: I use plastic VHS cases to hold small household items such as cords, game pieces, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, Barbie accessories, etc. Mine are just like the old cases from video rental stores, but you could reuse any type for the same purpose.

-- Tina, Ohio

Ÿ Sara Noel owns Frugal Village (frugalvillage.com), a website that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. Send tips, comments or questions to Sara Noel, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106, or sara@frugalvillage.com.