If you need to roast a turkey, chicken, or other meat and don't happen to have a roasting pan on hand Real Simple magazine's weblog shares that you can get the same roasting effect from a bundt cake pan. The cone in the center of the pan will keep the meat from touching the base and provide the same cooking effect.

All you need to is layer your root vegetables on the bottom of the pan, season your meat, and place the meat in the cavity over the center hole. You'll want to place a cookie sheet or large piece of aluminum foil underneath to catch the drippings and roast according to your normal instructions.

Bundt Pan as Vertical Roaster | Real Simple

It's tempting to buy the big bag of celery at Costco but you'll seldom use it all by the time it starts to fade. If you wrap the celery in a plastic bag and then wrap that bag in aluminum foil you can get a much longer refrigerated shelf life.

Prepper weblog Preparing One Day at a Time claims they've kept celery fresh using this technique for more than a month. I can't verify that as of right now, but next time I go to Costco I'm going to give it a try.

What methods do you use to preserve produce in your fridge? Let us know in the comments below.

Day 15 Preserving Produce | Preparing - One Day at a Time via Prepare Today

Good for you! You're going to be productive today, but still have fun in the process. We've got a ton of projects for you to try, from gadgets to games to home improvement to food. Check them all out, pick one, and make your day off awesome.

Make Your Own Tech

You don't have to buy great gadgets and technology when you can just make it yourself. Here are a few geeky projects to tackle on your day off.

Turn Your Old Netbook or Laptop Into a Touchscreen PC

We've looked at turning a MacBook into a tablet computer and even written some software for you to turn it into a nice heads up display, but Instructables user mkarvonen has created a how-to that demonstrates how to turn virtually any laptop into a touchscreen tablet-so long as you have the patience. More »

Charge Your Phone with a DIY Candle-Powered Charger

So the power's out, and you've broken out the candles to keep things well-lit-but your phone's about to die too, with no working wall outlet in sight! More »

Build a Hackintosh

Building a hackintosh-that is, installing Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware-used to require extremely restricted hardware choices and quite a bit of know-how. Now it's actually pretty simple. Here's a look at picking the right hardware, installing OS X, and configuring your Hackintosh to work just the way you want it. More »

Modify any iPhone Headset Remote to Work With Android Devices

Everyone loves the iPhone's headset with volume and music controls on the inline remote, but if you have an Android phone, you can actually get iPhone-designed buds working with your device. More »

How to Balloon Map Your Neighborhood, Google Maps Style

Ever felt like Google Maps doesn't provide enough detail of the aerial view of your neighborhood? Ever wanted to make your own maps or participate in a little homegrown science? Balloon mapping is a cheap way to take aerial pictures for all sorts of purposes-even events like weddings, graduations, or parties-and it's dead simple to do it yourself. Here's how it works.More »

Put Together Your Own Arduino Board (for Half the Price of Buying One)

You can make a lot of cool DIY electronics with an Arduino board, but you can actually make your own Arduino for a fraction of the cost-with a bit of room for customizability, too. More »

Build a DSLR Shoulder Rig

If you're a filmmaker or just like to have family videos that don't evoke The Blair Witch Project you may be interested in acquiring a shoulder mount to stabilize your DSLR camera when shooting videos. More »

Build an Arduino-Powered Doorbell Alert System That Sends You a Text and a Photo

Ever wonder who rings your doorbell when you're not home? Or do you crank music up too loud most of the day to hear it anyway? If so, Make Projects user Clement Storck built a simple Arduino powered notification system that sends him a text message and an email with a photo every time someone... More »

Build Your Own Vertical Laptop Stand for $3

Vertical laptop docks are fairly trendy these days, but the trouble with most of them is that they can get pretty expensive, with some models running up past $50. This Ikea hack may not duplicate all of the functionality of one of those docks, but some time with a wire saw and a little cable management will net you a vertical laptop dock for your laptop that matches your style. More »

Make a Remote Control for Your Home Devices That You Operate By Whistling

The problem with remote controls is that they're often never in your hand when you need to operate them. This hack will really let you control your devices from afar. More »

Get Your Game On

Wether you're putting together a retro arcade or hacking a system old or new, there are plenty of gaming projects you can tackle on your day off.

How to Turn Your Computer into a Retro Game Arcade

Whether you're looking to relive the past or experience the origin of gaming you missed in your youth, your Windows, Mac, or Linux PC can take you back to Mario's salad days, the birth of the Final Fantasy series, and much more. Here's how to get started with retro game emulation and turn your computer into the ultimate retro arcade in just a few minutes. More »

Top 10 Gaming Hacks and DIY Projects

We love our games and consoles, but there's a big world that lies beyond the product you pull out of the box. Your console is capable of so much more than you may realize. Here are our top 10 video game hacks and DIY projects to prove it. More »

How to Hack Your Wii for Homebrew in Five Minutes

Hacking your Wii hasn't been difficult, but it has required a somewhat detailed process. Now we have LetterBomb, which is an incredibly simple way to hack your Wii. It only takes about five minutes to accomplish. Here's how to do it. More »

The Boardgame Remix Kit Combines Your Old Games Into New Ones

If you're looking for a way to mix things up this Holiday season, The Boardgame Remix kit takes classic games—like Monopoly and Clue—and remixes them into fun new games. More »

Combine a PS3 and an Xbox 360 in One Computer Case for the Ultimate Gaming Machine

If you're sick of switching inputs, unplugging devices, and just plain dealing with too many game systems, DIYer Tim combined his PS3 and Xbox 360 in a computer case for one mega gaming console. More »

Make Some Awesome Non-Tech Stuff

Not every DIY project ought to require a power source. Here are some cool things you can do unplugged.

Turn a Key Into a 10-in-1 Tool

Ever wished your key could do more than open doors? Instructables user Vitizop did, so he cut, chopped, and screwed a single key into a multi-tool.
Using a drill, saw, and a variety of files, Vitizop managed to make a key into a philips screwdriver, saw, bottle opener, rope cutter, and more. More »

Hack a Carabiner with Heat Shrink Tubing to Build the Ultimate Keychain

A good carabiner or s-biner makes a great keychain-it can clip to your belt or your bag so you never lose it, and you can keep more than one ring of keys on it if you have to. Plus, it hangs up nicely on hooks or magnetic holders with no fuss. Evem so, Instructables user elplatt lost a keyfob from one because the carabiner latch came open one day. Committed to never let that happen again, he grabbed some heat shrink tubing, a heat gun, and went to work. More »

Build a Simple, Stylish, Industrial-Style Clothing Rack with Pipes

Although not the first industrial-style clothing rack we've seen, the folks over at Simplified Building have put together another great option for easy clothing storage. More »

Hipster Habit App Is a Pocketable, Printable Mini-Book Designed to Help You Create or Remove Habits in 30 Days

Killing a bad habit is easier said than done, but the Hipster Habit App-which is less of an app and more of a miniature printable book for your wallet-can help you through the process. More »

Plug Your Keys into the Wall with a Homemade Ethernet Keychain and Wall Dock

There are plenty of products you can buy to hang your keys on the wall for easy access, but none with the geeky charm and stability of plugging them in to an RJ-45 port. More »

Make Custom, One-Off T-Shirts the Cheap and Easy Way

Making your own customer t-shirts is awesome, but it can get a little pricey and excessive if you have to order in bulk. The quality of inkjet transfers isn't exactly ideal, either. Fortunately, Instructables user Matthew Vieke has a great solution that requires just a shirt, a sharpie, and a few other optional items. More »

Upgrade Your Workspace

It's hard to get things done in a crappy home workspace. If yours could use an upgrade, here are a few things you can try.

DIY Ikea Franken-Desk: Storage and Space in a Sharp-Looking Package

Building your own desk doesn't have to be difficult, especially when a place like Ikea already has the parts you need to assemble a sharp and functional workspace. More »

Create a Large Mobile Workstation with Built-in Storage out of IKEA Bookshelves and Some Board

Need a big space to work? Need lots of storage? Need to be able to move it easily? This IKEA hack from Panyl-a company that's turned IKEA hacking into a business-can provide all three. More »

How to Ergonomically Optimize Your Workspace

We spend a lot of time sitting at our desks every day, and while it may not look like it, it can wreak havoc with our bodies. Here's how to set up a healthy, ergonomic workspace to keep you comfortable and injury-free. More »

Build Computer Cooling Into Your Desk

If you store your PC in a closed cupboard, it can get pretty hot. DIY weblog IKEA Hackers shows us how to build a bit of PC cooling into our desk. More »

Build a DIY Wide, Adjustable Height IKEA Standing Desk on the Cheap

If you've been convinced to switch to a standing desk, you might have been deterred by the cost and small size of many common options. Fortunately, as usual, IKEA comes to the rescue with a cheap, simple alternative. More »

Turn an IKEA Shelf and Picture Ledge into a Monitor Stand

If making a monitor stand out of door stoppers just isn't your style, check out this clever monitor stand made from a shelf and a picture ledge.
IKEAHacker reader Lauri made a very clean looking monitor shelf from nothing more than an IKEA Lack shelf and a Ribba picture ledge. More »

Make Something Tasty

Sometimes the best thing you can make is something delicious to eat. Here are a few fun cooking and baking projects to learn on your day off.

Top 10 Fast Food Recipes You Can Make at Home

You can complain about it all you want, but it's a fact: some fast food is delicious. It gets a whole lot better with fresher, tastier ingredients. Here's our top ten favorite fast food recipes that you can make at home. More »

Make Easy, Delicious Soft Serve Ice Cream with Ingredients You Already Have

If you're looking for a tasty warm-weather treat, ice cream does the trick, but if you don't have an ice cream maker or have no desire to do all of the shaking required for our last method for making ice cream in a bag, this method is decidedly lazier but just as tasty. More »

Make Your Own Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping At Home and Dress Up Your Desserts

Magic Shell ice cream topping, or that chocolate syrup that hardens as soon as it comes in contact with the cold ice cream in a bowl, is tasty, but it's made with a world of stabilizers and other chemicals with long names. Plus, it can get pricey for the amount you get. Surprisingly, it's super easy to make at home, with ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. All you need is chocolate and coconut oil. More »

Make Your Own Pancake Syrup and Skip the Overpriced Stuff at the Grocery Store

Syrup for pancakes and waffles at the grocery store can get pretty expensive by the bottle for something that's caramel color, corn syrup, and a few stabilizers and additives. More »

DIY Citrus Salt

Specialty salts can bring a lot of flavor to foods but can be expensive-especially citrus salts that cost several dollars for a bit of salt and fruit zest. More »

Make Your Own Ice Cream Bars for Tasty Summertime Treats

Everyone loves a good ice cream bar in the summer heat, but the ones you get from the grocery store can leave something to be desired. If you make your own, you can add anything you like to the ice cream, and you have control over how much chocolate the ice cream is dipped. More »

Make Spicy, Delicious Chipotle-Style Guacamole at Home

Guacamole isn't exactly difficult to make, but if the staff at your local Chipotle recognize your face because you stop in for lunch too often, you can save yourself a few bucks here and there and make their famous guacamole at home. More »

Memorial Day marks the start of the serious grilling season, and there's no better weekend to try your hand at outdoor cooking, or bolster your established grill-master game. Luckily, honing your outdoor culinary skills is a lot more simple than it seems, given the right tools, a little preparation, and a few tips on technique. Here's a look at some pointers on getting the right gear, turning out great meals, and even preparing for uncooperative weather.

Photo by Another Pint Please.

Get the right tools

• Lump charcoal or briquettes?: This is one of those endless, both-sides-are-right-and-wrong debates (kind of like Mac vs. PC), but there is some fairly common ground. As The Virtual Weber Bullet puts it:

  The general consensus is that lump tends to burn hotter than briquettes, but not as long or as consistently. Some lack of consistency is to be expected, given that the content and piece size varies within an individual bag and between bags.

  Personally, I recommend briquettes for anyone just starting out with their grill, as lump can be finicky in lighting. Of course, you can save yourself a lot of effort and frustration by investing in a chimney starter, which you can also use for flash-cooking. Photo by Joshua Thompson via WikiMedia.

• Choosing a gas grill: Ignore the BTUs and heat for the most part—unless you really need to cook a whole bird or roast this weekend, most grills have got your steaks and burgers covered. Consumer Reports' blog recommends bringing a magnet with you to gauge the quality of steel used to contain the heat. If the magnet sticks, it's likely a cheaper grade that will rust more easily. Feel free to give a test model a few shoves and shakes, as an unstable grill is a recipe for serious problems.
• Multi-use utensils: The three-tool grilling sets you see at big-box stores have all you'll need for basic grill work, with long-handled versions of a spatula, tongs, and a carving-type poker. A long-handle brush would be your next purchase, and then a grilling basket and skewers when you start branching out. Make sure your tools feel heavy and firm in your hands, as clumsy handling creates the kind of BBQ stories you don't want repeated. Photo by rick.

Getting ready

• Clean that grill: If there's black crust on the grill bars, you need to get it off to ensure no-stick cooking and easy food flipping. If you're feeling strong, wad up some aluminum foil and go to town on that stuff. For seriously stuck grime, you could also try popping the grill in the oven to bake off the stubborn bits.
• Make your own sauce: Most of the pre-bottled sauces you see on grocery shelves are over-sweetened, and none match the taste of homemade. Making your own isn't that difficult, either. Use one of BBQ Recipe Secret's three sauce bases as a starting point, and build your own flavor ideas into them. It'll give you something to talk about while you're waiting for the ribs to finish. Photo by Jason McArthur.

Hone your technique

• Use a cheat sheet: Experience is the best indicator for knowing the precise moment to yank your food off the rack, but Real Simple offers a super-helpful cheat sheet you can print and bring to this culinary test (original post). Here's a sample that covers the basics of red meat and sausages:

  While you're at it, don't forget about the palm test for determining the doneness of a steak, which we first learned about from Men's Health.

• BBQ chicken: As my fellow editor Adam can attest, eHow's technique for grilling whole or partial chicken results in some juicy bird. The basics: Oil the grill, cook the chicken uncovered slightly off the heat center, and, for Pete's sake, don't put your sauce on until the last few minutes.
• Perfect burgers: Our commenters don't necessarily agree on cooking great burgers, but they do have some common wisdom to share. Use meat that's as close to room temperature as possible for even cooking. Don't press them on the grill, unless you like your meat dry. And the best "secret" to great burgers is buying good meat, preferably ground by a butcher while you watch.
• Seriously salt your steak: Got filet mignon dreams for the weekend, but only a Quarter-Pounder budget? Buy a cheap cut of "choice" meat, then salt, salt, salt the heck out of that thing—for only one hour before grilling, and then pat it dry. By doing so, your salt is breaking in your meat and loosening some of its protein strands, making it hold flavor better and cut like the steakhouse commercials of your dreams (original post).
• Let it rest: You'll be eager to slice open your tender steak or succulent chicken, but you'll lose a lot of juicy flavor if you do so. As the food techies at Cook's Illustrated point out, cutting into your food right off the grill releases a significant amount of juice, which would be re-absorbed for better succulence if you let it sit a few minutes.

Recover from a rain-out

All that planning, cleaning, and purchasing, and Mother Nature calls an audible on your perfect grill day? You're not finished yet. As the New York Times' food guru and cookbook author Mark Bittman points out, your oven broiler can sub in for your grill with a little prep-work, with results almost as satisfying. Brown your meat in the pan, roast or braise it slowly, then use the broiler to give it that grill-like finish. Check out his oven-based pork ribs or brisket recipes if you need convincing.

Document your success

When you've put all this effort into creating a great fire-cooked feast, you'll want more than just compliments to remember it by. Break out your digital camera (or pass it off to a trusted friend) and try the following tips to take some great grilling shots. (Photo by ctaloi):

• Tell a story: A BBQ-friendly shooter named Nika notes that a lot of grilled food might look good to the human eye, but smoky crusts and perfect charring can look like unappealing dark nothingness without good framing. Try to capture moments of "drama," such as when the meat's being pulled, or focus on the tools used to make the meal to get shots you'll remember.
• Get in close: At the same time, Flickr user Another Pint Please..., also known as Mike and who shot the steak picture you saw at the top of this post, recommends being brave and getting up-close and personal with your heat source—while being safe with your lens, of course. You'll have time to take wider-angle shots when the cooking's done, but those sudden flare-ups and perfect glistening angles only happen once.

Got some great resources for first-timers or experienced grill gurus? Planning on trying a new technique this weekend? Let's hear about great food, and solid tips, in the comments.