The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Baked beans are an all-American standby. Although a recipe for classic baked beans is simple dried beans, water, salt, dry mustard, molasses, brown sugar and salt pork that last ingredient typically sends the fat and sodium levels through the roof.

Sooner or Later, You'll Need to Clean the Fridge

Remember that blue Jell-O the kids made when was it, back around Thanksgiving? That blue Jell-O that spilled in the back of the fridge and has left a stain there ever since? A neon-colored smear that's a constant reminder that it's time to clean your fridge? A frost-free refrigerator should be cleaned every four to six months. A manual-defrost fridge should be cleaned whenever the freezer needs defrosting (when the frost gets to be -inch thick).

Frittatas with a Festive Flair

GROCERY LIST: * Shallot

New On Dvd

In stores today: I'M NOT THERE (2007, Genius, R, $30) Writer-director Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven," "Velvet Goldmine") has a lot of nerve and that's a good thing. His Dylan biopic in which six actors including Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale play characters inspired by the rock god is a welcome blast of theatricality and wit. Tender, melancholy and electric, "I'm Not There" is just the kind of wacked-out tribute Dylan deserves. Don't think twice, it's all r...

Questioning Their Existence ; Ex-Fair Lawn Student's Play Focuses On Characters' Faith

When Steve Ives was a student at Fair Lawn High School, a teacher gave him a copy of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." It wasn't on the English class reading list. "You would really like this," Ives remembers the teacher saying.

Suit, Sunblock in One

New this season from Lands' End: Kids UPF 50 Swimwear. The children's bathing suits promise to offer an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 50, even after multiple washings and exposure to sun and chlorine. The company is also touting its quick-dry, snag- resistant and fade-resistant features.

Window Dressing

Windows finish off a room and admit light and air, but they can be tough to dress. "Beautiful Windows," a Woman's Day special- interest publication (Filipacchi, $17.99, 128 pages), arrives in bookstores this month to help. It offers hundreds of tips on measuring, hardware, tools, fabrics, placement and styles, from plain shades to swagged, trimmed and layered draperies. We asked Jean Nayar, an editor of the book, to open her window on this key design element. Q. What is hot today?

Sis Feeling Squashed at Low End of Family Totem Pole

Q. I have an older brother who has been married for 10 years. He has two kids and a third child on the way. I am single and 30 years old. I find that I always get the short end of the stick when it comes to family stuff. I always have to travel to wherever my brother's family is for holidays. I am the one who plans group gifts for my parents, and I am the one who does the legwork when things need to be arranged. My brother's family has never come to visit me, even in the seven years before th...

Early Inspiration ; Stars Recall the North Jersey Teachers Who Influenced Them Most

Hollywood, every now and then, makes movies about inspirational teachers, usually fictional ones with names like Mr. Chips and Mr. Holland. But what about the real teachers who, day after day, shape the minds of young students some of whom go on to make their mark on Hollywood, Broadway or the media world? To celebrate National Teacher Day today we asked celebrities who grew up in North Jersey to name the teachers who inspired them. Those people, at least the ones we could reach, were touche...

Sample Responses to Rude Comments About Appearance

DEAR ABBY: May I offer a response to the letter from "Petite's Mom in Salem, Va.," whose daughter "Claire" is the target of rude comments due to her size? I was born disabled and walk with a limp. All my life, people have demanded the most outrageous information, including the standard, "What's wrong with you?" or, "Do you take medicine for that?" And my favorite, "But can you have sex?"

Stain Pressure-Treated Decks

Q. We installed a pressure-treated deck about 15 years ago and have tried several finishes, including water repellent, stain and finally, paint. The paint didn't adhere well and has become almost black with mold. Can we remove the old paint by pressure washing down to bare wood and paint again? I am not a fan of painted decks. Paint on a deck often leads to extra maintenance problems, especially peeling and chipping.

Volunteering

A selective list of non-profit agencies and organizations in North Jersey needing volunteers and donations. * Donations for the National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger drive. Non-perishable food items may be dropped off from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the lobby at Haworth Post Office, 300 St. Nicholas Ave. Information: 201-385-2609.