Q: Today this question is from me! I am looking for a durable, roomy lunch bag that I can easily carry around school all day. I'd like something that keeps containers secure and folds flat when empty. Bonus points if it's good-looking. Any recommendations?

Q: Are there any phone apps that will help me keep track of prices and sizes so that I can be a better comparison shopper at the grocery store? I frequent three different grocers in my town (and Costco every few months), and such an app would be very handy.

Sent by Jena

Q: I used to own a gadget that looked like half of an egg, red and made of plastic or silicone. You would put it in the pan when hard-boiling eggs and it would turn darker when the eggs were done. I let someone borrow it, and now it's disappeared. I would like to replace it, but I have no idea what it is called.

Sent by Marilyn

Q: I have a Kitchen Aid mixer. Do I need a food processor, or can I buy efficient, cost-effective attachments for the mixer that do the same thing? Such as slicing?

Sent by Victoria

Q: Since my husband and I discovered Fresh & Easy we have been overjoyed to have an easy place to get British back bacon. (He is English, and I lived in England for several years.) Well, Fresh & Easy is in the process of closing up shop. 

Q: I have an old dirty oven, but I don't like using harsh cleaning products and I don't feel like scrubbing on my knees all weekend! Can an oven without a self-cleaning function still clean itself, maybe by leaving it on 500 degrees for a day? Any advice would be appreciated!

Sent by Kate

Q: I baked a sweet potato on a cookie sheet and some of the sugar leached out and burned leaving me with a few black spots that are not coming off. I've tried Bar Keeper's Friend and soap/water, the black spots are still there. Any tips on getting the cookie sheet clean?

Sent by Amy

Q: I live in a 1950's ranch with knotty pine cabinetry. We just got new dishes and they're much heavier than our old dishes. It got me wondering — how much weight can these old cabinets hold? Is there a rule of thumb? The cabinets are one long unit with three shelves and a wooden back. 

Sent by Jen

Q: Given the latest news on the benefits on the Mediterranean diet, I'm looking for a cookbook with both healthful yet elevated Mediterranean recipes. Most of the book titles I could find on Amazon end with "for dummies," but I am definitely looking for something with more interesting, complex recipes. 

Q: I recently received a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond. I'd like to buy a good-quality knife set and block with it, but I'm having trouble determining what brand and style would be the highest quality at a good value. I'm hoping to find one for $100 or less, but definitely no more than $150. Help!

Sent by Annie