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If you've ever wished your online recipe collection wasn't chained to your computer, there's a new service that might help. The recently launched TasteBook Web site turns digital recipe boxes into ring-bound custom cookbooks. Still in its infancy, the site has limited application at the moment. But it does have great potential. For now, TasteBook is linked with the culinary Web site Epicurious.com, which means users can import recipes and photos from that site's tremendous database (drawn from Gourmet and Bon App?tit magazines). Users also can add their own recipes to TasteBook accounts, then add them to their books, which cost $34.95 for 100 recipes. Once users select their recipes (except for personal recipes, everything is drag-and-drop) and cover art, the attractive and sturdy books are printed and delivered in about a week. The drawback at the moment is that recipes are limited to those on Epicurious.com or those users are willing to type in manually. The company promises that in 2008 users will be able to link to numerous other online recipe sources.

NEW GEAR: TasteBook available at for $34.95 at www.tastebook.com

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Take steps to prevent garden pools from freezing solid in winter. Covering pools with an insulatin

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Q. I have a small, portable one-room air conditioner that I've used for several years. Now, some of the grease has leaked from the rear of the unit onto the vinyl siding of my house. How do I clean it off?

A. Always try soap and water first or the cleaner that is recommended. Having said that, and because the grease you're describing is probably a petrochemical-based material (not silicone), it can probably best be cleaned using something like gasoline or acetone. First, make sure there are no flames or sparks nearby, and turn off and disconnect any nearby appliances that could spark while you're working. No smoking during this project. Then, simply put a small amount of gasoline onto the rag and wipe. The stain will disappear.