• If the watermelon you picked up at the market is not quite as juicy and full-flavored as you hoped, don't panic.

While it's not going to ripen further once picked (that's why picking a good melon is paramount), a small sprinkling of salt - kosher salt is fine, but large-crystal sea salt is better - will sharpen the flavors and add a delicate crunch.

Salt your melon immediately before you plan to eat it; too soon, and it will begin to lose moisture.

To choose a good melon, look for evenly sized, large melons with no cracks or pitting. They should smell fragrant, and the stem end should be indented.

• When you're cutting dough for biscuits or shortcakes, use the sharpest implement you can.

While of course it's possible to use a juice glass or can, a dull cutter presses down on the edges of your biscuit dough, leading to shorter, less-fluffy biscuits. If you don't have a biscuit cutter or an appropriately shaped cookie cutter, a sharp knife is the next-best option.

• Though you can bread food in anything from regular breadcrumbs to rice flour to crushed cookies (if you really want), try cracker meal for more delicate foods like fish or vegetables. They add mild, not overwhelming flavor and a solid crunch.