Kitchen Pet Peeve 21: When your brown sugar gets rock hard.

	JBK Pottery's Brown Sugar Saver disk Click photo for larger image.

Some folks microwave the sugar brick to soften it, but it's a guess on how long to zap it. The sugar gets hot, and if it's in the plastic bag, you worry about leaching chemicals.

Here's a nifty solution: The Brown Sugar Saver.

It's a small ceramic disk created by JBK Pottery in Calgary, Canada. Soak it in water for 15 minutes and put it in your brown sugar. It not only softens your sugar but also prevents a new batch from getting hard.

The disks, made from clays designed to retain moisture and distribute it evenly, work similarly to the piece of apple or bread that traditionally is placed in brown sugar. But the disk can be used over and over and doesn't impart flavors. The effect lasts for up to three months. When the sugar begins to harden again, dry the disk overnight, resoak it and use again.

It also keeps dried fruit, marshmallows, popcorn kernels, cakes and cookies soft and fresh.

The best part? The disks are cheap. Just $2.95 at Sur La Table or $2.50 from JBKpottery.com (although it ships only a $20 minimum order). It also comes in hummingbird, teddy bear and other designs.

-- Virginia Linn