OK, so you overbought for your last celebration. Your guests--those lightweights!-- just didn't have enough stamina to drink up all that beer.

Well, it's not like beer goes bad or anything, but maybe you'd like something more inventive to do with those leftovers than just drink them. Plus, what can you possibly do with that nonalcoholic brew (which we'll never understand) you got for the pal who's on the wagon (and who didn't even show up to drink it)? Those little bottles sat sad, untouched, and lonely in the bucket of ice, and now you're stuck with them.

These three recipes are a good way to use them up without having to actually choke them down. Sorry, if you have Zima, we can't help you there--no one can help you with that!

Tips for Beef Carbonnade

Bottled minced garlic is a great time-saver. Just use 1/2 teaspoon for each clove of minced garlic called for in the recipe. Look for this product in the produce section, near the garlic.

Buy onions that are free of soft spots or skin that is moist or spotted. Onions will keep for more than a month when stored in a cool, dry place. Try not to store onions and potatoes in the same place. The interaction of their natural gases causes the potatoes to rot more quickly.

Dried bay leaves add a woodsy flavor to dishes. Always remove bay leaves before serving your dish.

A Dutch oven is a large pot with a tightly fitting lid that locks in steam. If you don't have one, just use a large saucepan; wrap the handle(s) in foil before placing in the oven.

Tips for Prarie-Fire Beans

Starting with dried beans creates a wonderfully deep flavor because they're cooked with bay leaves and onion. If you're short on time, though, you can substitute 2 (16-ounce) cans of pinto beans for the dried ones.

Dried bay leaves add a woodsy flavor to dishes. Always remove bay leaves before serving your dish.

A Dutch oven is a large pot with a tightly fitting lid that locks in steam. If you don't have one, just use a large saucepan.

Tips for Beef Stew With Leeks and Beer

Leeks look like really big green onions. They have a mild flavor that tastes like a combination of garlic and onion. Refrigerate them in a plastic bag up to five days. Before using, trim the rootlets and leaf ends. Slit the leeks vertically, and wash thoroughly to remove any dirt trapped between the leaf layers.

Select carrots that are firm and smooth without any cracks. Place in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks--away from apples. To restore limp carrots, soak in ice water for about 30 minutes.

A Dutch oven is a large pot with a tightly fitting lid that locks in steam. If you don't have one, just use a large saucepan.