Slice, cut, shred or peel food items in half-hour

Grocery stores are packed with products designed to make your life easier — everything from sliced mushrooms to shredded cheese — but, all at a price. And some of our readers complain they'd like to have the convenience without adding so much to the bottom line. There is a compromise.

If you're willing to invest a half-hour or so, it's very easy to make your own convenience items. (We do this on weekends to get a jump on the hectic week ahead.) All you need is a sharp knife, a food processor and some storage bags.

Shredded cheese: Use a food processor to shred the cheese. (Soft and semi-soft cheeses are more difficult.) Store the shreds in heavy-duty plastic bags in the refrigerator (up to 1 week) or freezer (up to 1 month). Extra-large bags (2 pounds or more) of already-shredded cheese are sometimes cheaper than buying a block, so compare costs.

"Baby" carrots: You won't get the cute shape, but you can make a small carrot stick that will taste exactly the same. Peel carrots, and trim away the ends. Cut the carrots in half lengthwise and cut the pieces into sticks or slices, depending on your recipes. (Larger carrots may need to be cut in half again toward the top.) Store in zipper-top plastic bags in the vegetable bin for up to a week.

Celery sticks: Rinse and dry the celery stalks. Cut them in half (or thirds) lengthwise. Cut into "sticks" of desired length. Store in zipper-top plastic bags in the vegetable bin for up to a week.

Sliced mushrooms: Cut away any tough, woody stems. Unless the mushrooms are very dirty, they won't need to be cleaned. (If they are very dirty, use a soft brush or a paper towel to brush away the dirt. If you do rinse them, use within 1 day.) Slice the mushrooms and wrap the slices in a paper towel. (Mushrooms that touch plastic don't store well.) Place in a zipper-top plastic bag. Store in the vegetable bin for several days.

Broccoli florets: Cut away and discard the tough stalks. Use a knife to separate the florets, leaving small stems. Store in a gallon-size zipper-top plastic bag in the vegetable bin for up to 4 days. Rinse just before using.

Bell pepper strips: Rinse and dry the pepper, and cut it in half. Remove the seeds and ribs. Cut the pepper into strips of desired width. Store in a zipper-top plastic bag in the vegetable bin for up to 3 days.

Chopped onions: Peel the onions and chop or slice them. Refrigerate in zipper-top plastic bags or containers with air-tight lids for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 1 month.