One of my favorite kitchen tools, once considered a standard, may seem like a dinosaur to some cooks. The food mill, however, still holds a prominent place in my home. While it's typically associated with daylong efforts--making jams, canning sauces--the food mill also can be a useful tool for quick cooking. I use it for making easy tomato sauces. By putting lightly cooked tomatoes through the mill, I eliminate the need to skin and seed them by hand. And the food mill makes the sauce smooth, the way my family likes it.

Try this recipe for a quick pasta sauce: Cut up fresh plum tomatoes (or used canned tomatoes), and sauté them with minced garlic in olive oil for 5 to 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are tender. Stir in fresh chopped basil, oregano or other herbs, along with salt and pepper, and cook an additional minute. Spoon the tomato mixture into the food mill. With a couple of turns, you have a smooth, delectable sauce.