Excellent grid. I failed horribly except for the food related answer... Can't think why... Does Dispose mean alter or modify? I wondered if the red herring was too obvious to even be a group, knowing your previous grids. Very good.

My mother always dreamed of me becoming a crouton, but I never rose above being stale bread. Another good one.

Dispose, Rubberlisa, according to my worn out old dictionary can be used as a verb to "make fit" or "prepared"... surprised me too. Tinker Tailor and all that stuff... Yes it was intentional. Thanks for the comments.
Toast, I knew I could get you into a grid somewhere, feel proud, stick some extra butter on.