All articles:
3 Tricks To Eat Healthy Even When The Money Is Tight
by Rene Graeber
There is an unfortunate fact of life that many high nutrient, low fat, low calorie foods are expensive, while many nutrient free, calorie dense foods are cheap. This can make buying and cooking healthy foods for yourself and your family quite a challenge, particularly when the food budget is limited. With some advance planning, however, it is still possible to create a week full of wonderful, nutritious meals, not matter how small your food budget. The key is to plan ahead, shop smart, and make the most out of the foods you buy.
by Jill Cooper
Why is it that, even though we have faster methods of cooking our meals, they seem to have become more frenzied and hurried than years ago? Then it dawned on me -- With the introduction of the microwave and the idea that meals can be prepares in 30 minutes, most people do nothing to prepare or plan their meals until 30 minutes before they are going to eat. So 30 minutes before dinner you find yourself trying to thaw something, cook it, and slap it on the table and at the same time talk and deal with tired, hungry, cranky kids. Let's not forget how exhausted you are at this time of day, too.
Saving on your grocery budget when you
by Jill Cooper
Many people with chronic illnesses that cause fatigue are overwhelmed at the thought of grocery shopping. Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellum understand that feeling and offer these tips to help.
To Roast or Not to Roast!
by Tawra Kellam
Whether you have found yourself with more pumpkins than you know what to do with or you are one of the people who had to buy pumpkins and duct tape them to the vine, these tips for roasting and using pumpkins are sure to help you make the most out of them.
What Foods Don't Freeze
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
One of the most common questions I hear from people who are interested in freezer-meal cooking is: "How do I know what will freeze well, and what won't?"
by Tawra Kellam
Even when you don't have much cash on hand, you can have a special dinner for Valentine's Day. You can create a special Valentine's Dinner for 2 people for under $7.00. The secret to a frugal romantic dinner is the setting.
by Jill Cooper
10 quick and easy ways to get organized and stay that way
10 Pantry Staples to Make Quick Cooking Taste Like All Day Cooking
by Tracy Alt
Stocking up on often used pantry items when they are on sale is the perfect way to not only save money on item you know will not go to waste but also to ensure that you will have enough ingredients on hand at all times to throw a meal together in a matter of minutes. Here is a list of my top ten pantry items that will help you add that all-day cooked flavor to quick cooking meals.
10 Ways To Sneak Some Extra Fruits And Vegetables In Your Family's Diet
by Susanne Myers
We all know by now that we should be eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. But knowing and doing are two different things, aren't they? Sometimes it is just not easy to get them all in there. We are constantly tempted to fill up on convenience and junk food. If your family is anything like mine, they'd much rather fill up on a bag of chips or a bowl of rice or pasta instead of trying an apple or a plate of steamed broccoli. So we'll have to get creative. Here are a few ideas to "sneak" some extra vegetables and fruits in your family's diet.
50 Ways to Save Big at the Grocery Store
by Lois Breneman
It is rewarding to learn new ways to save big at the grocery store. Many of these tips to save money start in your home, before you ever get to the store. Some involve careful planning and using what you already have to the fullest potential, so you won't need to buy as much at the grocery store. Remember, you only pay taxes on purchases made, so buying less means lower taxes for you. I'll give you some pointers, many of which I'm sure you are already putting into practice. In that case, you might want to use this article as a checklist to prove to yourself how well you are doing. But even if you happen to find only one or two new ideas, it would be worth implementing them as well to save even more.
8 Fun Ideas To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies
by Susanne Myers
Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies? I sure do.
My daughter used to be great about trying and eating just about anything
A Mom's Best Friends
by Mary Ann Kelley
As a busy mom, I have several "best friends" around the house that make my life easier and more enjoyable. Some are simple and free, others not so cheap, but all are things that I wouldn't want to live without. I have found that consistent and diligent use of these "best friends" makes the difference between an organized day and chaos, as well as the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling like I've had some "mommy time". I've chosen my personal top 8 to share with you.
A Place for Everything
by Monica Resinger
So, you've made the excellent decision to get organized, you've sorted through your belongings and you now have only items that you love and are usable. This may be for one small area of your home, a few areas, a drawer or two, or the whole house. However much you have done, it is an accomplishment no matter how big or small, so congratulations!
A Quick Guide to Buying and Cooking Asparagus
by Shauna Hanus
Asparagus is a sweet and nutty flavored vegetable that is as versatile in color as it can be in serving styles.
A Quick Guide to Crock Pots
by Benni Jenyfari
One of the easiest ways to make stews, soups, barbequed meats, and a variety of other recipes is by using a slow cooker or as it is commonly known a Crock Pot. One huge advantage is that once you put the ingredients into your pot, you can go about your day without having to worry about your meal again until it is time to eat.
by Jill Cooper
I've always dreamed of having an apple tree in my back yard. You know the old saying, "be careful what you wish for?" Now that I actually have my own apple tree, I stand in my yard watching the apples piling up around me thinking, "Oh no -- What do I do with this mess now?"... I have had to come up with some yummier "apple disposal" methods. If you find that you have a few dozen more apples than you know what to do with, these recipes... will help settle your frugal dilemma.
After Christmas Organizing
by Barbara Myers
The gifts have been opened. Leftovers chill in the fridge. Before you start focusing on the new year, try these tips to organize next Christmas.
An Organized Pantry
by Monica Resinger
One night I was making burritos for dinner. I went to grab refried beans out of the pantry and couldn't find any. Later, while cleaning out the pantry, I found some. If the pantry had been organized to begin with, I would have been able to find the refried beans and save my husband a trip to the neighborhood store, saved money as refried beans at the neighborhood store are not cheap and lots of frustration. Another problem with a cluttered, unorganized pantry is waste. I found spilled flour, noodles, Jello and cornmeal packages. So, in an effort to improve myself and knowing what I had done in the past wasn't working, I put some thought into how I could create a better system.
An Organized Shopping List Makes All the Difference
by Monica Resinger
Making and using a grocery list will help you buy only necessities and/or sale items so will help you save money. It will also get you out of the store quicker as long as the list is organized.
Back to School Report
by Christine Steendahl
This downloadable Back to School Report is a guide to making the transition back into school easier on the whole family. From a stress-free morning routine to choosing afterschool activities, the Back to School Report has tips to make your back to school season enjoyable for everyone.
by Tawra Kellam
Back to school is a time when many moms witness their money sprout wings and take flight, finding their homes at retail stores across America. I know that consumer spending is good for the economy, but I don't take it upon myself to keep the entire US economy propped up.
Basil Fact Sheet
by Monica Resinger
Basil is a very useful, decorative and valuable herb that is well worth the minimal effort to grow. It is a highly flavored tender annual herb that is used in many dishes. Sweet basil can reach 2-3 feet tall. It attracts butterflies and beneficial insects to the garden. There are many different varieties of Basil such as lemon Basil, cinnamon Basil, sweet Basil and more.
by Jill Cooper
We like to have fun at Halloween and not scare the wits out of everyone, so we try to keep our decorations cute and funny looking. To us, Halloween is a time for children to dress up and for one night a year be what they always dreamed of being, whether it's a fairy princess, a ballerina, Superman or even a robot. They get to be on the "stage" for one night to show everyone how beautiful, strong or funny they look. And to end a perfect night they get tons of candy, bags of candy and did I mention, a whole bunch of candy?? Here are some ideas of things we did to have a whole lot of fun for very little money. You can use these same basic principles for any holiday decorating.
by Kim Tilley
Kim Tilley describes how to use 18 whole chickens to create a variety of dishes for the freezer. Many of the recipes in the chicken plan could also be used with cooked fresh turkey, which goes on sale the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas.
Bulk Cooking: The Ham Plan
by Kim Tilley
Whether you are using up ham from a holiday meal or just found a great deal on it at the store, this bulk cooking plan will give you lots of ideas to use the leftovers.
by Kim Tilley
Found a great deal on ground beef? Put together an awesome selection of freezer meals with this Bulk Cooking Hamburger Plan by Kim Tilley of Frugal Moms. The plan includes basic preparation instructions as well as main dishes and secondary dishes with recipes.
Bunnies and Ham and Eggs, Oh My!
by Jill Cooper
Ideas for your Easter leftovers
Can You Afford to Stay Home?
by Sandy Simmons
Many families that have both parents working would like to be able to have one parent stay at home when their children are young, but are not sure if they can afford it financially. Below are some tips to see if living on one income might be the right choice for your family.
Cherries Galore!
by Monica Resinger
We are very lucky have two old sweet cherry trees in our yard. When we first moved here, the trees were so tall you couldn
by Tawra Kellam
The day moms dread all year long has arrived: the last day of school and the first day of summer vacation. To help moms keep their cool by helping their kids chill out, here are some recipes.
Christmas Bills
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Do the phrases "frugal living" and "holiday giving" seem to be at opposite ends of the spending spectrum? Is it possible to spend no more in December than during other months? Will your family still love you if they don't find "the latest and the greatest" under the tree? Our families deserve the best we can give. But if we're paying our Christmas debts for the next five years, complete with all the stresses that usually accompany outstanding bills, what good is it? No matter what our personal financial situation, we all could use a few simple money-saving ideas for the holidays.
by Tawra Kellum
Between high gas prices and consumers
Clean Up Your Bill Clutter Once and For All
by Roxanna Ward
An unorganized bill system can bring havoc to your finances. You have to create a system and keep it in place so that it works for you. Somebody else's system will never work for you. But you may be able to take some ideas from others in order to create your own.
Confessions of a Once A Month Cooking Drop-Out
by Peg Baron
Okay, I admit it. I
Crock Pot Cooking Problems - Are Your Meals Too Dry Or Too Moist?
by Natalie Schloesser
Remember how dry and chewy those crock pot roasts used to be when you were a kid? You had to beg for glass after glass of milk just to wash down the meat, carrots, and potatoes. For some, those memories stick so strongly in their heads that although they receive a crock pot as a housewarming or wedding shower gift, it sits in the back of their cupboard collecting dust...Most of the time, these common problems can be fixed with a few simple adjustments.
Crockpot Recipes Hold the Key to Stress Free Cooking
by Natalie Schloesser
A few years ago, my crock pot would collect dust in my cupboard waiting for me to make chili or a pot roast. Now it
Dinner Planning For School Days
by Christine Steendahl
Another summer has quickly passed us by. The kids have reluctantly gone back to school. It stands to reason that life should be a little less hectic, right? Unfortunately, that
Does your crockpot work?
by Natalie Schloesser
It seems like a silly question and you probably already answered
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
If you like the experience of walking in the door and smelling dinner cooking without you slaving away in the kitchen preparing the meal, you'll love the convenience of a crockery cooker. Take a few minutes in the morning before work or school to throw some ingredients into the pot, set it, and forget it. When you come home at dinnertime, you'll be greeted by the heavenly aroma of an easy dinner. What could be better than that?
by Tawra Kellum
OK, so the kids noticed on the calendar that Easter is approaching and they want to make a huge production of dying eggs. In the past, the little stickers you bought at the store sufficed, but now they want the real thing. Here are some old standards with a few new ideas for you.
by Jessica Dawn
When I refer to eating clean, I mean you consistently eat high quality foods that are basically free of all unnatural additives. Clean foods are those without man-made sugars, hydrogenated fats, trans-fats and other unnecessary ingredients. Although at first glance eating clean might sound boring, if you're creative and pretty good with spices, you'll be surprised at all the clean food you can eat & create that taste really good.
Eating Healthy On a Budget
by Rebecca Pratt
When you
Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!
by Heather Diodati
Here are a bunch of unique ideas for St. Patrick's Day goodies and gifts.
by Wanda A. Carter
I'm a bulk cooker and one of the types of sessions I do is potatoes. Many people are surprised by this because they assume that potatoes don't freeze successfully. I assumed the same thing at first but after years of experimenting I've found that they are one of the easiest and most versatile foods in my repertoire.
Feeding a Family for $300 a month?
by Tawra Kellum
I do something that most people think they can't do today. I feed my family of 5 for $300 a month. Most people say that's an impossible feat, but what boggles minds even more is that I do it without using coupons.
For the love of money
by Jill Cooper
One of the biggest factors in most of our money problems come from the fact that we deal with our money emotionally. If you don't think money and emotions are tied together, think again. Take a serious look at all the ways your money and emotions are connected.
Free Home Planner and Organizer
by Mary Ann Kelley
The Menus 4 Moms Planner is a comprehensive organizer for appointments and family menu planning. It is free for personal use and can be viewed and printed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Freezer Cooking
by Maureen Wittmann
A combination of posts to message boards and discussion lists about bulk cooking.
by Tawra Kellum
The average American family spends over $100 per year on Halloween goodies. As your kids drag you through aisles full of ghosts and goblins, the scariest thing about Halloween is threatening to leave bite marks in your pocketbook. No wonder so many moms flee screaming from the store... It can be much less expensive and a lot more fun to devise your own chilling creations. Here are a few tips that you can use to stave off the greenback gremlins and exercise your creative muscle.
Frugal Tips for A Cleaner Kitchen!
by Cyndi Roberts
Everyone I know likes a sparkling clean kitchen...but no one I know is fond of spending a lot of time in the kitchen! With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you keep your kitchen shining with a minimum investment of time!
Germ Warfare
by Shay Seaborne
Hand washing and safe food handling are very important to me. I'm not above bringing food safety brochures to potlucks. This fixation is not without cause, though; as a teenager, I contracted my first obvious food-borne illness after eating strawberries in Mexico City. During the space of the next few years, I had the educational experience of coming down with G.I. infections of Staph and Salmonella, also due to the unsafe food handling practices of others. And then, in my youth, I landed a job that required me to become a certified food service manager. It was during this training course that I learned the sad fact that most food-borne illnesses are attributable to fecal matter under the fingernails. Serious "EW!"
Get Housekeeping Help By Keeping It Simple!
by Roxanna Ward
I do believe I've tried every option possible to recruit help around the house. I've tried withholding special items. I've tried paying good money for chores. I've even tried a little torture .. only joking. Few things have worked. Some things have not. But I have found that if you change back and forth from one good idea to another, help usually happens. When your family stops helping out around the house, try another method. Afterall, we all get bored with housework.
Get your Family Racing to Complete Chores!
by Monica Resinger
My family went on a mini vacation a few years back which included a stay at a very nice hotel. During our stay, I admired how clean the room was and wished my home could be that clean. We had a long drive home and I thought about how I could start keeping my home that clean or close to it. The reason my house wasn't as clean as I liked was because I didn't do everything that needed to be done when it needed to be done-in other words, I didn't have a system.
Get Your Recipes Together
by Monica Resinger
Here a few methods I have found to organize recipes.
by Menus4Moms
The grill is not just for meats anymore. You can cook an entire meal on the grill which is quite convenient and saves on clean up. Clear a space on that grill top for those delicious vegetables.
Grocery Shopping Tips
by Susanne Myers
I have to admit, grocery shopping isn
Healthy Cooking - Spring Greens
by Kathy Nichols
Starting with Mom, you've always heard that you need to eat your veggies. What's the big deal about them? Vegetables are often the least favorite of the food groups. Even for people who like them, it can be challenging to get the recommended 5 servings a day. Are they really that important? Yep! Mom was right: eat your veggies! Eat your fruit too.
Healthy Easter Treats
by Susanne Myers
Easter Bunnies Bring More Than Chocolate Eggs
Easter baskets don
Healthy Easter Treats, Part 2
by Susanne Myers
Easter is right around the corner, and that of course means plenty of
candy and treats for the kids. Not only does the Easter bunny bring
sweets in the form of chocolate bunnies and eggs and of course the
always popular marshmallow peeps, but the kids also receive plenty of
candy at school and from grandparents. As parents, we want to provide
our kids with some healthy alternatives to all this candy for Easter.
Not only is it better for our little ones, it also eliminates the
constant whining for candy, or the stack of sweets that
lasts until Halloween.
Healthy Holiday Eating Tips
by Susanne Myers
Healthy eating during the holidays isn't easy. The time from Thanksgiving to New Year
Holiday Mix and Gift Recipes
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Looking for ways to save money at the holiday season? How about giving gifts specially made in your kitchen? My kids' 4-H Club made several of these gift items for a holiday project a few years ago.
Holiday Timetable: Get a Jumpstart on Holiday Planning
by Marilyn Moll
For many of us, planning Christmas festivities such as shopping, cooking, baking, gift making, and hospitality can automatically cause a great degree of anxiety. We, at The Urban Homemaker, don't advocate complicated or expensive holiday celebrations, and wish to encourage your family to focus on the true meaning of the holiday season. To do so while making preparations for the upcoming holidays, this twelve-week simplified timetable could be used as a checklist and is designed to be flexible in order to assist you.
by Judy Ferril
Avocados used to get a bad rap - they have fat. Yep, they sure do. But it is the kind we need in our diet. It is a monounsaturated fat, which helps to lower your LDL (lousy cholesterol). Avocados are also an excellent source of fiber and Vitamin B6 and have twice the potassium of bananas.
by Jill Cooper
OK -- There's no way around it. Just accept the fact that tomorrow your family will eat three meals -- again. Burying your head in the sand and not thinking about it will not make it go away. I know that even the thought of making a meal at home strikes terror in some of your hearts and the only reason the rest of you aren't feeling terror is because you are probably so tired you can't feel terror or any other emotion. But with going out to eat being one of the top 3 causes of credit card debt and child obesity and diabetes on the rise, I think we need to start reconsidering cooking at home.
Homemaking School for Children
by Monica Resinger
With it being summer vacation for the kids, a lot of us may be experiencing a messier house than usual. A solution to this would be to give the kids daily chores or, what I like to call it, homemaking school. Homemaking school will not only help the house stay tidier, but will also give your kids valuable lessons in housecleaning and responsibility that they need now and later in life.
by Mary Ann Kelley
I have been on a multitude of vacations from camping in the mountains to enjoying the elaborate and impressive snow sculptures in Sapporo, Japan. None has been more relaxing and enjoyable than the Homeschool on the Seas cruise I took September 9-14 to Bermuda on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.
Hot Spots - No Need to Panic
by Brenda Spagnola-Wilson
My entire place is one big "hot spot". What could I possibly tell people about this? I thought and thought and I finally decided that perhaps in this instance, my extreme messiness could be turned to an advantage. (Bet you never guessed a messy house could be a good thing!) Because my house is almost always in need of cleaning, I have become somewhat of an expert at "The Quick Clean", as I call it.
Household Behavior Modification
by Monica Resinger
Ever hear of behavior modification? With this idea, you make changes in certain behaviors that you do at home to make improvements in areas that are bothering you. The question is, where do you start?
by Benni Jenyfari
Selecting the right cookware for your kitchen is not an easy task. Cookware comes in a wide range of materials from stainless steel to cast iron and everything in between. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and some forms of cookware work better for some than for others.
How To Cook Asparagus
by Diane Watkins
Discover how to choose and cook asparagus.
How to Maximize Coupon Savings
by Amy Strait
In the past week there has been some discussion on the Menus4Moms Yahoo Group about the Grocery Game (http://www.thegrocerygame.com/). I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of my feelings on ways to grow your coupons savings while grocery shopping.
How to Save Money on Groceries by Reducing Food Waste
by Sandy Simmons
Most articles on maximizing your food dollars focus on buying food in bulk, buying food at warehouses, stocking up at sales and related tips. The theme is to always buy as much food as possible for the least amount of money. These tips do work, especially if you have a large family. However, one often overlooked aspect of saving money on food is to buy just the amount your family needs and avoid any waste.
by Carolyn Flesch
If you find yourself confused in the produce section trying to remember how to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe, check out these tips from Carolyn Flesch.
Inexpensive Easter Baskets
by Tawra Kellum
Easter is a great time of the year to celebrate. Here are some ideas for Easter gifts. Try some of them and if the creative juices start flowing, make up some of your own!
Keeping a Kitchen Journal
by Rachel Paxton
It seems like the busier we get the more forgetful we are. And getting older has something to do with it, right? Whatever the reason, a kitchen journal can be a useful tool for keeping your home and family running smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
Kids Cooking From the Garden
by Peg Baron
Okay, so the kids have helped in the garden and grown lots and lots of vegetables. Now what? Besides eating all the peas as they pick them and gnawing on the carrots after the great fun of pulling them out of the ground, what
Kids School Lunches - 13 Alternatives To Promote Healthy Eating And Avoid Fast Food
by Helen Thompson
For parents, providing your kids with healthy, nutritional lunches that they find interesting can be quite a challenge. The "if it is good for you then it must be boring" mentality makes this particularly challenging and you have such favorites as lollies, sweets and fizzy drinks to compete with. Don't despair, it can be done and here are 13 alternatives to get you started.
Kids' Snack Ideas
by Mary Ann Kelley
Kids are notoriously fickle. This week's favorite food may be tossed aside next week with an inexplicable, "I don't like them anymore." Moms on TheHomeSchoolMom in the Kitchen Yahoo Group are familiar with that frustration and have suggested the following snacks to help you find something that will keep the kids happy when last week's favorite is ancient history.
Kitchen Management and Meal Planning
by Crystal Miller
Busy homemakers can find managing the kitchen and meal planning and preparations a large challenge. The trend towards fast foods and convenience foods is common today as a solution to deal with this challenge. I walk into a nearby grocery store and find the deli loaded with "old-fashioned" goodies like roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, apple pies and any other item one could want for making meal time a breeze. This could seem like an answer to prayer!
Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time
by Aurelia Williams
Meal planning and bulk cooking are both wonderful techniques you can utilize and modify to fit your families needs. The idea behind this is simple. The principle is that you cook and or prepare your meals ahead of time and then preserve them by either freezing or fridgerating them. Also, meal planning you can cook one large meal and get 2-3 other meals out of it! The key here is to make every meal you cook count!
Learning to Love Vegetables
by Bethany Klug
Impossible, you might say, especially if the vegetables you ate growing up were boiled into oblivion. Or maybe yours were embalmed as canned vegetables or cryogenically frozen. Treated with such disrespect, it
Let's Play "Hide and Sneak" with Veggies!
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Do you find yourself sitting by helplessly while your very own little picky eater works her way through every ounce of spaghetti sauce, picking out the almost microscopic bits of cooked onion? Do you wish there were a way to get little Johnny to eat more veggies than just the French fries at the local drive- thru? (Do those even count as veggies, anyway?).
by Michelle Stern
Feeding children is a lot like fishing
Making the Perfect Brisket
by Joe Johnson
When a Texan says barbecue, they aren
Making Your Own Chicken Broth?
by Sara Gray
Making chicken broth doesn't have to be an arduous process. It does take a little more time than opening up a can of store-bought broth. But, I look at it as a gift I'm giving my friends and family. A homemade chicken broth is the cornerstone of any great homemade soup.
Managing Food Allergies
by Menus4Moms
Thousands of moms each year discover that an immediate family member has a food allergy, resulting in a dramatic lifestyle change for both the individual with allergies and the cook in the family. The good news is that if your family has just made this discovery, you will find many resources online to help you. Many moms have walked this road before you and it is possible to manage the allergies and still provide nutrition and taste when cooking.
by Menus4Moms
With a little practice and just the right combination of marinade and seasonings, you can learn to create a steak marinade just as good, if not better, as those you thought could only be found in your favorite steak house.
Meals for Hard Times
by Dee Ann Guzman
An excellent description on how to feed your family for a week with only $30.
by Judy Ferril
A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, MN. As we were leaving the market, we went by the Callister's Farm in the Market stall to see if we could purchase some of their salsa for that evening. Well, surprise, Molly was there and she made the salsa just for the competition and they really didn't have any to sell. Molly was kind enough to share her recipe and I really want to honor her, the incredibly fresh product they served, and the wonderful job Callister's Farm in the Market does providing superior local products.
New Year Organizing
by Martha Matthews
It
Organize for Creativity
by Kathleen Wilson
What good is all the effort to create a nice home when it's hidden behind the mess and the clutter? So in order to help us all prevail over the chaos, here are some great hints for putting everything in its place! (On a budget, of course!)
Organize Your Leftover Containers in Four Easy Steps!
by Monica Resinger
It was time to organize my leftover containers that are kept in a kitchen cupboard on a slide out shelf. I didn't realize how long it had been since the last time I did this until I got to the bottom of the shelf and found things I'm ashamed to tell... Here's how I got this cupboard in shape in four easy steps.
Oven Too Small? Making Everything Fit
by Natalie Schloesser
The neatest thing in my house is my oven. The one problem is it's not a normal size oven. We can't go to our local take n bake pizza shop and buy a 16" pizza because it won't fit. But that's okay, I still love my oven. However, I do experience some difficulty when hosting a dinner party or holiday; I can never fit everything in it. I know there are others like me, hence the article. Below is a list of suggestions, tips, and recipes to help fit everything into your kitchen appliances come holiday time.
Packing Food for Road Trips
by Jill Cooper
If you have some money saved for a trip but you know that the gas cost is going to eat most of your funds, try cutting your budget in another area, like your food. Consider taking your food with you.
by Christine Steendahl
Cooking in the summer provides a unique challenge. In the winter, turning a cold kitchen in to a warm and cozy place is a benefit of cooking. In the summer, turning that same kitchen into a sweltering inferno is not. Planning ahead can eliminate the need for turning on the oven. Here are several options to help ensure your kitchen remains cool in the hot summer months.
Popsicle Paradise!
by Tawra Kellam
Remember when you used to sit on your front steps on a hot summer day eating a popsicle? It was usually red or purple and on special occasions you got a fudgesicle. Remember how you tried to lick the drips faster than the sun could melt them? Sometimes the drips would roll down your fingers, forcing you to make the mind numbing decision whether to lick your fingers or the new drips forming on your popsicle.
Prepare a Romantic Dinner At Home For Valentine's Day
by Christine Steendahl
Remember those pre-child days when you would go out to a fancy restaurant or spend the weekend at a romantic get-away to celebrate Valentine
by Menus4Moms
It is lunch time and the kids are hungry. Take a look in your pantry for some quick and filling lunch ideas. You will be surprised with how many last minute meal ideas you can come up with using the various cans and bags of dry goods stashed away in your kitchen cupboards.
Revering the Crayon Marks
by Susie Cortright
It was one of those days when my husband left promising to return home a little early, and to bring with him a pizza. I had started the day, even, in one of those relatively rare but still very real moods in which the best I was going to be able to do in my role as a stay-at-home mom would be to fake a smile and turn my back, when necessary, to count to ten.
Save on Groceries Before You Leave Home
by Jill Cooper
One of the easiest ways to save money on your grocery bill starts before you even leave the house. It's no extra work, you don't have to deprive yourself of anything and you don't have to clip any coupons. What is it? Stop wasting food.
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Approximately 40% of winter home energy bills involves heating. Here are some simple tips for cutting back on your home energy costs this winter.
Save on School Lunches
by Jill Cooper
It
Save Up to 50% on your grocery bill!
by Jill Cooper
I have discovered the secret of saving money feeding babies, toddlers and preschoolers...What I have been practicing now for many years has now become one of the new buzz phrases -- "portion control". Usually when we think of portion control it is in connection with dieters and not young children or saving money... Next time you scrape those half eaten plates of food into the trash, think about this: 30% to 50% of the food and drinks we buy, whether we eat at home or out, get thrown away.
by Paul Davis
Most experts agree that customer loyalty in the grocery sector is virtually dead. Ten years ago it was somewhat unusual for a consumer to drive past the closest grocery store to shop at a competing store. Today, within a few mile radius, eight supercenters and chains can be fighting it out, in a market which the experts might say can only support three or four. So while the chains struggle to find their niche and battle on price, the price conscious shopper benefits.
Saving Time and Money with Stashes
by Barbara Frank
With the nearest large city an hour away, we
Secrets of a Busy Cook
by Lynn Nelson
I love to cook! But I just don't have a lot of time for it and I suspect that those who hate to cook really have trouble. I want to provide wholesome and tasty meals Monday through Friday, but I don't want to spend all evening in the kitchen. In fact, 30 minutes is my maximum limit for week night meal preparation. I have developed a method of accomplishing this, which I will share with you here. This method actually involves a combination of several different techniques with which you are probably already familiar, so these are not really secrets. But I combine them in an organized manner that makes weekday cooking a breeze.
Seven Tips to Help With Household Budgeting
by Sandy Simmons
Do you frequently get cash from ATMs and then have no idea where it ends up? Do you end up paying late fees simply because you don't have a good system in place for tracking and paying your bills? If you don't have a good budget system in place, it is easy to lose track of your hard earned money. The tips below can help you to keep your finances under control.
Shopping at Aldi
by Tawra Kellam
I spend $250-$300 a month on groceries for my family of five. One of the best things I do to keep my budget is to do most of my food shopping at Aldi. You can get a good price, get in and get out fast and you don
Slow Cookers Don't Cook So Slowly Anymore
by Natalie Schloesser
I've been reading a lot of crock pot cooking forums lately and there seems to be a common thread; many people are discouraged from cooking with their new crock pots. Why is this? What has come to pass to make newer crock pots more frustrating to cook with than older crock pots? I saw so many posts claiming that people had returned their new crock pot and dug out the one from their grandmother, or went rummaging around to thrift shops and garage sales to find a "good old crock pot" for $5 or less. And yet, many of those people don't realize that there's an excellent reason why your slow cooker doesn't cook quite as slowly anymore; it's for your own safety.
Some Assembly Desired
by Jane Snow
For Lisa Donatelli of Cuyahoga Falls, nirvana is not a day at a spa, but dinner in the freezer... Donatelli spent one evening last week making dinner with four of her friends. They made 80 meals -- enough to stock their refrigerators and freezers with 16 dinners each.
St. Patrick's Day Menu and Crafts
by Mary Ann Kelley
Dinner menu and kids' crafts for St. Patrick's Day
Stir it up! Fast and easy cooking
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
On busy days, it's often more than a little tempting to get an expensive drive-thru dinner just because the ingredients you have at home will take too long to make into a meal. But I've found that if I keep ingredients handy in the pantry and refrigerator for simple meal prep, I can have dinner on the table in a flash -- and protect my pocketbook from that ravenous Fast Food Monster at the same time!
by Jill Cooper
At this time of year, there are usually 3 things people are panicking about: how to lose weight, how to save money, and how to get organized. We have already touched on losing weight so this week I would like to touch on saving money. Hopefully most of you realize that you can get into deep debt if you buy a house or a car you can't afford. That seems to be pretty obvious, although a lot of people do it anyway. But that is not what I want to deal with today. The Bible talks about the little foxes that spoil the vine. What that is talking about is the little things that sneak into our lives without us realizing it. They start picking away at the vines in our lives until it destroys us. One of those "little foxes" is eating out.
Stop the Eating Out Cycle
by Christine Steendahl
If you are searching for an easier way to achieve a healthy lifestyle for you and your family, one of the most effective ways is to prepare home-cooked meals. Here are some useful hints. With our time being at a premium, eating at home is very often exchanged with on the go meals at fast food or casual dining dining establishments. Not only are these choices usually more taxing on the wallet than eating in, but also less healthy. You can dramatically increase the health benefits by eating at home.
Tablescaping Chic on the Cheap!
by Kathleen Wilson
Most of us who are decorating on a budget at some point decide to entertain in our homes, and would like to do so with a little pizzazz! Unfortunately, many TV shows and magazines would have you believe you must spend $100 and up (on a budget, they claim) to dress your table for an event. Nonsense! Here are some great ways to create a smashing tablescape using creativity, not cash!
Target Giving: Your Key to a Relaxed Holiday Season
by Colleen Langenfeld
Do you struggle with shopping for gifts each year during the holiday season? Is it more stressful than joyful? Would you like that to change? Then take a few minutes to consider a new approach to your gift-giving and find yourself putting the happy back in your Happy Holidays!
Ten Easy Time Management Tips
by Barbara Myers
Many people mistakenly believe that time management is about squeezing more tasks and activities into a day. Time management is actually about getting the important tasks done. It's also about learning to do things efficiently so you can ultimately accomplish more.
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Summer's almost here and if you're anything like me, you've already made that annual trip to the store to refill the propane tank on your backyard grill. One thing I often hear from guests is that my barbequed burgers actually taste good ... rather than just being hard and dry as hockey pucks like so many of those traditional family reunion barbequed hamburgers we've all endured from time to time. In honor of the hallowed summertime tradition of outdoor cooking, here are some of my favorite tips for finding your way to Hamburger Heaven in your own backyard.
by Jill Cooper
It's really hard to find ways to save on your Thanksgiving dinner because, let's face it -- It doesn't get a whole lot cheaper than a turkey dinner! Still, I have found some ways that you can save and today I'll pass them on to you.
The 5 Most Forgotten (But Amazingly Useful) Kitchen Products
by Char Gietz
Sure, you use your toaster everyday. Your coffeemaker gets plenty of action in the morning. But you
by Jill Cooper
For some of us, instead of focusing on getting out of debt or losing weight, we need to first give more serious thought to becoming organized. Does that sound crazy, almost laughable? Before you start laughing too hard, look at these examples and see if you can relate.
The Well-stocked Pantry
by Mary Ann Kelley
Once you get in the habit of keeping a stocked pantry, you will find that your grocery bill decreases. It is not because you are buying less, but because you are paying less. If your pantry isn't stocked, you have to pay whatever the current price is for basic items, but with a stocked pantry you simply refresh your supply when you find the items on sale.
These Hard Economic Times
by Jill Cooper
I keep asking myself, "Has the world gone crazy?" What are people talking about when they say "these hard economic times?" I am so confused because I hear so many people say these are such hard economic times but, at the same time, what I see happening with my own eyes and hearing with my ears is a totally different story.
Let me give you some examples what I mean. Are these examples of hard economic times?
Thirteen Easy Ways to Reduce your Food Budget
by Monica Resinger
When trying to cut expenses, food is a great place to start because there are so many opportunities to save. One way to watch your savings pile up and be able to use it for a goal, such as a vacation, down payment on a home or paying off debt, is to put the cash you saved from any purchase into an envelope or a jar until you get enough to make a bank savings deposit. Make a strict rule to not use the money for anything else but your goal. Here are thirteeen easy ways to reduce your food budget that will help you achieve this.
Time Management
by Crystal Miller
Since we have no chance to increase the hours in our day we have to evaluate the time we have and how well we are using it. We need to ask ourselves, are we being the best steward possible of our time? Are we valuing our hours as a vital resource and using them as wisely as possible?
Time-Crunched Families can Turn Baking Time into Family Time
by ARA
Some of the happiest family memories are made in the kitchen. Everyone cherishes a time when they baked cookies with grandma, or remembers the first cake they made for dad
Top 10 Budget Busters
by Michelle Jones
Many people make sincere attempts to set up a household budget and get themselves together financially, but too often these attempts fail. And for those with the most difficult financial circumstances, it may take several attempts to finally create a plan that works.
by ARA
How to show Dad you care with a breakfast - it's the ongoing question faced by families trying to plan the perfect Father's Day. Fortunately, a homemade and heartfelt breakfast of French toast offers a simple solution that pleases parents of all ages. How? Why? Three centuries of history paired with a few fresh recipe ideas provide the answer.
USDA Beef Grades - Be Aware
by Michael Russell
The United States Department of Agriculture, known as the USDA, inspects and grades meats based on nationally uniform Federal standards of excellence. There are eight USDA grades, Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter and Canner.
Use a Dresser to Organize Your Garage!
by Tawra Kellum
It seems like organizing your garage can be a never ending task. Lots of companies make millions of dollars selling all kinds of storage systems to try to make your garage just a little bit more organized. OK I'm about to confess -- We've had this problem, too! I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it? The cool thing is we found a great organization tool that cost us nothing.
by Tawra Kellam
Using a little imagination, you can make your Valentine
What's for Dinner, Mom?: Menu planning and cooking in bulk
by Stefanie Coutinho
We're all aware of the chaos that a lack of organization around mealtime can bring! Instead of dinner being a time when the family comes together, it can be a time of frustration. For Kathy Cottrell, a homeschooling mother of two teenage sons who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, part of the solution has been planning and preparing meals in advance. For the past 15 years, she has planned two month's worth of menus, cooked the entrees and stocked her freezer with tasty dishes ready to re-heat and serve with ease.
Work Week Menus
by Tammy Paquin
It's been at least six years since I balanced working outside the home almost full-time and having two kids. Friends were always amazed that I managed homemade meals on the table each night. Becoming a stay home mom with three kids made meal planning a bit easier because I was home, BUT several of the lessons I learned as a work outside the home mom still apply. I'll give you a sample menu for one week to show how I would pull all these easy lessons together.
by Monica Resinger
It's that time of year when it seems you don't have enough friends and family to give zucchini to. I have come to love zucchini time because over the years I have gathered quite a few ideas and recipes. Here are eleven ideas and recipes to help you through zucchini overload time.
