photo by LizMarie One of the best appliances I’ve ever purchased is a Crock-Pot. I use it throughout the year, but I especially like to use it in the summer so I don’t heat up the kitchen by using the oven. I enjoy the freedom of prepping a meal early in the day and not [...]
photo by Shane Pope Eating out can be a large expense. While it’s easy to rely on it as a quick solution, it’s often not the best choice. It’s easier said than done to have meals prepared in the freezer for emergencies. Slow cookers work well if you know ahead of time that your schedule [...]
photo by Scott Lepage Winter is the perfect time for home-baked bread. It’s not hard to do, but it can be time-consuming. The smell that fills your home and the taste makes the effort worthwhile. I’ve included three easy recipes that will round off your bread-baking repertoire. The monkey bread is so simple that kids [...]
photo by vivekrajkanhangad Chase away the winter chills with seasonal drinks you can mix at home. Plain coffee, tea and hot cocoa are delicious, but there are times you’ll want to make something different. The following recipes have high fat content, so they’re a special treat, and you shouldn’t drink them daily. But they can [...]
photo by Tom Higgins Weekend cooking is the perfect time to make a hearty meal. You have more time to prepare dinner. The meat doesn’t need to be pounded, so there’s a mini-shortcut on time, but not on flavor. The following recipes can be altered to suit your tastes. For example, the meat tastes especially [...]
photo by thebittenword Buying in larger quantities can save money, but that’s only if you use it up before it goes bad. Many households waste food. Having a waste-not, want-not kitchen can be a key strategy in this economy. How do you waste less food? Here are a few suggestions. FRUIT: Ripe bananas can be [...]
photo by Brisbane falling Rice and potatoes are a mainstay in many kitchens, so it’s easy to get into the rut of preparing them the same way. Next time you want to make them, try one of the following recipes. Three are easy side dishes, and one is a main dish. Cream-Cheese Potatoes 10 medium [...]
Prepare your home for guests by making festive desserts that go well with coffee and tea. They’re a sweet ending to any holiday meal and a nice change from traditional desserts, such as Christmas cookies or fruit pies. The pumpkin squares and coffee cake can be wrapped and transported easily to send home with family [...]
photo by kimberlykv Christmas celebrations are the perfect time for pie. You probably have a favorite that you look forward to during the holidays. Making piecrust can be intimidating, but the secret to a good crust is not to overwork the dough. You roll it out once gently. Lard provides a flakier crust and should [...]
Try something new for the holidays. Whether dinner is at your house or you’ve been asked to bring a dish to pass around, the following side dishes are crowd pleasers. They’re all familiar, so they won’t be avoided and will go well with most menu plans. Mashed Potatoes 5 pounds potatoes, peeled and cooked 1 [...]
photo by chispita666 Cooking a one-dish meal is the perfect way to escape the kitchen quickly. Clean up is a snap. The following recipes are made from simple ingredients. And with little prep work, you can fix it and forget it. They’ll make excellent leftovers, too. Pizza Casserole 2 cups spiral noodles 1 pound ground [...]
photo by dbgg1979 Chicken Adobo is one of my favorite ways to make chicken. It’s tender, sweet and savory and a great way to use those cheaper dark cuts of chicken, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Leftovers are wonderful used as tangy chicken-salad sandwiches by just chopping them up and mixing [...]
photo by maveric2003 Where do you draw the line between being frugal and cheap? You’ve gone overboard with frugality if it harms or takes advantage of someone else. But even that has gray areas for some, especially when people can be at different ends of the frugal spectrum, depending on whether they’re frugal by choice [...]
photo by roniweb DEAR SARA: Could you tell me whether you can freeze corn on the cob? I hit a deal today for 12 ears of corn for $1.98! If you can, how? — alarosalpn, forums
When entertaining overnight houseguests, you want them to enjoy themselves, be comfortable and relaxed, and especially feel welcome. You might think you’ve got it all covered. Perhaps, you’ve anticipated their needs, such as remembering their food preferences and/or dietary restrictions, setting out scented soaps, crisp, clean linens and fresh flowers. What about making an extra [...]
DEAR SARA: How do I use a toaster oven? I just got a new (to me) toaster oven. No instructions. I need advice on how to use it, what to make in it, etc. I’ve never had one before. Never had one while growing up, either. — Julie, Florida DEAR JULIE: Toaster ovens are a [...]
If you have kids or grandkids, you know how all of their crafty little supplies can get messy to cart around. I like the first tip for organizing supplies and projects. I’m a fan of story sacks (cloth bags with a book and activity), so having activities ready and stored in reusable containers gets a big thumbs up from me. You could create travel activities, and they could easily be mailed as a surprise, too. Think: Play dough or clay and cookie cutters, puzzle books, school supplies or baking kits. The possibilities are endless.
