photo by southernpixel Apple season will peak soon. With a couple thousand varieties, it can be tough to sort out which apples are best for baking, snacking or freezing. Here’s a handy chart to help: www.usapple.org/consumers/appleguide/variety.cfm. Apple desserts are often requested, so I’m sharing three that you’re going to love baking this autumn. Enjoy! Apple [...]
The first tip offers a creative twist on homemade Popsicles. I’m sure it would work with Crystal Light or fruit juice, too. If you’re not a Popsicle fan, try homemade pudding pops by combining a 3.4-ounce box of chocolate pudding, 2 cups milk and 1/2 cup whipped topping. Spoon into Dixie cups (3/4 full), and insert a Popsicle stick. Freeze until frozen through. Peel off cup before eating. Enjoy!
Packing school lunches can be hard work. It’s too easy to rely on pre-packaged snacks. Take a break from chips and preservative-laden store-bought cookies. Make these kid-friendly oatmeal treats. They’re great as after-school snacks, too. Remember advice from Cookie Monster: These are a sometimes food. Banana Oat Muffins 1-1/2 cups flour 1 cup rolled oats [...]
photo by biskuit Every cook needs a few budget recipes she feels comfortable serving to guests. These south-of-the-border-inspired recipes will satisfy your spicy-food cravings. They are based on familiar recipes and will be well received. Enjoy! Taco Cups 2 medium bell peppers 1/2 pound ground beef 2 tablespoons chopped onion 1 (16-ounce) can kidney or [...]
photo by lissalou66 Ice-cube trays are versatile. You can use them the obvious way to make ice cubes. But they’re perfect to use as mini freezer containers for various foods, such as homemade pureed baby foods and storage for small items in your home, too. They stack easily, so use them to organize jewelry, loose [...]
Foil-packet meals are ideal for camping and open-fire cooking. But they can be made at home and cooked in the oven or on the grill, too. You can make sides such as potatoes or vegetables or entire meals. Grease your foil with nonstick cooking spray. Stack the ingredients in the middle of the foil, and [...]
photo by naotakem Pasta is budget-friendly. It’s best stored dry in your pantry and cooked within a year and eaten within three days once cooked and refrigerated. It’s great any season, too. There are thousands of pasta shapes you can experiment with. So set aside the jar sauce and incorporate new pasta dishes into your [...]
photo by simplyrikkles Add something new to your meal rotation. The following recipes are flavorful and budget friendly. Having beef, chicken, pork or pasta will solve your what’s for dinner dilemma, and they’re all excellent as leftovers, too. Incorporate a fish, international cuisine, one-dish meal or leftover night and you’re set for a week. Grilled [...]
photo by Looking glass A streamlined menu plan saves you money. But preparing and serving the same meals can get dull quickly. A few ingredients stored in your pantry will add flair to your dinner rotation. As a bonus, they don’t cost much when you consider how many uses you can get from each item [...]
Your garden can go from zero to a ton of zucchini all at once. You can sneak only so many onto your neighbor’s doorstep and into unlocked cars. You can donate some to your local food pantry or freeze it to use later. Zucchini is wonderful grated and added to sandwiches or tossed into spaghetti [...]
photo by swanksalot Pineapple offers a sweet, tropical flair for summer dishes. It’s a good source of vitamin C, and when using canned pineapple, the juice can be reserved for drinking, cooking or baking. To cut fresh pineapple, place the fruit on its side. Use an electric knife, and cut a 1/2 inch to 1 [...]
photo by misocrazy Meat and poultry can be a large part of your grocery bill, but there are ways to keep the cost down. Going vegan might not be something you’re interested in pursuing, but you can incorporate meatless dishes once a week or more frequently if you desire. How do you save on the [...]
photo by bitterjug Prices keep rising. On some items, it’s a few cents, and on others, it’s even higher. You’ve probably noticed at least one item you buy regularly costs more, or you’re getting less in the package. Sometimes we have easy-to-find alternatives, but there are some rising costs that are harder to avoid. What [...]
photo by cynicaloptimist You don’t have to serve beans and rice every night to keep dinner low cost. Consider cooking a tender roast or whole chicken. They lend themselves to tomorrow’s dinner of light stir-fry, all-in-one casserole, “break-from-cooking” sandwiches, an ethnic meal or hearty soups. Or you can balance your food budget by serving thrifty [...]
photo by Lori Greig Creating a gift closet is a wonderful way to plan ahead for gift giving occasions. It’s also handy for those last-minute emergency events that spring up throughout the year, may otherwise catch you by surprise, and send you on a mad dash to the store. Developing a system that will work [...]
D ear Sara: I froze corn today and am wondering what I can make with the broth. It smells too good to throw away. — B.F., Pennsylvania Dear B.F.: I’d use corn stock in soup, chowder or risotto. You can use it in most recipes that call for chicken or vegetable broth. Freeze the stock [...]
Rubber bands can be a messy nuisance if simply tossed in a drawer. They’re easy to organize in a plastic storage bag, jar or other small container. You can make a rubber band ball or hang them on a spare shower curtain ring. If you use office supplies often, try a muffin tin to hold [...]
