Food

Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes

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This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. Do you want to can food at home, but are put off by the cost? For around $15, you pull together most of the essential equipment by using equipment you probably already own. Below we list a … [Read more...] about Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes

How to preserve and avoid wasting fresh fruit

This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. Americans waste about 25 percent of their grocery shopping dollars (or about $2,000 per year for the average family). Fresh fruits are high on the list of wasted foods. Here are some … [Read more...] about How to preserve and avoid wasting fresh fruit

18 strategies for $4-a-day budget meal planning and grocery shopping

The recent trend for $4 a day budget meal planning was popularized by Leanne Brown in her free online book "Good and Cheap," developed primarily for those using SNAP (food stamp) benefits. When I heard about the project, I decided to try the $4-a-day food budget on a trial basis. Spending … [Read more...] about 18 strategies for $4-a-day budget meal planning and grocery shopping

How to save money on food without using coupons

Groceries for a family of four cost an average of $727 to $1,303 a month, not including takeout and restaurant meals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s a big chunk of change. But there are ways to spend less on food and still eat a healthy, nutritious diet. And you may … [Read more...] about How to save money on food without using coupons

Keep the kids cool with DIY ice pops

It may be mid-summer, but for many, the hottest days of summer are just beginning. You want the kids to get outdoors and be active, but running around can build up a thirst. Ice pops are a great way to cool off and keep hydrated. Still, with some brands costing nearly $5 for a box of six, … [Read more...] about Keep the kids cool with DIY ice pops

Got tomatoes? Recipes to make the most of your summer tomatoes

It’s a fruit we treat like a vegetable, a nontoxic member of the nightshade family, born in South America but internationally famous. It’s the tomato, of course. And though it can be pricey in winter, in summer it’s indecently cheap at farm stands and markets. You can buy a whole basket for just a … [Read more...] about Got tomatoes? Recipes to make the most of your summer tomatoes

Cheap recipes for your barbecue

Are you starting to panic because you have a big crowd coming over for a barbecue? Here is our guide to cooking on the cheap for a crowd. Find guidelines for cooking for a crowd on one of our favorite free recipe sites, allrecipes.com. Where to buy bulk meats at big savings Use your club … [Read more...] about Cheap recipes for your barbecue

Free guides on how to barbecue safely

The last thing you want to end up with after a barbecue is food poisoning. As this short YouTube video on Safe Summer Grilling by the USDA reminds us, it's important to pay extra attention to food safety during summer when the weather is warmer. Here is a list of downloadable, free food safety fact … [Read more...] about Free guides on how to barbecue safely

Easy recipes with cheap summer sweet corn

There’s something about fresh, sweet, juicy corn on the cob that just screams summer. You bite into those pearl-like kernels and taste a burst of sweet juice. It just doesn’t get better than this. Except it does: Sweet corn, in season, is really cheap. It starts out at two for $1, then four, … [Read more...] about Easy recipes with cheap summer sweet corn

How to save money on a summer party

You like to entertain, but you can't afford to spend a fortune every time you invite people over for a party. Here is our guide to saving money when planning for a summer party or barbecue. Decorate with items from around the house and yard. Arrange them casually down the center of the table, or … [Read more...] about How to save money on a summer party

Save money with healthy summer salads

They don’t call them “salad days” for nothing. Summertime is the best time to turn the bounty from your garden, farmer’s market or supermarket into a salad supper that will be light on your budget as well as your diet. Think about fresh baby lettuce, young green zucchini or yellow summer squash, … [Read more...] about Save money with healthy summer salads

How to keep summer veggies fresh to avoid food waste

This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. Food waste by the average American family is estimated at 25 percent of your grocery shopping dollars -- or a little more than $2,000 a year. Fresh vegetables top the list. If you have a … [Read more...] about How to keep summer veggies fresh to avoid food waste