Recipes

How to get started with drying and dehydrating foods

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Drying is one of the simplest ways to preserve fresh foods for longer storage. This beginner's guide to dehydrating food will cover what kinds of foods you can dry, temperatures and techniques you can use to dehydrate at home, how to prepare food for drying, and some tips for success, along with … [Read more...] about How to get started with drying and dehydrating foods

Fall apple and pumpkin recipes + DIY pumpkin puree

Fall is here, and it's time for hot cider, hearty stews and, naturally, pumpkins and apples. They’re everywhere – piled in front of grocery stores and farmers markets, decorating the classroom and even gracing the front desk at the gym. And why not? They’re colorful, festive, have a long shelf life … [Read more...] about Fall apple and pumpkin recipes + DIY pumpkin puree

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

26 adaptable recipes and menu ideas for $4-a-day budget meal planning

My experiment with a $4-a-day budget has become a welcome and permanent adjustment to my menu planning and grocery shopping routine. It has saved not only money, but my time as well as some of my sanity. The $4 a day food budget was popularized by Leanne Brown in her free online book, Good and Cheap … [Read more...] about 26 adaptable recipes and menu ideas for $4-a-day budget meal planning

Make your own pop-tarts and other DIY convenience foods

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They're called convenience foods for a reason. But take a little time to make these items and enjoy the convenience of ready-to-eat foods with a cheaper price tag — and, sometimes, a healthier result. Some prepackaged foods (such as frozen pizzas) can be expensive, available seasonally … [Read more...] about Make your own pop-tarts and other DIY convenience foods

Cheap recipes for your backyard barbecue

Now that summer is here, you are excited about firing up the backyard grill and sharing a meal with loved ones. Whether you are entertaining a smaller crowd and following distancing guidelines, or the restrictions have lifted a bit more and you can call in a larger crowd, you can still stay on … [Read more...] about Cheap recipes for your backyard barbecue

Make homemade tamales and fun crafts for Cinco de Mayo

If you’ve got a craving for tamales you’re not alone. Tamales, made of masa (dough, usually corn-based) with filling, steamed in corn husks, have been eaten since at least 5000 BC, possibly as early as 8000 BC. The Mayan and Aztec civilizations both used them as portable food for hunters, armies and … [Read more...] about Make homemade tamales and fun crafts for Cinco de Mayo

5 ways to use leftover Easter ham

You paid a lot for that Easter ham. Don’t waste the leftovers -- or worse yet, ruin them by constant reheating. There are lots of uses for leftover ham besides ham sandwiches. We have some thrifty ideas for making those leftovers into yummy new meals. Casseroles: Make a … [Read more...] about 5 ways to use leftover Easter ham

Save money with these 18 popular salad dressing recipes (and 1 secret)

Bottled salad dressing is common on the dinner table in households across America. While convenient, these prepared salad dressings are much more expensive than those you prepare from scratch. None of the most popular salad dressings are hard to make and many can be prepared using common ingredients … [Read more...] about Save money with these 18 popular salad dressing recipes (and 1 secret)

Make your own chocolate syrup and hot cocoa mix

These recipes are so easy and delicious, you won't believe no one told you about it before. This is the kind of chocolate syrup you drizzle over ice cream and use to make chocolate milk. It's every bit as good as the stuff in the brown squeeze bottle. And cocoa isn't just for cold weather. Mix up a … [Read more...] about Make your own chocolate syrup and hot cocoa mix

6 ways to stop wasting food

This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. The average American family throws away an estimated 25 percent of its grocery shopping dollars -- as much as $2,000 a year. Fresh produce tops the list. Other food waste occurs by … [Read more...] about 6 ways to stop wasting food

DIY Easter eggs, plus ideas for the leftovers

Easter egg decorating, for some, can be an art. I love the idea of doing something a bit beyond the run-of-the-mill dye kit but I don't want to spend a fortune or hours to achieve my decorative eggs. In our family, egg dying is a tradition my kids, my mom and I do together on Easter. So it's … [Read more...] about DIY Easter eggs, plus ideas for the leftovers