Backyard barbecues are a great way to entertain, but even when you host a potluck, they can be a pricey way to party. Whether you are entertaining a small or large crowd at your backyard barbecue, you can still stay on budget. Here is our guide to cooking on the cheap for a crowd at your next … [Read more...] about Cheap recipes for your backyard barbecue
Recipes
Make your own pop tarts and other DIY convenience foods
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No one can argue that convenience foods are a huge time-saver. But some prepackaged foods can be expensive (frozen pizzas), available seasonally (Girl Scout cookies) or filled with artificial ingredients (fruit rolls and pop tarts). If you take a little time to make these items in advance, you … [Read more...] about Make your own pop tarts and other DIY convenience foods
8 easy ways to use stale bread
This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. Don't toss out that stale French bread, croissant, biscuit or even common sandwich bread that has seen better days. As long as it’s not moldy, there are lots of ways to use stale bread. You … [Read more...] about 8 easy ways to use stale bread
Healthy school lunches kids won’t toss in the trash
If your child regularly brings their lunch to school, you've faced the "what to pack" dilemma. You want to pack something nutritious, but you also need to be sure your kids will eat it. A thrown-out lunch does nothing for your child's health or your wallet; it's basically cash in the … [Read more...] about Healthy school lunches kids won’t toss in the trash
Make the most of your garden’s harvest
In midsummer it's exciting to see that first bright red, ripe tomato dangling off of its vine or pick and eat the first zucchini. At first, you relish in your harvest and your neighbors love your homegrown gifts. However, by late summer it's a different story — you're up to your ears in tomatoes, … [Read more...] about Make the most of your garden’s harvest
Got tomatoes? Recipes to make the most of your summer tomato bounty
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 tomato bounty
Tasty recipes for cheap and abundant zucchini
The zucchini are here! The zucchini are here! The world’s cheapest ingredient has arrived in gardens, farmers’ markets and grocery stores, and it’s cheap, cheap, cheap. So what do you do with all this bounty? Well, you can pan-fry it as a side vegetable, cube it and put it on kabobs, slice it … [Read more...] about Tasty recipes for cheap and abundant zucchini
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 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, then … [Read more...] about Easy recipes with cheap summer sweet corn
30% off Eat at Home meal plan service before Aug. 31
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Have you ever wanted to try meal planning but you just don't know where to start, or you've given up because you don't have the time to figure out a good meal plan on your own? Meal planning saves a ton of money compared to eating out, but it can be tough to get started. Right now, Eat … [Read more...] about 30% off Eat at Home meal plan service before Aug. 31
Easy DIY smoothies cool you off for less cash
As the summer temperatures climb into the 80s, 90s or higher, not much is more refreshing than a cool, creamy, fruity drink. But shelling out $4 or $5 a pop for a small smoothie can put a damper on your relaxed mood. The good news is you can achieve that same level of summer nirvana without the … [Read more...] about Easy DIY smoothies cool you off for less cash
How to barbecue safely: Grilling safety tips for your summer cookout
The last thing you want to end up with after a barbecue is food poisoning or third-degree burns. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), grills and barbecues were responsible for more than 10,000 fires annually in people's homes, leading to 10 deaths, 160 injuries and nearly … [Read more...] about How to barbecue safely: Grilling safety tips for your summer cookout
10 make-ahead road trip meals to save money
You're meal planning for your road trip, and discovering how difficult it can be to stay frugal while on the road. Eating out during your trip is an easy way to watch your travel budget disappear. Even fast food restaurant meals can add up. However, setting aside some time to prepare make-ahead … [Read more...] about 10 make-ahead road trip meals to save money
Make homemade tamales and fun crafts for Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is coming, and that means it's time to make tamales! 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 … [Read more...] about Make homemade tamales and fun crafts for Cinco de Mayo
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)
5 easy, cheap, healthy lunches for the work week
Eating out for your workday lunch is a quick way to bust your budget. If your daily lunch costs $10 (and it will, including a drink and taxes), a 5-day workweek will use up $2600 of your hard-earned money annually. But many claim there just isn't time to pack a sack before leaving for work -- or … [Read more...] about 5 easy, cheap, healthy lunches for the work week
