Frugality :

My fabulous Thrift Store Find

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I have been jonesing for a bread machine for a while now. A bread machine seems like one of the few small appliances that can actually be more than just a waste of counter space. Especially for the frugal types who like to cut costs by making[...]

My fabulous Thrift Store Find

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I have been jonesing for a bread machine for a while now. A bread machine seems like one of the few small appliances that can actually be more than just a waste of counter space. Especially for the frugal types who like to cut costs by making[...]

Under Pressure: Canning Part 2

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Okay, you have collected all of your items on the canning checklist and you have a bushel of vegetables washed and prepped. Many vegetables require pressure canning in order to be stored safely. These foods are low in acid and have to be[...]

Wheat Meat: Make Your Own Monday #50

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This post is going to show you how to go from this (whole wheat berries): to this (taco flavored gluten or wheat meat):  This is probably something that most of you have never even considered.  Wheat as meat?![...]

Peanut Butter: My Family's Obsession

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My family goes through an 18oz jar of peanut butter a week.  I am not sure whether to be ashamed, afraid or proud.   When the kids need a quick snack, they grab a spoonful of peanut butter or a piece of toast with some spread on[...]

La Cucina Povera: The Kitchen of the Poor

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(photo: my grandmother, great aunts, and mother <she's being held by my great aunt on the left side of the photo> and relatives on the family farm during the wheat harvest) What is Cucina Povera? A friend recently asked me to[...]

Ten Quick Tips for Cutting Your Produce Bill

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This monster squash is sold by the piece. The extreme heat in my part of the world has led to high prices in the markets, especially for vegetables. Here are some tips to help you cut down on your produce bill no matter where you[...]

10 Creative Ideas for Cooking Pasta Frugally

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We love pasta around here. But the package directions, and most cookbooks, call for huge amounts of water. Boiling all that water takes time and money. The cookbooks are wrong. Here are ten creative ideas for making pasta frugally. Cook as[...]

Childhood Obesity and a School Lunch Challenge

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There have been lots of changes this week in the fight against childhood obesity. First Lady, Michelle Obama has kicked off her "Let's Move" campaign to encourage parents and kids to eat right and exercise, Kraft Foods has announced that it[...]

School Lunch Challenge - Middle School for $1.37

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Well, this has been a busy week for my family. The in-laws rolled in last Wednesday and I started laying our new, allergy-friendly laminate wood flooring on Friday, finished the floor on Tuesday, and then saw the in-laws off yesterday.[...]