Cooking
Posted 9 weeks 4 days ago by Thursday Bram
Food and Drink
I’ve managed to cut my grocery bill in half, but I’ve struggled with one set of expenses more than I ever though possible. I use a lot of spices and every time I turn around, I feel like I need more cinnamon or basil. I’ve been investigating my options and in the past two months I’ve made a dent in the amount I spend on my spices. That dent only adds up to a few dollars so far, but if I can keep at it for the long haul, I think I’ve found another way to be frugal without feeling like I have to give something up.
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Posted 13 weeks 5 days ago by Xin Lu
Personal Finance, Frugal Living, General Tips, Lifestyle
I have always loathed Valentine's day because everywhere I went I would see gaudy pink and red balloons and roses and men who are literally suckered into buying the useless things out of "tradition". Today I shall list some ideas for Valentine's that aren't gaudy or expensive. This is for the frugal and practical guys and gals out there who want to express love anytime without participating in a commercialized fluff of a "holiday".
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Posted 14 weeks 2 days ago by Julie Rains
Food and Drink, Budgeting
Feeling guilty about not having bridged the gap from dining out to cooking in? Don't. Follow my lead and I show you how to take baby steps from full-service to self-service...without being deprived or miserable.
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Posted 14 weeks 3 days ago by Thursday Bram
Food and Drink
I like kitchen gadgets as much as the next girl, but I just can’t justify splurging on a crepe pan (or other tool) that I’ll use maybe once a month, at the most. So which kitchen utensils can do double duty and pick up for that missing crepe pan? I know these are just a few examples — please add yours in the comments!
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Posted 17 weeks 3 days ago by Thursday Bram
Food and Drink
I have a hard time resisting the urge of buying every cookbook that comes along — I thoroughly enjoy trying out new recipes, especially cookies. I came to the conclusion, though, if I bought every cookbook that caught my eye, I wouldn’t have any money left over for ingredients. Instead, I try to find recipes for free — another exercise in creating a frugal kitchen. The resources below are a great starting point for putting together a personal recipe book, but I’d love to hear if you’ve got any resources!
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Posted 19 weeks 3 days ago by Linsey Knerl
Health and Beauty, Food and Drink
Working as a line cook for almost four years exposed me to the dirtier side of the food service business. Generally, I was less-than-impressed with the “unofficial” guidelines to handling food and the dinnerware it was to be served on. Should I even be shocked to find that most people I encounter are a little rusty on common food safety standards? Here’s a quick rundown on some of the basics to keeping healthy in the kitchen without being obsessive.
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Posted 21 weeks 20 hours ago by Philip Brewer
Shopping, Health and Beauty, Food and Drink
Twenty years ago, I parked at a supermarket, near where a poor family had just parked. I knew they were poor, because they looked like poor folks are supposed to look: Their clothes were worn (but mended and clean). Their car was an aging sedan. They were recycling a trunkful of aluminum cans. As I locked my car, they took the handful of change they got for the cans, and headed in ahead of me. There were three of them--man, woman, child--and all three were skinny. It's unusual to see that now. The new face of poverty is fat.
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Posted 26 weeks 20 hours ago by Myscha Theriault
Food and Drink
As usual, Philip has done a great job of analyzing both market and industry as they apply to consumer choice. And as I'm sure you all noted in his article, exercising that choice involves a cost issue. Eggs are a staple for many of us. The price of them, while not completely outrageous, has been on the rise for some time now. The problem is there are so many fun ways to serve them, that cutting back too harshly will be a challenge for those of us who love them. I’ve put together a list of ways to cut corners without feeling the pinch, as well as a list of “eggcellent” menu suggestions. Read on, and tell me what you think.
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Posted 27 weeks 22 hours ago by Philip Brewer
Frugal Living, Life Hacks
Doing for yourself--cooking your own meals, making your own clothes, growing your own vegetables, playing your own music, baking your own bread--is sometimes justified on the grounds of being frugal. This often leads to an analysis as to just how frugal it really is. I don't think that analysis is very useful, primarily because doing for yourself is often a wise choice whether it's frugal or not.
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Posted 29 weeks 4 days ago by Myscha Theriault
Food and Drink
A restaurant dish featuring these delectable num-nums can sink you over a hundred bucks a person in a high end restaurant. Fresh truffles themselves can soar up in the neighborhood of over a thousand dollars a pound. What's a bargain hunting truffle lover to do?
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Posted 34 weeks 2 days ago by Myscha Theriault
Food and Drink
Inexpensive boxed wines are a great value. Even if you prefer not to drink them straight up, there are numerous other ways you can use them that have tons of pizzazz. Here are seven ways to start using these products with fabulous results.
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Posted 35 weeks 2 days ago by Philip Brewer
Green Living, Food and Drink
Depending on how old you are, your mother or grandmother probably had one of these: a pressure cooker. (She probably also had a story of one exploding, which may be why they're not so common any more.) They're great tools, though, for quick home cooking. And they don't blow up any more.
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Posted 38 weeks 2 days ago by Myscha Theriault
Food and Drink
Need to pull off a high-end dinner party on the fly? Looking for that little extra something that’ll put the experience over the top? Here’s a great menu item that’ll make your guests feel like they’re eating out!
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Posted 38 weeks 2 days ago by Linsey Knerl
Food and Drink
Yellow cake mix goes on sale all the time where I live. For under $10, you can usually score 15 or more boxes! This is great if you’re making cakes, but what if you just don’t have an occasion for frosting a celebration dessert?
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Posted 38 weeks 4 days ago by Myscha Theriault
Food and Drink
Have a passion for truffles? Love to create original recipes? Your talents could get you an all expense paid trip to Umbria, courtesy of Urbani Truffles.
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Don't forget, steaks and roasts can often go on sale for less than the cost of lean hamburger. Have the meat department grind, slice or chop it for you for free. They've always been happy to do it for me when I've asked. Here are ten ways to stretch the beef even further on the home front.
Continue reading "Ten Things to Do With Bargain Beef"
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Well, it's Monday and everything that brings along with it. So, we'll be digging out my favorite time saver again, the crockpot. This time, dinner's more Italian in nature. Haven't even had time for your lunch break yet? No worries. That's covered too.
Continue reading "What's Cooking? This Monday's Work at Home Meal Menu"
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Those of you with gardens are probably entering a new season of produce. Squash plants are getting icky, but they are still producing more zucchini and summer varieties than you can handle. If you are looking for a bit of variety in your day, why not give the flowers a try!
Continue reading "Edible Flowers Make Cheap Food Beautiful Again"
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Prime Rib may sound intimidating to try at home. After all, restaurants can charge an upwards of $35 (think Lawry's) per cut. But it is one of those dishes where once you get the timing right, it's really easy, and a huge deal. Instead of spending $35 a person, you end up spending less than $10 per person.
Continue reading "DIY Prime Rib"
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I've been trying, almost unsuccessfully, to become a vegan again. It's difficult, especially when you are surrounded by carnivores. Especially dismissive carnivores. But I was vegan once before, and I'd like to try it again, since it was the only time in my life where I truly felt healthy and vibrant. I'm pretty sure that (along with exercise), veganism is the key to being a good diabetic, and to weight loss. At least, for me.
Continue reading "Perfect Peanut Sauce"
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