As a mother, nothing has given me greater pleasure than teaching my sons to cook. We have spent many a pleasant hour, creating together in the kitchen. A few years ago, while cutting zucchini for baked breaded zucchini, my son (who was 13 at the time) noticed that we had some left over slices. He … Read moreQuick and Easy Baked Vegan Zucchini Casserole
This is the fourth in my series of $50 menu plans. In this grocery budget challenge, I’m feeding my family of six for no more than $200 a month. I’m using produce from my prepaid weekly CSA membership as the backbone of my menu plans. If you are looking to cut back back on meat … Read more$50 Menu #4: Feeding a Family of 6 for a Week
Many people don’t realize that the leafy green tops of most vegetables are not only edible, they also enhance your body’s ability to fight disease. In general, if you can eat the root, you can also eat the part that grows above the ground. There are a couple of notable exceptions. Never consume the leaves … Read moreWhy You Should Stop Wasting the Green Tops of Vegetables
I’m feeding my family of six for just $200 a month, by using the contents of my weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box as the backbone of my weekly menu plan. This week’s menu plan was all about comfort foods – stuff that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside: hot cereal for breakfast, … Read moreComfort Food $50 Weekly Menu Plan for a Family of 6
When the thermometer rises, it’s time to turn to recipes which keep the heat out of the kitchen. Using kitchen tools like your microwave, pressure cooker, air fryer, and crockpot will help eliminate sources of excess heat. Thankfully, there is a huge assortment of seasonal produce, which aligns perfectly with the goal of creating meals … Read moreKeep Your Kitchen Cool with These Quick, Easy Recipes
Each of my $50 Menu posts features an entire week’s worth of recipes, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner for six people for about $50. This was a weird week for our menus. I found myself with bits and pieces of produce, which would make recipes, but they didn’t seem large enough portions for six people. … Read moreSuper-Thrifty $50 Weekly Menu Plan for a Family of 6
Cabbage reaches its lowest price per pound in mid-March as St. Patrick’s Day specials hit the shelves. However, don’t neglect to search your local farmer’s markets. In June or July. I have found seriously great deals on absolutely huge heads of locally-grown cabbage at farmers markets. You can save big money on groceries when vegetables … Read moreInexpensive and Easy Crockpot Layered Cabbage Rice Casserole
Herbs add amazing flavor to dishes and if you can find a source for buying them in bulk, you can get them very reasonably priced. However, they tend to be tender, wilting and then dying quickly. So, it’s best to brainstorm how you will use fresh herbs in dishes and then have a plan for … Read more6 Simple, Easy Steps to Dehydrating Herbs (Microwave Technique)
I love a good marinara sauce, but the canned and jarred varieties are often filled with preservatives and a whole lot of salt. Fortunately, it is both easy and inexpensive to make your own from scratch for an investment of just a couple of dollars and about 45 minutes of time. Having marinara sauce on … Read moreEasy, Inexpensive, and Delicious Salt-free Marinara Sauce
Nothing screams summer like fresh, colorful salads. They are perfect for picnics or al fresco patio dinners. Best of all, you can prepare them ahead of time, allowing you to spend time chatting, mingling, and connecting with family and friends. Served hot or cold, salads can either be an accompaniment for other foods or stand … Read moreUsing Colorful Fresh Produce to Create Spectacular Summer Salads