Green onions add glorious color and flavor in many dishes. Yet, they have a disappointingly short shelf life. I adore their fresh flavor, but all too often I have opened the crisper drawer to find them either slimy or completely dried out. But, all that has changed! I found a method of not only keeping … Read more
Eating seasonally is one of the fastest, easiest, and healthiest ways to not only improve your health, but also drop your grocery bills. People often mistakenly equate fresh produce with expensive food, but this is not the truth. Shopping farmers markets mean finding the freshest food available, supporting small, locally-owned farms, and making new friends … Read more
Ah! it’s the time of year that I affectionately call “Lettuce Days”! For a vegan, like me, that spells nirvana! Fresh greens, lettuce, kale, and arugula are abundant and ready to eat. However, the volume can be a little overwhelming, because greens can wilt in a heartbeat if they are not prepped properly. I’ll show … Read more
If your taste buds are craving a great big sandwich, piled high with steaming stacks of smoky barbecue, but eating healthy is your priority, then look no further than this plant-based version of the all-American favorite summer sandwich. This recipe started with a 99¢ bag of broccoli slaw and ended in a taste so divine … Read more
This week, we are focusing on creating an economical, no-waste many. My local HyVee was featuring cauliflower and broccoli for just $1.49. That price wasn’t per pound. It was per large head of broccoli and big bunch of broccoli. I walked in, bought three of each, and walked out – having paid just under $9.00 … Read more
When the main family cook is sick and the rest of the family needs to provide the meals, there are several strategic moves you can make that will help simplify mealtime, while keeping it healthy. This week’s $50 menu was born out of the fact that I was ill and my husband, Larry, became responsible … Read more
This week’s $50 menu began with stormy weather. Our power unexpectedly went out for several hours after we were hit with a freak ice storm. Predicting the weather is tricky business. Although forecasters assured us that there was no chance of a very, cold, spring rain turning to ice, it did. By mid-afternoon our trees … Read more
I have a confession to make: I grew up on fried SPAM sandwiches. Hey! I was a child of the ’60s and we all ate SPAM! My mama would open a can of SPAM, slice it thinly and fry it up with barbecue sauce and feed our family of six using just one can of … Read more
These days, conversations with friends, acquaintances, or even virtual strangers tend to quickly turn to the ever-increasing cost of food. It does, indeed, seem that prices are rising weekly, with no end in sight. Looking me in the eye, people firmly and confidently state, “Eating healthy is impossible on a tight budget!” As one who … Read more
This week’s menu plan is all about packing flavor into every bite. When you are low on grocery funds, you can elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary by adding spices, herbs, vinegars, and sauces to beans, grains, and veggies – and you’ll pay just pennies to do it! This week’s Kroger markdowns were a little … Read more
