This is the fifth week that I have been chronicling our large family journey of eating for just $50 a week. I’m using my weekly CSA share as the backbone of my weekly menu plans, and spending no more than an additional $200 a month to feed my family of six. I bulk cooked on … Read moreHomestyle Favorites: $50 Weekly Menu Plan for a Family of 6
It’s time for my world famous chickpea soup. Okay, maybe regionally famous? Truthfully, I have served this soup to many friends and relatives who would categorize themselves as meat eaters. Nearly every single one of them has given this soup two enthusiastic thumbs up! I created this recipe probably 20 years ago. I love the … Read moreNutritious and Flavorful Vegan Chickpea Soup
I stood in the middle of the grocery store aisle, staring at the produce. Grabbing the tattered envelope from my pocketbook, I counted out a five dollar bill and then added 78¢ in change. Punching numbers into the calculator perched on top of the cart, I verified that I could afford both the 10-pound bag … Read more4 Powerful Reasons You Should Be Spending Cash
It’s squash season! That means an abundance of zucchini, yellow squash, patty pan, as well as other delicious varieties. Regardless of how many varieties you enjoy, it can be challenging to figure out what in the world to do with all this goodness. Here are some of our favorite recipes, along with ideas for increasing … Read moreZucchini: How to Eat It, Store It, and Preserve It
One of the challenges with eating seasonally is that when food ripens, an overload sometimes occurs. Consider the amount of zucchini you are offered between June and August. There are boxes at church, piles at work, neighbors leaving them on your doorstep – and if you have a garden full of them, well, God bless … Read moreQuickly and Easily Preserve Produce with Flash Freezing
A few years ago, I set out to recreate a childhood favorite, fried zucchini chips, sans the oil. Like most Americans, I am watching my waistline and avoiding excess calories wherever and whenever possible. That’s why the invention of the air fryer was like manna from heaven. The ability to achieve the crispy golden taste … Read moreQuick and Easy Zucchini Chips in the Air Fryer
It’s been a stressful day (or week – or month) and we are all in the same boat. We want great, big, steaming bowls of creamy comfort food. If you want ultimate satisfaction without dairy or wheat, then try this plant-based version on mac-n-cheese. It contains no cholesterol or dairy, and yet, my boys were … Read morePlant-based, Dairy-free, Zucchini “Mac-n-Cheese”
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
A mid-year budget check up is an essential part of any financial plan. Granted, the year 2020 has been strange. There’s no denying it. COVID-19 has rocked the economy and many of our worlds. But, now that the spread has slowed and life is slowly settling into a new normal, it’s time to tally up … Read moreWhy a Mid-year Budget Check-up Is Important
Sinking funds are budgetary needs for which you save a specific amount each month. Then, when the total amount is saved, you spend it, tracking each expense from that sinking fund, to insure you don’t spend more than you have available. You can really make just about any budget category into a sinking fund. However, … Read moreWhat are Sinking Funds and How Should I Use Them?