Sweet potato are often considered a second-cousin in the tuber family. However, their fantastic nutrition and great taste should elevate their status to the top of the pack. Related to the morning glory, sweet potatoes are grown across the globe and are a starchy root vegetable. Although commonly thought of in its orange form, they … Read moreHow To Make Super Easy Sweet Potato Recipes
It’s melon season in the Midwest! While staring at a huge pile of watermelons, is there a way to tell which ones are sweetest and ripened to perfection, and which ones may leave you feeling disappointed? Yes, there is! In fact, there are a number of signs you can look for to spot the perfect … Read moreHow to Pick the Perfect Watermelon
For many years now I’ve been feeding my family on a very lean budget. I average just $375 a month to feed my family of six (including four boys age 23-12). To do this, I have focused on whole foods, menu planning, and batch cooking. However, this is one more cost-cutting measure, which has allowed … Read moreHow to Buy Food in Bulk and Save Money
At 2:30 yesterday afternoon we had nearly 70 mph straight line winds. They flattened fields of corn, bent billboard supports in half, and snapped power lines. Like a giant, invisible hand, the storm sent an aging power pole up the street from my house to wherever it is that power poles go when they die. Literally minutes … Read morePowerless: A Lesson In Preparing for the Unexpected
Buying produce in-season, not only insures that you are eating fruits and vegetables that are at the peak of ripened perfection, you also save money. Peaches, for example, are at their lowest price in mid-summer. During the winter, you’ll pay a premium. Add to this the fact that the flavor, texture, and taste of produce … Read morePicking and Preparing the Perfect Peach
Every day I turn on the news and watch the markets. The zigzag pattern as they plunge and then come back up again and gain ground is alarming to watch. Some of us watch, entranced and yet too afraid to look away, while others choose to turn off the media and pray fervently instead. No … Read moreHow to Recession Proof Your Finances in 8 Easy Steps
When the thermometer soars, the kitchen is the last place that any of us wants to spend time. Turning on the oven can overheat your kitchen and raise your utility bills. Planning your menu around fresh fruits and vegetables can lower your grocery bills, aid in weight loss, and increase your body’s ability to fight … Read more12 Simple and Delicious No-Cook Summer Recipes
Kousa, a short, wide Middle Eastern squash, is the perfect size for stuffing. It is sometimes called Lebanese squash, Mexican zucchini, or gray zucchini and sports spelling variations like: coosa, cusa, or kusa. Whatever you call it, kousa squash is a true delight. Although generally treated as a vegetable, kousa squash is actually the swollen … Read moreHow to Freeze and Cook with Kousa Squash
Summer is now here in full force (and so is the heat index). This means that the farmers markets and our weekly CSA box are both bursting with delicious, inexpensive farm fresh produce. Not only am I beginning to fill the freezer to get us through the long winter months, I’m also expanding our menu … Read moreMid-Summer $50 Weekly Menu Plan for a Family of Six
Summer temperatures have hit with a vengeance. The daily heat index is now often over 100 degrees. Not only that, we sit in our homes and listen to the central air cycling “on” – over and over again, in a seemingly endless loop. Mentally, we brace ourselves for the next utility bill to arrive, knowing … Read more9 Simple Ways to Lower Your Summer Electric Bill