Generally speaking, I am usually not all that much of a salad fan. When I was a kid we ate a lot of salads, always with iceberg lettuce purchased from the store, and all I could taste was the sharp taste of whatever chemicals had been sprayed on the lettuce. Gross! Now, I know that as an adult I could grow my own or even purchase organic and not have to worry about that, but I have trouble shaking that expectation of chemicals and general idea that lettuce is gross. That being said, I have ... [ Read More ]
20 Reasons to Can Food at Home
I am pretty much convinced that when it comes to canning, there are really only two kinds of people in the world: People who love canning, and people who have never really tried it. I don't currently have the space or means to do much canning, but the benefits from putting up your own canned goods just go on and on. I think there is just something fantastic about knowing that you're not only being self-sufficient, prepared, frugal and also healthy. In fact, there are dozens of reasons why ... [ Read More ]
Disposing Spoiled Canned Goods Safely
While canning food is delicious and a great way to preserve excess food that you grow or purchase throughout the year, there are always some risks with home preparation. One of the biggest concerns of canners everywhere is botulism, a deadly bacteria that can grow on spoiled foods. While there are several methods for identifying spoiled canned goods, a lot of times, it is readily apparent that something is not right. Regardless of why it happened, the most important thing is to ensure that ... [ Read More ]
Identifying Spoiled Canned Food
Canning can be an incredibly rewarding process that is not only good for your budget but also pretty tasty. There's just nothing like opening a can of strawberry jam in the dead of winter and reliving some of that summer goodness yet again. But, canning is a very precise process and if done incorrectly, it can lead to all kinds of complications and illnesses including botulism. While it sounds pretty scary, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself and your family safe. Aside from ... [ Read More ]
10 Menu Planning Tricks
Whether you live 50 miles from the nearest grocery store, or just around the corner, planning meals ahead of time is a fantastic way to save time and money. It might be a little old-fashioned, but you'll be amazed by how much easier it can make the week out to be! Here are some of my tips for making menu-planning a success: Check weather - Check the forecast when you're making your menu. Is it soup weather? Do you need to avoid using the oven? Check schedules - If the kids have a ... [ Read More ]
Pat-in-the-pan Pie Crust Recipe
When I was growing up, the were two desserts that we nearly always had in the house: chocolate chip cookies and cherry pie. My father absolutely loves cherry pie, although I personally was always more of a pumpkin pie fan myself. So, needless to say, I have made a lot of pie crusts in my lifetime. While traditional crusts are delicious and yummy, sometimes you just don't have time to roll it out and mess with pie crusts. (Especially when I had that tiny apartment in college!) So, needless to ... [ Read More ]
Freezer Pickles Recipe
I admit I'm not all that much of a canner. I have done some canning in the past (mostly strawberries) but it's not exactly a passion of mine and I currently lack the space to actually can anything. However, one of my coworkers gave me this fantastic recipe for simple freezer pickles and brought me a sample. I don't have any photos, sadly, but let me tell you; they were delicious! Freezer pickles are crisp and yummy and, best of all, require absolutely zero special equipment: all you need is a ... [ Read More ]
Monkey Bread Recipe
Monkey Bread is one of those delicious treats that I only make every once in a while because it's just so sweet. I've seen dozens of recipes out there and they are all good but I personally find that having a guideline instead of a solid recipe works better for things like this. So, think of this recipe more like a suggestion. And believe me, your family will have absolutely zero complaints! (disclaimer: In the interest of being honest, I forgot to take a picture of my bread so the one ... [ Read More ]
20 Foods You Don’t Need to Refrigerate
Refrigerators are modern marvels that have greatly expanded the life and safety of many different foods. However, our culture has this odd idea that everything should go in the fridge; that it's this magical box that will keep everything good forever. Well, that's far from the case! Here are 20 foods that, while you can put them in the fridge (and even I sometimes do) it's totally not necessary: Bananas - Banana skin will become a really gross color in the fridge (although they will taste ... [ Read More ]
14 Tips for Baking The Best Cookies Ever!
There are few things as delicious and homey as warm, homemade cookies fresh out of the oven. When I was a kid, chocolate chip was the family favorite, and there were always homemade cookies in the house whenever we came in from playing outside. It's absolutely the best smell and taste in the world! However, baking is just as much (probably more) of an art as a science, and if you're looking to make the best cookies ever then here are some tips and tricks to make your sweet tooth say ... [ Read More ]