The thought of making applesauce used to turn me off completely. All that peeling, slicing, and coring of apples made me a regular purchaser of “store-bought- applesauce” as we called it. Then one day, no doubt after buying a jar of very expensive organic applesauce for snacks, I thought to myself: “What if I don’t… Continue reading Easiest Applesauce Ever
Month: August 2012
Early Summer Dinner Group
Enjoying the company of good friends and sharing a pot-luck, home-cooked meal with our dinner group is the ultimate in frugal, fancy, and fun entertaining. I always look forward to these regular, neighborhood gatherings. It’s especially nice when it’s an early summer dinner group get together and we can sit outside, even if it’s only… Continue reading Early Summer Dinner Group
These Pots and Pans Need to Soak
I live with people who like to soak pots and pans. Even though my kids are supposed to clean up the kitchen after they each make dinner every week, there are numerous mornings when I find a pot or a pan sitting in the sink when I get up. Sometimes, I even spy a pot… Continue reading These Pots and Pans Need to Soak
Weekly Meal Plan
When it’s really hot outside, I have no interest in cooking during the heat of the day. This weekly meal plan was the hottest week of the summer we’ve had here so we either cooked in the morning to eat at dinner time or we cooked outside. Cooking outside meant the wok cooker. It’s actually… Continue reading Weekly Meal Plan
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
I’m not sure I would have thought to cook with olives if it weren’t for the kids from the books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” My children read the books years ago and when my (now) 15-year-old son read about the puttanesca spaghetti served for dinner, he had to try it. I’m not sure he… Continue reading Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
How to Make a Baking Soda Shaker for Cleaning
I use baking soda for lots of cleaning around my house and especially in the kitchen. A few shakes in a dirty pot for soaking overnight, as a mild abrasive to scrub the sink with, as a deodorizer in the compost pail that sits on the kitchen counter or sprinkled into the garbage can. It’s… Continue reading How to Make a Baking Soda Shaker for Cleaning
New to Cooking at Home? Fear Not
New to cooking at home? Fear not. You can do it. People are often intimidated by home cooking. They think, “But, I can’t cook.” Or, “I’m not a very good cook.” Perhaps they’re not adventurous in the kitchen and always make the same thing. Even with the knowledge that it will cost much less, taste… Continue reading New to Cooking at Home? Fear Not
Weekly Meal Plan
I planned to catch Saturday night’s meal and cook it for dinner. That was my plan but fishing didn’t go according to plan and after 9 hours of casting and cursing at those trout, I had nothing to show for it. Wait, I take that back – I had sore muscles that hung around a… Continue reading Weekly Meal Plan
Pasta Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Basil and Tomatoes
This is a favorite family summer recipe. My kids love this meal and each of them have asked for it as their birthday dinner in the past. The problem with this special birthday request is that both of my kids have winter birthdays, which means this meal is not in season. This meal is really… Continue reading Pasta Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Basil and Tomatoes
Making Fresh Herbs Last Longer
I try to keep my food waste to a minimum in our kitchen. The only food I end up tossing into my compost bin at least monthly is cilantro. It gets hidden in the bottom of the refrigerator and forgotten – out of sight, out of mind. Then, I decided to think of my cilantro… Continue reading Making Fresh Herbs Last Longer
Go Gingham 