Every year since 1994, we have given the exact same gift to our extended families for Christmas: a family calendar. This isn’t just any calendar. It’s one that we make. Our homemade Christmas gift tradition is a family calendar that we still make the old fashioned way with pictures, scissors, and yes, double-sided tape. We… Continue reading Homemade Christmas Gift: Our Family Calendar
Plastic Grocery Bag Alternatives
Ever since our first home exchange to Paris in 2004, I’ve been making a real effort to not use plastic grocery bags. While on our trip, with my starving family (they weren’t really starving but that’s how they were acting!) waiting in the car, I ran into a grocery store in Germany to buy a… Continue reading Plastic Grocery Bag Alternatives
Weekly Meal Plan
While our family stopped eating fast food several years ago, I’ve noticed the talking about fast food hasn’t really stopped. With billboards showcasing sandwiches that would entice practically anyone to steer into their drive-thru window lanes, my solution has been to make our own version of those fast food sandwiches at home in our little… Continue reading Weekly Meal Plan
Leftover Turkey: How to Make Broth
Once you've enjoyed your Thanksgiving turkey, it's time to use the leftovers and enjoy it again. Roasting the turkey carcass (or any bones for that matter) makes all the difference in taste when it comes to making broth. Often times I don’t roast my chicken bones, even though I know it would taste better but… Continue reading Leftover Turkey: How to Make Broth
11 Reasons to Meal Plan Every Week
The biggest saver of money in our food budget doesn’t include clipping coupons or buying in bulk. It only takes 10 minutes or less to do and involves a quick view of our week ahead and checking what I already have at home. It’s not a secret and it’s easy to do. With regular weekly… Continue reading 11 Reasons to Meal Plan Every Week
Weekly Meal Plan
Sometimes I don’t feel like doing our weekly meal plan. I don’t want to take the time to look at the calendar, see what our family is up to for the next week, and plan our meals and then write it all down. Whenever I think about skipping this 10-minute process, I picture what my… Continue reading Weekly Meal Plan
Dry Brining a Turkey for Thanksgiving
Because we’re always trying to simplify our Thanksgiving celebration, this recipe for dry brining a turkey for Thanksgiving falls under the category of “super duper simple.” It requires only a few minutes of actual effort and then it’s a matter of waiting. Plus, I recommend getting your husband to do it and then it’s even… Continue reading Dry Brining a Turkey for Thanksgiving
And the winner is
The winner of the Heritage Breed Turkey from Whole Foods Market is….Petra! with comment number 20! Congratulations! Petra keeps chickens in her front yard and writes the blog Sew Paint Create. She's a very talented quilter. Details for this giveaway will be emailed to you shortly so that you can pick up your Heritage Breed… Continue reading And the winner is
Weekly Meal Plan
One misconception many people have about meal planning is that you are stuck with what you plan and can’t react to what’s in season – or what’s on sale – at the market or grocery store. The solution to this is keep your plan loose. When I write down “vegetable” or “greens” on our weekly… Continue reading Weekly Meal Plan
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
This past Sunday, I was looking at the ads in our Sunday newspaper. One of the ads, from a national retailer, who also sells food, included a page with a picture of a Thanksgiving dinner. Aside from the turkey (which they also sell), all of the food in the picture came from a box or… Continue reading Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Go Gingham 