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Why A Budget Smart Cook Loves Stews
When the temperature dips there’s nothing better to eat than a bowl of hearty stew. It’s comfort food at its very best. Meat, vegetables and a savory liquid that are simmered together for hours on top of the stove to create a meal to take away the chill of a fall or winter day. It’s not too surprising that just about every cuisine in the world has its own version. But the best thing about a stew is, apart from the fact it tastes so good, it’s the budget smart cook’s best friend and here’s why. Great Cooking Skills Not Required Stews are one of the easiest of dishes to…
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October, That Means Pizza
October isn’t just for Halloween. Did you know it’s also National Pizza Month? If you’ve only thought of pizza as a high fat fast food, you’ve been overlooking a great ally of the budget cook. Here are some reasons to include pizza in your menu line up. Coupons My father used to say if you don’t mind eating pizza every single day, you can eat fairly cheaply. While pizza tastes great, eating it every day isn’t something most of us want to do. But as most pizza chains send out coupons just about every week, using them to buy a meal for your family when you’re too tired to cook…
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September is National Coupon Month
September is National Coupon Month so what better time to use these little slips of paper to help stretch your food dollar. Here are some ideas and hints on finding coupons, and how to use them for maximum benefit. Newspapers and Magazines I get about 50% of my coupons from the Sunday newspaper. If you’re looking for coupons for food items, it can’t be beat. Magazines, especially women’s magazines, are another good source. And if you want to buy items like natural and organic foods, try picking up a copy of Delicious Living. My local co-op has free copies at the information desk and every issue has at least two…
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Soup, a Great Budget Meal
I can’t think of a better comfort food than a bowl of homemade soup. Whether you’ve been raking leaves or feeling under the weather, there’s nothing quite like a hearty soup waiting for you on the kitchen table. But most of all, I love soup because it’s one of the best bargains out there. Ingredients are Inexpensive and Plentiful Eat with the seasons and most of the ingredients that go to make soup are usually not that expensive…vegetables and cheaper cuts of meat that tenderize during this slow cooking process. Fiber Feels You Up Thicker soups like split pea or lentil contain lots of fiber that fill you up quickly.…
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Save Time and Money on Breakfast
It’s a new school year and what better time to rethink breakfast. Studies have shown that people who eat a good breakfast tend to weigh less, less likely to snack during the day, and children do better in school. Breakfast doesn’t have to cost a lot and it doesn’t take that long to prepare. Here are some of my ideas for saving time and money on breakfast. Think Ahead Most of us are great about getting the lunch box ready the night before, but then forget about breakfast. Take some time the night before to get a head start. Most fast food restaurants sell breakfast muffins and biscuits. Okay, they…
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Learn a New Skill or Hobby This Fall
I can’t believe it’s almost Labor Day. Although a few nights of chilly weather has made me think about fall and winter and what I’m going to do when the gardening season is over. For me, it’s the perfect time to learn a new skill. Firstly, you can learn to do something that could save you money at a later date. And two, you could make something and turn your hobby into another stream of income. Having said that, you don’t want to invest a ton of time and money into pursuing something you hate…and okay, find out you’re hopeless at it. So here are some sites I’ve found offering…
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Cooking with Herbs
One of the things I love most about summer is my backyard herb garden is in full bloom. If you’ve never thought about using herbs in every day dishes, you’ve been missing out on one of the best ways to add some gourmet flair to any budget friendly dish. Herbs Go with Just About Everything You can add herbs to just about any dish, everything from sandwiches to pasta. If you’ve got a recipe you’re growing tired of, try adding some herbs. One of my favorite ways to use fresh herbs is to add ones like thyme, basil and oregano to homemade mayonnaise. Just about any type of sandwich tastes…
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Preserving Summer Produce…without canning
I say this year after year, this summer I’m going to spend a couple of days in the kitchen canning all the great…and yes, cheap summer produce. Do I actually follow through? Hate to admit this, but no. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to miss out on making the most of the cherries, the green beans, the berries that are sitting in the produce department and farmer’s market stands. Here are some ways I make the most of the all the bargain priced produce. And I’ve also included some tips from experts and others who just like me love to save money and eat well. Dried Foods Many years…
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No Cook Meals
It’s hot, it’s humid and you can’t stand the thought of spending more than 10 minutes in the kitchen. Here are some meal ideas I often fall back on. They’re quick and budget friendly. Mediterranean Platter This one’s a breeze to put together, especially if you have some of the ingredients already in your pantry. On a large platter, place hummus, sun dried tomatoes… I prefer the ones packed in oil, some olives, and feta cheese, maybe some canned tuna and pair it with pita bread or focaccia. It’s a light meal and people can pick and choose what they want. Leftovers make ideal sandwiches for lunch the next day.…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to the Fourth of July
If you’re looking for some fun ways to spend the Fourth of July but don’t want to spend a fortune doing it, here are some Web sites I’ve found that should give you plenty of ideas. Fireworks Many local park and recreation departments put on firework displays for local residents, so be sure to check your local city or suburb’s Web site. Here’s one I found. Try typing in your city to see what pops up or try Chamber of Commerce or tourist board Web sites. •www.craftsfaironline.com/4th.html Throwing Your Own Party If you’re thinking about throwing your own party this year, here’s a site I found that not only offers…