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The Budget Smart Cook Loves Pantry Standbys
The Internet has been abuzz with tips for trimming your food budget. An idea that seems to show up regularly is using up all the items that are sitting in your pantry. It’s a great tip but as we Budget Smart Girls know, stocking the pantry in the first place plays a major role in saving money. Here are some items to keep on hand for those impromptu meals. Pasta I keep a couple of different types of pasta on hand at all times. It might be spaghetti, penne, even a box of lasagna. One of the quickest meals to put together is any type of pasta dish. And I…
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The Budget Smart Cook Gets Sneaky
I’ll be the first to admit some budget foods aren’t the most appealing items on the supermarket shelf. There are only so many ways you can serve ground beef or tuna. But don’t give up on the low cost foods just yet. One way you can stretch your food dollar and perk up your taste buds is to maximize flavors. Here are some sneaky ways a Budget Smart Cook can add flavor to foods, and turn bland into gourmet. Herbs and Spices One cheap and easy way to add flavor to everything from, meat to veggies is to use herbs and spices. Fresh herbs will soon be hitting the produce…
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What Do Those Food Labels Really Mean?
When you shop for groceries do you ever take the time to read the label before you put an item into your cart? With food prices going sky high it’s more important than ever to get the best return for your food dollar. Food labels aren’t always the easiest things to figure out, but be sure to check out the following- Just The Facts The Nutrition Facts section on a product is easy to spot. It’s usually enclosed in a box and tells you what a serving size is, plus, things like the number of calories, sodium, cholesterol, etc. You’ll also find information about vitamin and mineral content. So how…
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Why The Budget Smart Cook Loves Eggs
This Easter don’t just think about chocolate eggs because the real ones are one of the best deals for a budget savvy cook. I’m taking a guess that this coming week supermarkets are going to slash egg prices. So why not buy a box and start discovering all the great meals you can make with them. Those Little Nutrition Powerhouses On the nutrition scale, eggs are close to being a perfect ten. In fact, eggs just about have it all…protein, B vitamins…especially B12 and B2, vitamins A and D, iron, choline and phosphorus. And let’s not forget, they’re low in calories too. They’re Not So Bad It wasn’t that long…
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The Budget Smart Cook’s Guide to Cooking Oils
If you’re the grocery shopper in the family, I probably don’t have to tell you that food prices have skyrocketed in the last 12-18 months. A report just in from the USDA says that US retail food prices jumped 4% in 2007…the biggest gain in 17 years. An economist for the USDA thinks that we’re likely to see another 3.5 – 4% climb in prices again this year. And something that really surprised me in this report was that oils and fats are expected to have the largest price hikes. So let’s use those oils and fats wisely and make the most of our money. How Much Fat Do We…