Cooking and recipes

Diet Books Can Guide Weight Loss

As much as I love bargains and writing about them, in my other life I’m a registered dietitian and thrive on helping people understand that deprivation does not equal healthy eating. If you’re striving to lose weight or just eat healthier in this new year, you need to know that eating a wide variety of […]

Make Your Own Cocoa Mix

On a cold winter’s eve, what tastes better than a cup of hot cocoa? Hot cocoa mix (especially the gourmet brands, like Ghirardelli) might be a luxury item on your grocery list, and it can be really pricey if you buy a cup at Starbucks or other coffee hut. So why not make your own […]

Cabbage Is a Bargain Any Time

Cabbage, that underappreciated and underused relative of broccoli and cauliflower, is a bargain any time of year, but especially in the fall. When guying, choose cabbages that are heavy for their size and have heads with compact leaves. Cabbage is very low in calories, sodium and an excellent source of Vitamin C. It’s also high […]

Eggs Are a Culinary Bargain

Eggs and Easter go hand in hand, but there’s more to these tiny bundles of protein-packed goodness than you might think. According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, “The incredible edible egg packs a lot of nutrition in a small package. One egg has 13 essential vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein and antioxidants, all for […]

Green Beans Can Be Star of the Table

Most of us think of vegetables as just an accompaniment to meat loaf, a broiled steak, grilled fish or roast chicken. But green beans – cheap and bountiful this time of year in both supermarkets and at farmer’s markets – can be the star of the meal. Green beans, also called string beans or snap […]

Homemade Salad Dressing Cheaper

Bottled salad dressing is common on the dinner table in households across America. While convenient, these prepared salad dressings are much more expensive than those you prepare from scratch. None of the most popular salad dressings are hard to make and many can be prepared using common ingredients you already have on hand. Another secret […]

Try These 8 Ways to Use Stale Bread

Don’t toss out that stale French bread, croissant, biscuit or even common sandwich bread that has seen better days. As long as it’s not moldy, there are lots of ways to use stale bread. You may find some of them so tasty that you’ll be scrounging through the bakery to buy the day-old stuff (at […]

Vacuum Sealers Save Food

We all hate wasting food, almost as much as we love saving money. So anything that can help us save money AND food is a good idea! And those are the key benefits to vacuum sealers. A vacuum food sealer is basically a small gadget, usually about the size of two boxes of aluminum foil […]

Try This Method for Easy Family Meals

In today’s crazy-busy world, it’s more important than ever to have some stable times in your day. One of them is the family dinner. Yes, we know, Susie has karate and Joey has swim lessons. Mom and Dad both work. But there’s a solution, and it’s so easy, you’ll have no reason not to try […]

Make Hot Cocoa Mix at Home

On a chilly evening, what tastes better than a cup of hot cocoa? Hot cocoa mix (especially the gourmet brands, like Ghirardelli) might be a luxury item on your grocery list, and it can be really pricey if you buy a cup at Starbucks or other coffee hut. So why not make your own at home? It’s […]