Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and you know what that means. No, not Black Friday. I'm talking about turkey! I am probably the wrong person to be writing this post. My sisters and I decided to cook a non-traditional Thanksgiving feast this year, swapping out all the old favorites with new dishes. We got together last week with a stack of cooking magazines and books, creating a menu that would make your mouth water. It should be a fun experiment. That is, if the guys don't revolt on us when they hear we are roasting brussel sprouts instead of making stuffing and serving pear pie instead of the standard pumpkin. Even though we're giving Keep Reading
Frugal vs. Cheap
Unless you have been hanging out under a rock lately (no offense to those gutsy Chilean miners), you know that daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social are incredibly popular right now. For example, Groupon has sold nearly 14 million vouchers through their site since late 2008. It's a strong model in a weak economy: Small business owners partner with these sites to offer deeply discounted deals on salon services, restaurant certificates, etc. The consumer gets a great deal. The business owner gains the opportunity to boost business by turning new customers into repeat business and word-of-mouth advertisers. It's a win-win situation for Keep Reading
Tomato Time
My husband and I are realists (pessimists?) when it comes to planting tomatoes. After a few years of trial & error, we now stick with planting the smaller grape & cherry tomatoes. The harvest is always plentiful, even when the warm weather is not, giving our green thumbs a real ego boost. This summer was a disappointing one in the gardening department. Cool weather meant later crops and smaller harvests. As signs of fall start to appear, most gardeners are moaning about all their green tomatoes hanging on the vines: "Tomatoes have everyone feeling blue, rather than seeing red. Several times a day, someone asks me despondently why they don't Keep Reading
Picking Peaches
Picking Peaches When I was a kid, my parents took us peach picking every year. The picking was easy which made the stopping difficult. I can remember filling more boxes than the back of our van could hold. Each of us rode home itchy and sticky, with heavy boxes full of peaches on our laps. Ah, the memories. Well, the peach doesn't fall far from the tree. Now it's my turn to drag my kids out to the peach orchards. And just like my parents before me, we pick too many. Sometimes too much of a good thing is still a good thing. This past weekend, my husband and I joined forces with my sister's family to pick Suncrest peaches at a local orchard. Last Keep Reading
Blackberries : Free is a very good price
On Saturday, my husband and I packed up our little entourage and rode our bikes down to our favorite blackberry spot. The berries are just starting to get into gear, changing from green to black. We weren't too impressed with the last two years where the berries were small and hard to reach. This year is a good crop though. Huge, sweet blackberries are just dripping off the vines, begging to be picked. By this weekend, the bushes should be loaded. The best part? In the great Northwest, where blackberries grow like weeds, picking is absolutely free! Find a safe, easily accessible public place and go crazy. Blackberries definitely make you Keep Reading
Price Comparison for Canning Supplies
I know enough about canning to be dangerous. Thankfully, my mom & sister know enough to be productive. Together we make a great team, washing jars, stirring pots, and filling pints with jam and quarts with vegetables. We also do our fair share of laughing, sharing, and eating along the way. At the end of the day, we split up the finished jars, heading home with that happy exhaustion that comes from a productive day. This year I have peaches, pickles, and tomatoes still on my canning to-do list. Just the thought of row after row of jars filled with brightly colored fruits & vegetables gets me excited. Am I weird? Please tell me some of you Keep Reading
How to Save Money on Dairy
How to Save Money on Dairy Here are some easy ways to save big on milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and eggs. This post is part of a series on How to Save Money on Real Food where we cover how to save money on meat, produce, grains, and dairy. Look for clearanced dairy items at your grocery store. Stores will mark the price down on dairy products as the "pull date" approaches. Learn how to make your own dairy products. It's easy to make your own dairy products, especially yogurt. Find an easy "how to make yogurt" tutorial here. If you find a bunch of clearanced heavy cream, make your own butter by hand or with a Kitchenaid mixer. Try Keep Reading