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2

How to Make The BEST Chinese Stir Fry Sauce

I’m done buying bottled, disappointing Asian-style sauces. That’s because I can confidently make all-purpose Chinese brown (stir fry) sauce cheaper, better, and faster than it takes to actually go to the store and search for something that *might* work …

5

Quick Dinner Recipe: Italian Cheesy Meatball Bake for Busy Cooks

Got unexpected guests or need a quick dinner idea? Look no further than this Italian Cheesy Meatball Bake recipe! Easy, cheesy, and always impressive, it’s the go-to quick dinner recipe every busy cook needs. With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this dish is a lifesaver on hectic days. I may be the only person […]

6

Skip the Dinner, Bring on the Appetizer Party!

While traditional dinner parties have their charm, I’ve learned that starting with hors d’oeuvres can be a risky move. Guests often arrive hungry and fill up on appetizers, leaving little room for the main event. But fear not … I have a stellar solution: an appetizer party! I’ve learned the hard way just how risky […]

7

Hot Deals • March 2024

Get ready for March 2024’s best deals! From household essentials to luxurious finds, we’ve handpicked the best discounts to elevate your shopping experience. Remember, details were accurate at publishing, but prices may change. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases, helping us bring you these fantastic deals. Let’s keep saving! Most Recent Top Deals […]

8

News You Can Use • March 2024

Stay informed with our curated selection of March 2024’s top news articles, covering Capital One’s acquisition of Discover, IRS tax payment strategies, and the inspiring journey of a bikepacker turned entrepreneur. More top news articles to come throughout the month. Most Recent Top News Articles Retired at 36? After retiring at 36 from a successful […]

10

Money-Saving Tips, Tricks, and Hacks to Put Your Freezer To Work

Whether yours is a stand-alone unit or part of your refrigerator, your freezer costs a lot in wasted energy or saves you a bundle in food costs. Use these simple tips to make sure your freezer is working hard for you to stretch your food dollars. General Freezer Guidelines Ambient temperature Get a refrigerator/freezer thermometer […]

11

Best Ideas and Gifts (Him, Her, Kids!) to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

In this post last minute ideas to celebrate Valentines Day including dozens of gifts that are sure to please your Valentines without breaking the bank, divided into three categories—Gifts for Kids, Gifts for Her, and Gifts for Him. Honestly, this is so much fun.

Don’t worry that time is short. I’ve also included a slick way you can legally and ethically sign up for Amazon Prime Shipping, use it to send your Valentine’s Day gifts (to yourself or to others) and not have to pay for it. Really, It’s OK. Amazon wants you to do this.

12

Sweet Onion Salad Dressing Recipe

Because sweet onions don’t pack the punch of their cousins—red and yellow onions—they’re perfect for making dishes where you want the flavor but not the heat. Like this sweet onion salad dressing! It is fabulous …

14

Budget Bites: 15-Minute French Dip Sandwiches

Can’t make it to Southern California to indulge in the original, the quintessential French Dip Sandwich? No worries. You can make our copycat Philippe’s French Dips at home in just 15 minutes and that’s no exaggeration, thanks to a few clever shortcuts. It’s one of my best quick meals and I promise, there are never any leftovers. These sandwiches are so good!

15

Easy Candy Cane Fudge

This festive 4-ingredient Candy Cane Fudge is a smooth and creamy white chocolate peppermint fudge recipe with embedded, crunchy candy canes … YUM!

16

Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas And Recipes

 In the event you could use some suggestions for items that are equal to the day and celebration—but also easy, quick, family- and budget-friendly—I offer my family favorites for your consideration!   3-Ingredient Cinnamon Rolls   There was a time that I felt compelled to rise early on Christmas morning to bake Cinnamon Rolls—my family’s […]

18

Holiday Fudge Recipe—Sinfully Delicious, Super Easy!

Chocolate fudge always conjurs up two distinct memories: The intoxicating smell coming from the small fudge shop in the town where I grew up and opening the box of homemade treats my grandparents always sent us for Christmas. It’s hard to go wrong with a delicious, consumable gift for any occasion, but especially Christmas. Perfect […]

19

Christmas Walnut Toffee

Straight from the binder of handwritten family recipes I inherited from my mother-in-law, Gwen. She made this without fail every Christmas. It so reminds me of her, and what a sweet memory it is.

20

Slow Cooker Chex Party Mix

This classic combination of cereal, nuts, butter, and seasonings cooks in your slow cooker. That means less checking and stirring for you and more time to wrap gifts and watch Christmas movies! Photo: Pinterest This classic combination of cereal, nuts, butter, and seasonings cooks in your slow cooker! And it turns out better than you […]

23

9 Delicious Ways to Hack a Box of Mac n’ Cheese

As one who still finds Kraft Dinner prepared according to the printed instructions to be a guilty pleasure, the idea to ‘doctor it up’ hasn’t crossed my mind. But that convo has changed everything. Check out so many ways to take lowly boxed mac and cheese to a new whole new level.

24

Candy Cane Fudge Recipe

This festive Candy Cane Fudge is a smooth and creamy white chocolate peppermint fudge recipe with embedded, crunchy candy canes. Perfect for gift giving (only 4 ingredients!) Photo: ShugarySweets.com Sweet peppermint fudge packed with crushed candy canes! This really deserves a spot on your next holiday dessert tray—or gifts from your kitchen!

26

Christmas Gift Guide: Gifts for Him

When it comes to finding the perfect present, whether you dread coming up with an excellent gift or delight in the search—one thing is for sure, as we come nearer to Christmas, the stress and pressure can be overwhelming. This is the week to finalize your gift choices if you want them to arrive before […]

27

5 Favorite Handmade Holiday Gifts With Complete Instructions (So Easy!)

Whether it’s something from your kitchen, craft room, woodworking shop, or computer, there’s nothing like a homemade gift. A tree ornament, a plate of cookies, box of fudge, note cards, tiny birdhouse—just a few of the many homemade gift ideas with universal appeal. Today, I have ideas for you that don’t require special skills or months of lead time. One in particular is, well … sew easy! I love homemade gifts both to give and receive. No wonder I have so many favorites.

28

Famous Make-Ahead Sides for Your Holiday Meal

The secret for cooks who wish to have Thanksgiving day off is to embrace a meal prep and cooking method known as make ahead. This means you do all the hard work days, maybe even weeks, ahead, storing the meal in the freezer or refrigerator. Then on the big day, it’s simply a matter of topping, baking, heating, or warming the dishes and bringing them to the table.

30

No More Flabby Celery and More Great Reader Tips

If you suffer the heartbreak of flabby celery, asparagus, and fresh herbs despite your best efforts to keep them fresh and lovely at least as long as it takes to use them up—one simple change in how you’re storing them could make all the difference. That and so much more in today’s post, all courtesy of your fellow EC readers!

34

These Fabulous Frozen Summer Treats are Cool—and Cheap!

In these sizzling days of summer, it’s tempting to load up the freezer with pricey frozen treats. Or to duck into a coffee shop or juice bar to grab one of those decadent blended coffee chillers or a fruit smoothie. But the big price tags can make even the creamiest concoction or slushiest treat hard to swallow.

Giving up favorite cold treats isn’t your only option. Make these yourself and you have great summertime treats at home for just pennies, not dollars. 

35

Peaches—Tips, Tricks, My Grandmother’s Peach Cobbler and More Recipes!

Who doesn’t love a perfectly ripe, fresh peach? Whether freestone or clingstone (don’t know the difference? read on … ) they’re delicious raw, grilled (yes! and oh yum!), made into jam or cobbler, peaches are one of the most popular fruits. While they’re in season, fresh peaches are relatively cheap, too. In this post, all you need to know to take full advantage of peach season.

38

EC Father’s Day Gift Guide 2023

Father’s Day is a fabulous, wonderful day to show Dads how much we love them, how special they are—and a great opportunity to poke a little fun, too! Here to help with lots of last-minute gift ideas …

41

EC Daily Newsletter Archive

Back issues of EC Daily Emails are arranged in chronological order by date, along with the title of that day’s featured post.   Feb 25, 2024      Mystery solved! – The foolproof solution … Feb 24, 2024      Got Leftover Pizza? – best way to Store and Reheat it, Hoands down Feb 23, 2024      Smile and save, […]

44

How to Make Perfect Iced Tea (Plus Real Southern Sweet Tea Recipe)

The only thing more comforting than a big, tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day is knowing how to make that perfect iced tea yourself. With confidence. And for just pennies per serving.

My dear mother-in-law, a very proper Canadian, taught me the difference between proper iced tea and the “swill” most restaurants pour, which in her opinion was, at best, a very poor facsimile. And trust me, she knew her stuff—including the six rules for proper iced tea!

All that, plus the official recipe and instructions for how to make Southern Sweet Tea in today’s post.

xo m

46

How to Clean the BBQ So You Can Get Grilling

A couple of weeks ago, with all the confidence in the world that winter had passed, I got everything ready for our first outdoor barbecue of the season. The weather was perfect, ditto for the menu. Shocked! I pulled the cover off the grill and got a shock—and not of the electrical kind. Actually, I […]

48

How to Turn Your Barbecue Grill into a Baking Oven

If you have an outdoor barbecue grill with a cover that closes over the top of the grill, you can turn it into an outdoor oven. Why would you want to do that? I can think of a few reasons! To have another baking oven on holidays or other occasions when you really use it. To have an alternative on days you don’t want to heat up the kitchen. To expand your camping-out cooking repertoire. To have a way to cook and bake during power outages …
To have an alternative appliance should electric rates spike.

49

Recipes to Feed a Crowd and Not Go Broke

Graduation parties, rehearsal dinners, family reunions—it’s the season for large gatherings. If feeding lots of people has you in a panic, relax. I’ve got you covered with recipes for enough fabulous food to feed a crowd that won’t bust the budget.

51

How to Cook Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (No-Fail Secrets!)

They’re convenient and, we’re told, more healthy. But there are few things quite as boring or more difficult to prepare well than boneless skinless chicken breasts. Here are two foolproof methods to prepare boneless skinless chicken breasts (BSCB) so they come out and tender and juicy every time—provided that you follow these instructions exactly!

53

How to Stretch Ground Beef to Cut the High Cost

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ official data says the average price of a pound of lean ground beef climbed to a whopping $5.57 per pound. W seen all kinds of economic turmoil, sending us into inflationary times, when the price of everything is soaring. What’s the solution? Learning how to creatively stretch ground beef to cut […]

54

Even Small Households Can Save Big at Costco

Whether a household of one or a big family, I believe anyone can stretch their money and improve their budget by shopping at a discount warehouse club like Costco. But only if willing to stick to a few very important shopping techniques …

56

11 Easy Delicious 3-Ingredient Party Dip Recipes

Delicious hot, cold, savory, spicy, and even sweet dips—an amazing variety sure to please all—beautifully arranged so that everyone can easily graze through the evening. All said dips need to be quick and easy to make, too, requiring only 3-ingredients (all available in local grocery and supermarkets).

57

Just in Time: Ultimate Last-Minute Holiday Gifts From the Kitchen

You do not need a lot of money nor must you have the gift of craftiness to assemble fabulous gifts in your kitchen. It’s hard to go wrong with a gift that is meant to be eaten or used up. That kind of gift does its job to convey your love and best wishes without increasing the recipients’ stuff-factor.

So gather your supplies, set up your production line and let the fun begin!

See you there … Love, xo m

58

Your Best Thanksgiving Feast Ever, Healthy, Delicious

If there’s one thing we should be thankful for this Thanksgiving, it’s this: Turkey is cheap! And the rest of the Thanksgiving dinner can be, too.

So much good stuff in today’s post … I learned so much from interviewing two turkey experts! Honestly, I’ve interviewed a lot of people over the years, but these two are my absolute favorites.

See you there! xo m 🦃

59

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

I know what you’re thinking: Make the mashed potatoes AND gravy ahead of time—up to several days before the big day? Like serve leftovers for the biggest best meal of the year? You have got to be kidding! Well, yes that is exactly what I am suggesting and will be doing myself, but let me […]

62

4 Kitchen Money-Savers That Pay for Themselves in No Time at All

My favorite gadgets, of course, are ones that actually help me to save money and/or time. I’ve been fooled from time to time, spending good money on things that just did not perform well. Or the gadget turned out to be so cumbersome, using it actually complicated rather than simplified my life.

But now and then I strike on a gadget that is so magnificent in its functionality and money-saving properties, I can’t wait to tell you about it.

Today I want to tell you about four gadgets for the kitchen that I consider to be wise investments—money savers!

All four are inexpensive enough to pay for themselves in a short period of time—and then to continue paying off in food savings, which is saying a lot as food costs continue to soar.

Meet me there …. Love, xo m

63

7 Easy Ways to Give New Life to Leftover Rice

Instead of pitching the leftover cooked rice from tonight’s dinner, try using it in different ways in your next meal. Just don’t make the fatal mistake of calling it “leftovers” 😂

Enjoy these 7 ideas for using leftover rice (including two of our favorite recipes). Will you add your ideas for how to use up leftover rice in the comments? See you at the post … Love, xo m

64

Budget Bites: Cabbage Casserole (with Gluten-Free Option)

This dish with its Mediterranean flair is popular in the southern US and Canada. The basic ingredients are cabbage and sweet onion, combined in a baking dish, covered with yummy “sauce,” then topped with a lovely blend of crushed crackers and cheese. Several other ingredients play a minor role. Baked Cabbage Casserole is nutritious, delicious, and budget-friendly.

65

October Best Month to Score Bargains on These 12 Things

Oh how I love this time of year! Cooler weather, sweaters, scarves, pumpkin pie, and beautiful fall colors make this the very best time of year. For bargain hunters, October is the calm before the holiday shopping storm and that means the likelihood of finding super deals is high. Here’s are the great buys you can expect in October.

66

How to Get Clever with Leftovers: Mashed Potatoes, Coffee, Meatloaf,

Leftovers and I have a kind of love-hate relationship. I can’t bear the thought of tossing perfectly delicious food into the garbage because I made too much of it. So I pack it, seal it and fill the refrigerator with it. Once a leftover is past prime—looking more like a science project than tomorrow’s dinner—it’s […]

67

Recipes for Tastes of Autumn and Slow Cookers Go Together

There’s just something about the bountiful tastes of autumn and slow cookers that go together. Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of testing in my kitchen. While some results have been less than palatable (let me make all the mistakes so you won’t have to), other attempts have turned out even better than I could […]

68

3 Sneaky Ways to Hack a Cake Mix So No One Has a Clue It’s Not From Scratch

When cake mixes are on sale, I load up. And that’s a good deal provided you like the taste of a boring cake from a cake mix.

A better idea is to use that mix as an ingredient in a fabulous homemade cake or cookie recipe.

Because no one my family is fond of plain, boring cake made from a box mix, my challenge has been to find better ways to use a cake mix than to simply follow the instructions on the box. Today, I’m sharing my favorite boxed cake mix hacks! See you there …Love, xo m

71

Calling All PSL Lovers! How to Make Amazing Pumpkin Spice Lattes Yourself

With great patience comes great reward. That’s what Starbucks aficionados count on—waiting, patience, more waiting each year for Starbucks to announce the start of its short Pumpkin Spice Latte season. If that’s you, good news! You can quickly learn to make PSLs at home, any time of the year and whenever you want! The ingredients […]

72

How to Use an Instant Pot—It’s Safe and Simple!

Maybe you have an Instant Pot and are afraid or just plain clueless what to do with it. Even if you’ve never heard of a pressure cooker let alone how or why you need to—today’s the day. It’s time to put away all preconceived notions, rumors, and failures and start over on the right foot.

74

6 Awesome Gifts of Summer to Make Now for Christmas

Even if you didn’t have an abundant garden this year, don’t worry. You can still make these beautiful gifts of summer to hold onto for Christmas. You can find everything you need at a local farmer’s market. Won’t it be wonderful to welcome the Holiday Season knowing you have gifts ready to go? Strawberry Freezer Jam Mix […]

77

Killer Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake

Just in time for your weekend plans, the most decadent, intensely chocolatey, take-a-sliver-every-time-you-pass-it chocolate cake. Moist and rich, the secret ingredient is (wait for it) … yogurt! That’s what makes this cake so moist and yummy. I dare you not to love it at first bite.

79

Super Slow Cooker Recipes—Dessert, Entrees, Sandwiches, Too!

In keeping with one of my favorite philosophies of food, “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first!”, today’s first super recipe is the easiest dessert ever—and most likely the best peach cobbler you and your family will have ever tasted, I mean devoured.   Slow Cooker Peach Cobbler Just three ingredients and your slow cooker. What […]

82

Budget Bites: How to Make Crispy Orange Chicken at Home

You can make Crispy Orange Chicken (a dead ringer for the Applebee’s version) today, quick and easy (cheaper, too) in less time than it takes to open an app, place an order, pay online, get in the car, drive to a restaurant, find a parking place, call the number to alert staff you have arrived, wait, accept order, drive home while food is getting soggy and cold, go in the house, open the bag, notice they forgot to include the rice, oh well … [try to] enjoy. Do it! Mom will be amazed by your cooking skills.

83

How to Make Freezer Jam – Easy Step-By-Step Instructions

Step-by-step easy freezer jam instructions and recipes If peak season for peaches, strawberries, and raspberries calls for lots of homemade jam in order to enjoy summer’s bounty far into the cold days of winter, those happy thoughts can turn sour when you consider the time, work, and know-how required to do that by canning. If that’s […]

84

Ask Me Anything: Scratched Dinnerware, Cosigning Parents, Silent Stylist, Mortgage Write-Off, Yum Rum Cake, and More

Once again, it’s mailbag day, when I reach in and pull out your questions. While there are always more than I could possibly answer in one sitting, I try to select the ones that will have the greatest interest to most of you, my Dear Readers. What’s inside? …

Contents

1. Gray scrapes and “scratches” on fine dinnerware

2. Heartbroken parents who co-signed

3. Spreadable butter disaster

4. Spouse demands control of the purse strings

5. What if we lose our mortgage-interest write off? 

6. The Unscrupulous Stylist

7. Rum Cake Recipe, Pleeeese!

See you there! Love, xo m

85

The Ultimate Restaurant Menu Cheat Sheet

Before restaurant menus ever make it to print, restaurant owners hire menu engineers and consultants to bury super sneaky psychological tricks into the pretty pictures and mouth-watering descriptions for one reason only—to get you to spend more money. Want to beat restaurants at their own game? Here’s your cheat sheet listing the sneakiest of sneaky tricks.

88

Outdoor Grilling on a Budget

Getting our outdoor grill cleaned, polished, and ready for summer got me thinking about how much fun it would be to celebrate. After all, the first day of summer comes but once a year, so why not do things up right with an amazing menu and a few good friends to kick off the season even if that means grilling on a budget …

92

How We Use Home Chef to Cut Food Costs

During these times of quarantine, lockdowns, shut-downs, and restrictions, Home Chef has become a godsend for so many families and individuals. Sure does beat take-out, drive-thru, curbside pick-out, and other kinds of home delivery. We can make meals when we want them, the way we want them, without tax and tip added to the bill …

94

Make it Better Yourself: Homemade Coffee Creamer

Cream. It’s coffee’s perfect mate. And when that creamer comes flavored in a handy bottle from the dairy case, even more perfect, right? Oh, but so pricey! Here’s a solution: Make it yourself cheaper, better and faster!

The way to do this is to start with a Base Recipe that is basically bland in taste but creamy. Then you add flavor it up exactly the way you love your creamer.

In today’s post I offer two Base Recipes—#1 starts out sweet, #2 is not sweet and then we go from there with specific “recipes” for 28 different flavors. The one you love has to be in there somewhere!

Unless you are a black-coffee only die-hard ☕️, you’re going to love this. See you there … Love, xo m

95

How to Fix Instant Pot Slow Cooker Settings

All that said, if you have an Instant Pot, yes, you can use the slow cooker setting to make some dishes successfully. But mostly for me, it has been a crapshoot. Let’s just say that I’ve experienced far more misses than hits. Every attempt to use Instant Pot’s slow cook option has ended in some level of disappointment.

98

Cheap Meals That Are Easy, Fast … Good!

As food prices continue to soar, I am more convinced now than ever that given the right recipes, we can cook wonderful cheap meals—from scratch at home—and have them on the table in the time it would take to decide on a restaurant or take-out, drive there, place the order, wait for it, pay for it, and drive back home to face marginally acceptable fare.

99

Favorite Super Short, Easy, Inexpensive Instant Pot Recipes!

I have loved my Instant Pot since the day it arrived back in 2016. I’ll admit to being slightly intimidated in the first few days but that was short-lived. Thanks to a few tips, tricks, and these ridiculously simple recipes, in no time I was making dinners in 30 minutes or less—start to finish.

101

Budget Bites: 19 Ways to Make Dump Chicken

Dump dinners are my top strategy for conquering the “What’s for Dinner?” challenge. Picture this: having dinner on the table, even during hectic weeknights, with family-friendly, pre-prepped meals that are both scrumptious and wholesome. These freezer-friendly meals are not only more economical than fast food but also quicker than waiting in the drive-thru, and they […]

102

How to Achieve Perfectly Dry Lettuce Without a Salad Spinner

I used to have a salad spinner. It worked OK, but not as well as the currently popular OXO model. Even it does not remove all of the water from a load of salad greens. And it takes up a lot of storage space. This does not mean I’ve abandoned my pet peeve for wet, soggy, limp salad greens. I’ve just found a better way to dry my salad greens for a lot less money and a fraction of the storage space required for a big bulky salad spinner. 

104

Cilantro-Lime Rice Just Like Your Favorite Restaurants

I have no idea why on the one hand I seriously do not care for cilantro but on the other hand, I’m crazy for Cilantro-Lime Rice as served by both Chipotle and Qdoba casual Mexican restaurants. How do they do that? How do they take rice, lime, and cilantro for goodness’ sake, and turn it into such a delicious side dish?

I’ve been asking that question for a long time. Finally, I believe I have figured out how to make delicious, amazing Cilantro-Lime Rice that tastes for all the world just like the restaurants’—and for just pennies.

105

9 Fabulous Ways to Use Fresh Cranberries Starting Now and Throughout the Year

Fresh cranberries are available in supermarkets and grocery stores from October thru December—a very short season! Stock up on fresh cranberries during the fall season and freeze an amount that will last you through the year.  Store them right in the bags they come in and they’ll be good for up to 12 months. What to do with all those cranberries? I’m so glad you asked!

106

The Emergency Food Items You Need to Stock Up On Now

Life is uncertain. Regardless, every home needs a stockpile of food. It’s part of any sensible emergency preparedness plan. You need to stock up now. Today. Good news! It’s not too late. You can do this.

Please take a few moments sometime today to assess your stock of food and pantry items. We’ll do this together.

107

Stop Making These Slow Cooker Mistakes

I gave away my slow cooker. I’d stopped using it feeling pretty much like a slow-cooking failure. I’d just acquired a multi-cooker with a slow cook option should I ever feel the urge to try that again.   Besides, who wants to dine on meat that’s an odd shade of gray and vegetables with all […]

108

Chicken Still the Backbone of the Frugal Kitchen (with RECIPES)

With the price of beef skyrocketing, now more than ever, chicken continues to claim its place at the backbone of the frugal kitchen. And why not? By comparison and even though the cost of all food is going up across the board, chicken is still much less expensive than beef or pork. It’s healthy, delicious, and useful right down to and including the bones.

109

11 Things Never to Put Down a Garbage Disposal

Most every home has a plumbing system that includes a number of drains. One of those drains may have a garbage disposable attached to it. It’s tempting to put all manner of things down it—and other drains, too—because it’s just so convenient. But hold on. Every drain in that system, especially the one attached to the garbage disposal, is vulnerable to breakdowns. Plumbing repairs are not cheap …

110

13 Reasons to Keep Borax in the House (and Why It’s Safe!)

Recently this desperate message with a subject line Dishwasher Disaster! washed up in my inbox. I came this close to ignoring that message because I didn’t have much to go on. There are so many variables. But then I stopped short, knowing the first thing I’d try if this were a problem in my kitchen …

113

How to Make Pure Vanilla Extract

Great news! Time is one of the most important ingredients in homemade extracts. Fortunately, with Christmas nearly five months away, you’ve plenty of that! AND the price of vanilla beans has dropped considerably! I’ll show you where to get them …

115

A Casserole Connoisseur’s Guide to Healthy Substitutions

It’s easy to see why casseroles have fallen out of favor with the weight- and health-conscious crowd. One serving of some casseroles can harbor an entire week’s worth of carbs or WW points. Luckily, it’s not difficult to trim the calorie count and step up the nutritional value of almost any casserole recipe around, even those typically laden with high-fat ingredients. You can make healthier versions that taste just as good.

116

27 Things Never to Put in the Refrigerator

Have you outgrown your refrigerator? Thinking it’s time to replace it with one that’s bigger? Before you do that, take inventory to see just how much stuff you have in there that really does not need to be refrigerated. You just might discover that suddenly, your current fridge is a lot roomier!

Do you know which items should never be stored in the refrigerator?

117

The Easiest Summer Barbecue Ever— Ribs, Beans, Slaw, Dessert

On the off chance that your fear-of-ruining-a-pile-of-ribs keeps your backyard grilling events stuck in hamburger mode, you can let those fears go!

That’s because you’re about to learn a fool-proof, easier-than-easy method for turning out perfect baby back ribs every time you give it a try. But wait! There’s more …

I hope these recipes come in handy just in case you’re planning to barbecue this weekend! See you there … Love, xo m

119

The $150 Starter Kitchen

For less than the cost of a week’s worth of restaurant meals, I can show you how to set up a starter kitchen that will get that special someone in your life excited about cooking at home. Just But for newly minted grads or newlyweds, this will get them started cooking great cheap meals in the kitchen …

120

The Useful Life of Spice Plus How to Repurpose

When I packed up my kitchen for our big move a few years ago, I was embarrassed to discover what I had accumulated in the spice cupboard. I’m pretty sure there were a couple of bottles of something or other in there that were certified antiques, pre-dating the Nixon administration.

121

Make Sure You Have These 9 Essential Pantry Items

Have you been paying attention to what’s going on with the cost of food? I just read that the average cost of ground beef in the U.S. has once again hit an all-time high. I believe it, and not only beef. It is shocking how grocery prices are going up, which underscores the need for a kitchen that includes the essential pantry items.

123

16 Brilliant Reasons to Stop Throwing Out Pickle Juice

A friend asked if she could borrow some pickle juice. Huh? Who keeps pickle juice? The purpose of pickle juice is to keep the pickles fresh and flavorful. And when the pickles are gone, out goes the juice, right? Wrong! Really, I had no idea that pickle juice had so many health benefits or could be used in so many ways in the kitchen.

124

DIY Ketchup Just Like Heinz

Heinz Ketchup is about as common a product as any in the Hunt refrigerator. We love it. We’ve tried other brands, and nothing compares. So why on earth would I even think of making it myself? The cost! 

126

13 Surprising Ways to Use Your Coffee Maker

You might think your coffee maker is a one-trick pony—does anything smell more wonderful than a fresh-brewed pot of coffee? But let’s think about this for a moment. That appliance heats water to about 200 F. and comes equipped with a hot plate to keep it at about 165 F. …

127

This is What to Do With Leftover Green Salad

If throwing out perfectly delicious leftover green salad were a crime, I’d be serving a life sentence. It kills me to do it, but until fairly recently, I hadn’t considered that leftover green salad could possibly have a second life, dressed or not. Once tossed, passed, and partially consumed, that’s it, right? Wrong!

128

Gift-Worthy Caramel Corn Just in Time for the Holidays

For years, I’d attempted to make caramel corn, without success. It was either too soggy or too chewy. Or the caramel turned sugary. Once, I needed a hammer and chisel to get the stuff out of the bowl.

I had really given up until my encounter with Popcornopolis. I had to figure this out―I had to find a way to create a reasonable facsimile in my kitchen that would hit the mark without breaking the bank.

I am excited to let you know is that I believe I have … oh my, yes! The recipe, instructions, and very important final step, all of that in today’s post ….

See you there! Love, Mary 👌❤️

129

Instant Pot Vanilla Extract—One Week from Start-to-Gift

 For nearly a decade I’ve been making vanilla extract for Christmas gifts. And every year I find myself scrambling because it’s a process that requires a minimum of three months—six months or even six years is even better! Vanilla extract gets better and better with age.

But all that has changed since discovering how to make vanilla extract using my Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. Instead of months, Instant Pot vanilla extract takes about one week from start-to-gift!

Pretty sure you’re going to love this! See you there … xo m ❣️

130

3 Quick and Cozy Slow Cooker Soups

Dump and run. That’s the kind of slow cooker recipe I love. No muss, no fuss— and no hovering over a hot stove to get dinner on the table.   As the days of autumn bring cooler weather, I find myself thinking about hot soup. And having dinner all planned and taken care of ahead […]

132

Use This for That to Reduce Clutter and Save Money

We could go broke furnishing our kitchens with the ‘right equipment’ if we look to television cooks and professional chefs as examples—although I must say that the late Julia Child was the queen of using this-for-that. Recycle pantyhose to store onions, pick up a rolling pin or create a French baking oven with a single trip to HomeDepot!

Check this out—four clever ways you can use this for that to cut kitchen clutter and save money, too!

See you there … Love, xo m

133

How to Propagate Basil, Grow and Turn it Into the Most Amazing Pesto

While I came bearing gifts and lunch to celebrate my friend Sharon’s Birthday, I left with a gift of perhaps even greater value! She taught me how to propagate basil.

As we were walking to my car, I casually reached down to admire her ginormous basil plant. Oh, that earthy, delightful fragrance! With that, she pinched off a couple of stems and suggested that I stick them in water for a few days.

What happened (and so quickly) has spun me into homemade holiday gifts mode—yes, Christmas in July. Ha. Curious? Click thru and I will tell all … See you there! Love, xo m 🎄

134

Going on Vacation? Make Your Own Plant Nanny Plus More Great Reader Tips

Every day I get loads of mail including wonderful notes, letters, and email messages from my awesome readers.

Tucked into many of those messages are tips, hints, tricks, and great ideas for the ways you save time and money every day. I’m pretty sure I have the best job on earth!

You’re going to love today’s post filled with great reader tips. Makes me wonder when I’ll be hearing from you with your best time- and money-saving tips and tricks!

See you there … Love, xo m

135

The Top 12 Shopping Triggers and How to Outsmart Them

I blame my suspicious nature on my neighborhood grocery store. The store used to be a logically arranged market with bright lights and clean floors—a basic, friendly, functional place to shop.

Then the bulldozers morphed it into a big fancy schmancy supermarket complete with shopping triggers of mood lighting, Starbucks, Panda Express, and lots of comfy chairs.

I have nothing against beautiful spaces and modern conveniences, but I’m no fool. I knew all of this effort was to one end—to get me to spend more of my hard-earned money. It was evident the moment I entered the all new, super modern, tripled-in-size, mega supermarket. Everything from the music to the colors, to the placement of the busy bakery seemed ultra contrived. 

Take the “3 for $6!” special of the week. Why not just say $2 each and drop the exclamation mark, I muttered to myself as I placed one jar of spaghetti sauce in the cart. 

Before I could wheel away I had my answer: I saw several customers dutifully place three jars in their carts. Not two, not four, but three jars. 

That response was no accident. In fact, that’s a simple example of how retailers use tricks to persuade—dare I say manipulate—customers to buy more.

Our defense as consumers is to educate ourselves. Today, the 12 tricks we need to know about. I have so much to tell you about this.

See you there! Love, xo m

136

16 Strategies to Stretch Your Food Budget

If soaring food prices are getting you down, help is on the way! Here are some basic saving strategies, practical solutions, and novel ideas to stretch your food budget—and make your life easier.

Granted, one of these strategies on its own is not likely to make a huge difference. But lots of small strategies working together—that’s the way to see huge results.

137

Worst and Best Ways to Grill Chicken

In a previous post, I asked readers to share their worst barbecue and grilling experiences that could have been spared if they’d had a decent instant-read thermometer. I loved reading your comments, some of which are so funny you had me laughing out loud. But more than that, I learned that most of our grilling disasters […]

138

A Fun Project for While You’re Homebound

I’m going to bet that Christmas is about the last thing on your mind. Am I right? And now you’re thinking about it. So am I. And I mean homemade Christmas gifts. Yes! What a great way to make the most of being homebound. Crazy idea? Not at all when you consider my absolutely favorite […]

139

Drive-Thru, Take-Out, Food Delivery—Is It Safe?

The news is constantly changing as experts learn more about the wicked virus that has invaded our world. Good, reliable information about food safety is absolutely crucial right now.

Restaurants have mostly moved into “to-go only” mode, closing their dining rooms but continuing to offer some combination of take-out, drive-thru, and home delivery. Can we rely on any of these options to keep us safe? Should we? Let’s check with the experts …

See you there! Love, xo m

140

7 Festive Holiday Dessert Drinks

It doesn’t have to be a full-blown dinner party to count as holiday entertaining. Why not ask your invited guests to bring their favorite sweets while you provide the beverages?

Then knock their socks off with a buffet of these festive holiday dessert drinks. You’ll avoid spending a bundle and reduce your stress in the process!

See you there! Love, xo m

141

Peach Freezer Jam

Peach Freezer Jam When they're in season, peaches are plentiful and relatively cheap,too. But the season is short. What to do with all those ripe peaches? Make jam … freezer jam! So easy.

143

How to Make Four Popular Mixes to Slash the Soaring Prices

They’re convenient and tasty, but have you ever considered the high cost of your favorite prepared mixes and spices? In less time than it takes you to run to the market to pick up a box of Rice-a-Roni or Shake‘N Bake, you can make it yourself and save a bundle in the process. With each […]

144

Make It Better Yourself: In-N-Out Burgers

It happens at least once a week: Someone asks me if I miss living in California, a question I find totally appropriate. After all, I did live there for most of my life, and in some ways, we are still adjusting to a much different life in more rural northern Colorado. My inquirers assume my […]

145

What Would You Do with 35 Pounds of Lemons?

I kinda’ went nuts on my last trip to California. You’ll recall from a previous column we make that trip quite often for business but also to visit our son who has a Meyer lemon tree in his back yard. I have never seen such a prolific fruit tree in my life. It’s not on any […]