Search Results for: blog homemade spaghettios

Homemade Hangover Cures

Need a homemade hangover cure for yourself or friends and family? Take your pick, here is the latest advice on what to do to cure a hangover, as well as some classic hangover cures. Please note that the best way to avoid a hangover is to not overindulge in alcohol. Also, this blog is informational only and not intended to provide medical advice. Milk Thistle Hangover Cure This year, New Years Eve partygoers are stocking up on capsules of milk thistle as insurance against an achy head that results from too much drinking the night before. Once used centuries ago … Continue reading →

Shopping List and Tidbits for the Food Blog: April 7 through April 13

The food blog has been busy, busy, busy this week thanks to the excellent ideas and recipes contributed by our very own frugal blogger, Mary Ann Romans. Keep reading for fabulous ideas in the kitchen, new food trends, and of course, you can always print out your shopping list full of ingredients! Tidbits March was National Pasta Month. However, as you may well know, March was also the month of the blogger hiatus. So National Pasta Month got celebrated with a quiz last week and this week I have posted the Answers to the Noodle Quiz. Are you familiar with … Continue reading →

Homemade “Spaghettios!”

Want a great homemade treat that kids will love? This recipe is so simple to make, and it tastes much better than those canned kids meals. I discovered this great little recipe while on a pantry challenge. A pantry challenge is when you look into your pantry and try to use up the things you have on hand instead of going grocery shopping. During that pantry challenge, I found that I had a large number of cans of tomato soup as well as boxes of pasta. This recipe did the trick with using up those ingredients. It actually turned out … Continue reading →

Money Saving Meals for Busy Families

Busy families shouldn’t miss out on the savings just because they have little time to cook. Home cooked meals are one of the best ways to save on the food bill. With a little knowledge, you can spend very little to cook at home, no matter how hectic your life is. Here is how. Crockpot Recipes I’m convinced that the crockpot must have been invented by a busy mom. If you don’t have this little appliance, run out right now and get one. Don’t worry about the expense. You can pick your first one up for a few dollars at … Continue reading →

Creative Ways to Tip This Season: Free Gift Cards and More

How many people do you have in your life who are on your tipping list for the holidays? The hair stylist, school bus drivers, teachers, the trash man, the postal clerk or delivery person (there are rules on type and amount), the baby sitter or nanny, the coffee barista and anyone else who provides you a regular service, may all be expecting a holiday tip. At least one service provider of ours actually leaves an envelope just for the purpose. Most of us forget to add tipping expenses into our budgets and may be left with a surprise when we … Continue reading →

Frugal Family Meal Ideas

Whether you are cooking from your pantry or just trying to knock down your food budget, it helps to have an arsenal of some great frugal family meal ideas. And while beans can certainly be part of your recipe book, it doesn’t have to be the main part. Here are my favorite ideas for frugal family meals that both the kids and your wallet will love. Kids love pasta. That is a given. So one of my favorite frugal family meals uses it, but with a twist. Everyone enjoys eating this slightly more sophisticated (notice I said slightly) and much … Continue reading →

Frugal Challenges with Friends

Having a frugal challenge with online or offline friends can be a lot of fun and a great way to save money. You can cheer each other on, brag about your accomplishments and meet your goals together. Having a friendly community at hand really does make a different when it comes to being frugal Interested? Don’t have a community ready and available? Check out the Families.com forums, where there are plenty of new friends waiting to be part of a frugal challenge. Here are some frugal challenges that you can join or start. Pantry Challenge Cook only from your pantry … Continue reading →

Save Money on Sweets

I was blessed (or cursed) with a sweet tooth. My body seems to burn sugar right up. Have you ever taken a sugar test during pregnancy? During the test, you are required to fast for an hour or two and then drink a sugary drink that is basically highly concentrated soda syrup, minus the fizzy bubbles. Furthermore, you have to drink the stuff within a certain number of minutes, and the experience is just horrible. Sometimes, they would ask me to repeat the test, because even after drinking that whole thing, my blood sugar would be on the lower side … Continue reading →

Classic Macaroni and Cheese

Is there anything that says “comfort food” more than homemade macaroni and cheese? I hardly think so. This version uses four cheese which means my husband will like it. I find it to be the creamiest recipe I’ve ever made. . .which means my kids will like it. It took me a long time to find a macaroni and cheese recipe that my kids thought was better than the kind that comes in the box. If you’re looking for an easy meal idea. . .try adding vegetables and meat to this version. You can use canned tuna or chicken, or … Continue reading →

Save Money by Making a “Cream of Leftovers” Soup

Tonight I am having what I affectionately refer to as “cream of leftovers” soup. It is delicious. In fact, it is the best meal I’ve had all week. Last night, my husband and I grilled some steaks and asparagus spears. Unfortunately, I waited a bit too long to cook the spears so some of them were a little, well…floppy. I love asparagus and I hated wasting them. I decided to chop them into pieces and put them in a crockpot with Campbell’s classic Cream of Mushroom soup. Have you ever made a fantastic meal using miscellaneous items from your cupboard … Continue reading →