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How to Choose Cherries

Summer is a great time to pick up some cherries. They are definitely in season right now. But how can you choose the best fruit? Read this article to find out the three different types of cherries and what to look for when buying them. At my house right now, barely a day goes by without some little mouth covered with the pink juice stains of ripe cherries. I think I’ve probably spent hours cutting them up and removing the pits. There are three types of cherries, and they aren’t all best used for the same purposes. The cherries that … Continue reading →

What is the Dirty Dozen List?

One of my little frugal dreams is to one day walk into a store and see plump juice organic strawberries for very little cost. That dream may have a hard time being actualized, since organic strawberries, even when in season, can get expensive. Conventional strawberries, on the other hand, may be on sale or even available as a “loss leader,” an item that the store loses money on in the hopes of getting shoppers in the door. Still, it is a rare day when I buy conventional strawberries. They are just too high on the list of produce with the … Continue reading →

Saving Money on Healthy Summer Treats

Is it just me, or does the food bill seem to grow in the summer? All of that fresh air seems to be making us all hungry. Summer favorites such as fresh produce, popsicles, even burgers, seem to be going up in price. Add in a bit extra when you are trying to avoid the artificial stuff and buy organic, and the prices go up even more. You don’t want to have to choose between serving healthy food to your family and going into debt. My advice is to use all of the strategies you can to get the best … Continue reading →

Container Gardening: Growing Fruit in Containers

A long time ago (ok, 6 years ago), we lived in a small third floor apartment. The beautiful highlight of this small apartment was its gorgeous deck. As an added bonus, the apartment had access to a communal sundeck, and we were allowed to grow fruit and vegetables on this bountiful, sunlit patio. I grew up gardening, but as I got busier in my high school and university years gardening dropped away to be replaced by other, loftier pursuits. This sundeck was my first foray back into the world of gardening, and I wanted nothing less than a fruit tree. … Continue reading →

Health Insurance Companies Will Be Sharing Revenue

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Rules were revealed by the Obama Administration today that will forever change how health insurance companies look at potential customers. The new rules are designed to coordinate with the exchanges that many states are in the process of creating. It will cause health insurers to compete on “a level playing field” for customers. Right now, health insurance companies try and “cherry pick” the healthiest customers. They have a history of refusing to cover people who have expensive, chronic, pre-existing health conditions. Insurers typically will charge a person who has a serious medical condition a much higher premium than they would … Continue reading →

Foods That Fight Inflammation 2

It is important to fight inflammation in your body to counteract the damage that can cause cancer, heart disease and diabetes among other diseases and conditions. Getting enough sleep is one way to do this, but it isn’t the only tool in your arsenal. You can reduce your risk of serious disease by making your that your diet includes food that fights inflammation. Yesterday, I introduced this topic and shared two of the important foods that you need to consume. Today, I’ll finish the list with three more food that fight inflammation. Cherries The type of cherry you choose is … Continue reading →

How to Find Pantry Storage Space

In a recent post, I talked about all of the frugal benefits of having a small home. A small home can save you quite a bit of money, especially in the long run. But one thing a small home usually doesn’t have is extra storage space. And when you combine lack of storage space with stockpiling and cooking from scratch (two practices that can also save you a lot of money) you may wonder if you are going to be in trouble. Finding pantry storage space isn’t always as hard as you might think. Here are some tips on how … Continue reading →

How to Save Money on Fruits and Vegetables

Most people don’t get the required five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Think about it. It is hard to get all of the nutritious food into our bodies, especially when produce can be so expensive. But we owe it to ourselves and or families to provide good, healthy fruits and vegetables without going into bankruptcy. Here are some tips you can use to help you save money on fruits and vegetables. Buy your produce in season. While cherries can be yummy and festive in winter, you will pay a premium for them. Take advantage of nature’s bounty to … Continue reading →

Fruitastic Desserts

Whenever I feel particularly overwhelmed by life’s curveballs I console myself by remembering that I am the mother of a young child who would happily choose fresh fruit over chocolate any day. (Hey, whatever helps you get through the day, right?) As a result, I tend to seek out dessert recipes, which feature fruit as a natural sweetener, versus ones that are dripping with chocolate, caramel or other artificial flavors. The following sweet treats are among my daughter’s favorites: EASY BANANA PUDDING Ingredients: 1 bag Pepperidge Farm Chessman cookies 5 to 6 ripe bananas, sliced 2 cups milk 1 (5-ounce) … Continue reading →

Choosing Strawberries

Yummy, yummy strawberries. Who can resist the plump sweetness of a great strawberry. There is nothing like this great fruit when it is ripe and perfect. Enjoy them with chocolate, with cream, or in one of the many great recipes here in the Food Blog. But, one of the things about strawberries is that when they go wrong, they go very wrong. From tough bitter berries to rotten moldy berries, you could be in for a nasty surprise if you aren’t careful. And strawberries have some special concerns when it comes to choosing where and how the strawberries are grown. … Continue reading →