Search Results for: blog three bean casserole

The Families Cookbook Winter ’06 Bean Sprouts to Celery

I’m introducing a new feature here at families.com. Have you ever wanted to find a recipe based on an ingredient you have on hand? If so, you’ve likely encountered the same problem I have when looking at the categories to the right–there are simply too many recipes to find what you’re looking for. So I created these cookbooks so that you could easily search for your ingredient and easily find all the wonderful recipes here at families.com! (Check back periodically; this is a work in progress!) Note: Kitchen staples are not categorized. You will not find flour, sugar, salt, pepper, … Continue reading →

Three Ways Your Crockpot Saves Money

I love my crockpots. Let me say that one more time for emphasis. I LOVE my crockpots. Not only are they very convenient, but they are a great way to save money in the kitchen. Notice I said “they.” Yes, I have two crockpots, and I use them both on a regular basis. There are three main ways a crockpot will save you money and help you bring frugal but hearty meals to your table. 1. The first way your crockpot saves money is by using less energy that traditional cooking methods, such as an oven. The low steady heat … Continue reading →

The Easy Way to Cook from Scratch

Cooking from scratch is a great way to reduce your overall food bill. Eating out can cost three or four times as much as cooking at home, on average. Faced with the reality of the savings, why don’t we all cook more and eat out less? Well, one of the main reasons is that the idea of cooking every meal at home when our lives are so busy can seem daunting. Guess what, though? Eating at home can actually be less time consuming than going out in many cases. Plus, if you follow the following advice, you will see that … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving and Pregnancy Part II

Now that all my Thanksgiving preparations were complete and all my pies where baked, my family and I were ready to spend the day with our families. The first stop was to my parents house for a more intimate dinner. We headed over at around nine in the morning so that we could spend a good bit of time with my parents and siblings before heading over to my husband’s parent’s house. All but one sister were in attendance. I brought an “old fashioned” pumpkin pie for dessert and some freshly baked pumpkin bread as a breakfast/pre-dinner hors d’ oeuvre. … Continue reading →

What Food Can You Freeze?

Freezer cooking can definitely save money and time in your household, but do you know which food freezes well? Understanding what you can freeze and what you can’t will help you avoid loss of food. Plus, if you know that something will freeze well, you can then stock up on that item or the ingredients to make it, saving even more money. Here is a list of food stuff that can go in your freezer and be enjoyed later. Baked goods, such as muffins, cakes, brownies, cookies, rolls, bread, buns, pie crust and pizza crust. For best results, frost cakes … Continue reading →

How Do You Do Thanksgiving?

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been reflecting on how the way that I have celebrated Thanksgiving has changed through the years. Each year has been enjoyable, but there have been a few changes along the way. When I was a child, my parents would pack my sister and I into the car and we would have a mid-day meal at one grandmother’s house and an evening meal at our other grandmother’s house. Both grandmothers lived in the same city which was near the town that we lived in, so the traveling was not a big deal. The food that was … Continue reading →

Mixed Vegetables Au Gratin

Since I’ve been telling you what a fan I am of vegetables recently, I thought it was about time I gave you another recipe using vegetables. This one is always a winner. It is a good recipe for vegetarians and is also gluten free. The benefit is it can be prepared a day ahead and kept covered in the fridge till needed. You can also freeze it. It will keep for 3-4 weeks. It is however, unsuitable to microwave. The other disadvantage is it not suitable for those on a dairy free diet. Mixed Vegetable Au Gratin Ingredients 8 ounces … Continue reading →

More Ham Freezer Cooking

Today I woke up knowing that I had to do some freezer cooking. Remember all of that inexpensive ham I have been telling you about? Well, it was time turn the last ham deals into some freezer meals. I’m still in the process of finishing up actually. In the oven now, excuse me when the timer beeps, are the second batch of ham and cheese hot pockets. These will be great for quick out-the-door lunches or take-to-work lunches. I tried a new dough recipe this time. The previous one, using bread flour and a pizza dough recipe seemed to make … Continue reading →

Last Call For Thanksgiving Leftovers

Are you still eating Thanksgiving leftovers? I posted a few simple, affordable and tasty ways you could breathe new life into leftover Turkey Day dishes, but I wouldn’t suggest you use any of them after tomorrow. According to health experts at the Mayo Clinic, you should not eat refrigerated Thanksgiving leftovers after Tuesday, December 1st, in order to prevent food poisoning. Doctors say they see an increase in food poisoning cases in the first weeks of December due to people eating spoiled Thanksgiving leftovers. Food poisoning (also known as food-borne illness) is caused by bacteria in contaminated food. Symptoms can … Continue reading →

Simple Spring Desserts

Easter is still three weeks away, but if you are expecting company for the holiday, then you might want to get a jumpstart on your menu planning. Easter traditionally means ham, grandma’s potato salad and great green bean dishes around here. For dessert I like to stick with sweet treats MINUS the chocolate (the Easter Bunny takes care of filling baskets with loads of chocolate and having brownies or other fudgy desserts is a bit too much for one day). The following fruity desserts are extremely popular with my friends and family. They are ideal for a spring or Easter … Continue reading →