If you’ve ever started dinner only to realize that you’re out of one thing or another, then you’ll know how easy it is to give up on dinner and just head for the nearest eating establishment. I mean, you’re going out anyway, right? A well-stocked pantry is one of the first keys to successful home cooking. Why Stock Your Pantry? ::As I stated before, having ingredients on hand means you’re less likely to run to the nearest fast food chain, order takeout, pizza or... more

With our weekly menu on display for everyone to see, it may be hard to believe that we ever eat out, but we do. In fact, there are days when the fast food flows as I sit behind my computer and toil away, leaving no time for the things I enjoy, one of them being spending some quality time in the kitchen, seeing what I create. It’s an easy pattern to fall into, eating out. You worked late and it’s already 6:00. If you just grab something to go, there’s no mess, no time investment... more

The leaves are turning on the trees here, signaling the end of summer and the return of brisk nights and even shorter days, as if school starting and the Halloween and Christmas decorations in stores weren’t enough. Yes. Christmas decorations. Keep your pants on, Mr. Retail Giant. The return of cold nights also means my herb gardens are in their final moments and will soon be ready for their final harvest, if I haven’t done so already. It means that fresh herbs will come from the... more

I like tuna. Really. I do. I like it as a big, ol’ tuna steak, sliced raw on my sushi, seared and dipped in wasabi-infused sauce. I do NOT, however, appreciate what most American households are likely to have as their tuna standard: Chunk Light Tuna…at least in most cases. You’ve seen it in cans of various sizes. It makes appearances in casseroles, pasta salads, on sandwiches all across the country for lunch, dinner, potlucks and snacks. There are benefits to chunk light... more

Photo by thebittenworld.com Three years ago, my in-laws bought us a freezer for Christmas. It is one of the best gifts we’ve ever received. My parents were feeling slighted, so they bought us a knife set this past year. Those are also wonderful, but I’m here to talk about the freezer. Our freezer is a magical place, filled with ribs, ice cream bars, make-ahead meals, fish, beef, pesto and vegetables. We often start our menu planning by first going through and seeing what the contents... more

Earlier this week, I wrote a guest post for Tara at Deal Seeking Mom about how to save money the next time you visit the grocery store. I came up with seven of my favorite tips. 1. Browse the weekly ads online before you go to the store 2. Combine online printable and clipped coupons with specials 3. Make a meal plan 4. Avoid impulse buying 5. Buy in bulk whenever possible 6. Shop at multiple stores 7. Talk to the supermarket employees You can read the full post HERE. Tara’s readers had some... more