One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. As we move into summer, I’m so excited to finally start benefiting from our garden. I love having food available in the backyard, and knowing exactly how it has been... more

This past February at Blissdom I met Stephanie from Keeper of the Home, and I instantly realized that we had a few things in common, the least of which being we both strive to raise our families on a diet that consists of real food. In Stephanie’s book Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less she starts by taking a look at your family’s budget. She shares tips on meal planning and gardening, and she even takes a long look at how to make couponing work on a “real... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. It’s still very much spring here in Minnesota. The skies are gray, the rain is wet, and the air is cold. I’m looking forward to the summer warmth whenever it... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. Last year I planted these columbine from seeds. This year I have three flourishing plants and one tiny one (that I didn’t plant but that came up anyway). Excited about... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. I spent part of last week in Florida with the other Lifetime Moms. I was excited to meet them in person, and I’m delighted to call them my friends. While I was gone,... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. After weeks of nothing but cold gray and gloom, it’s finally nice out. We planted the rest of our garden this weekend with the sun shining down on us. It finally feels... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. For Mother’s Day we stayed home. The final raised-bed garden box was constructed. I chanced fate and planted my 25 strawberry plants. The raspberries were moved to... more