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Old Fashioned Soda Fountain TreatsClose your eyes and come with me, a trip down memory lane to the place where red and white checked dreams come true. Many of us from the older generation can remember going to the local soda fountain for a burger and a shake or to have an egg cream or homemade French fries.

 

Using Up A Surplus of FoodI had an interesting problem recently in regards to food. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Oregon closed all bars and restaurants in mid March. They could still provide take-out or delivery but many places shut down for the duration. Because this was relatively unexpected, the businesses had a great deal of produce and refrigerated food to get rid of before it went bad.

 

Using Up Leftovers from a PartyI hate wasting food. I just cleaned out my refrigerator last weekend and made sure that every bit of holiday food was used up or tossed. It can be a fun challenge to use everything up in creative new ways. Here are some of ideas I've heard about over the years.

 

Reusing Disposable Hair NetsMy mama always wore a hair net while she cooked. I admit, I am sometimes lax about that, but if I am preparing food which will be eaten by others, I always wear a net. I got an excellent deal on disposable hair nets from eBay.

 

Eat Leftovers And Be GratefulI've made reference in other posts to the fact that, when I was a child, we were quite poor. We didn't have a car. Few families in my neighborhood, did. I think we were the last to get a television.

 

Eat Healthy and Save Money TooYes, Virginia, it is possible to eat healthy and save money. If you are looking for a good New Year's resolution next month, here's food for thought. Use more beans, legumes, grains and seeds in your diet!

 

Save Eating Out for Special OccasionsWe were sitting at a buffet one busy weekend discussing how we needed another dresser but can't afford it. Then we paid the $65 bill and went home. It struck me how ridiculous it was to continue to eat out for convenience sake all the time.

 

Feeding a ColdWe've all heard the saying, "Feed a cold and starve a fever," but no one says with what. I have put together a menu from the things that I know are good for colds, together with those I find myself craving in this situation.

 

Don't Preheat Canning LidsAccording to the manufacturers of Ball canning products, it is not necessary to heat the lids before placing them on the canning jars. This has been true since 1969, when the chemical composition of the sealing gasket was changed.

 

Canning Strawberries in a Warm Water BathStrawberries can be canned but people usually enjoy them more frozen. If you like old fashioned strawberry pie that is more like an apple or cherry pie, canned strawberries are best for that.

 

Canning Peaches in Warm Bath CannerPeaches are one of the prettiest fruits in a can. Of course, I might be a little partial to them because I like them so much. I lived in Alabama and Georgia for a few years and could stop by the side of the road and pick up fresh peaches during the summer.

 

Canning Plums in a Hot Water BathThis beautiful purple fruit is so refreshing on a hot summer day. Canning them means you can enjoy them all year long.

 

Canning Oranges in a Hot Bath CannerIf you live in an orange growing climate, you are lucky. If you have citrus trees in your backyard, you have hit the jackpot. There are several different types of oranges and all are sweet.

 

Canning Papayas in Hot Water BathIf you like papayas, canning them makes it easy to enjoy them any time of year.

 

Canning Quince in Hot Water CannerA quince looks like a pear and doesn't ripen well on the tree. This is one fruit that you can bring home and not have to can immediately.

 

Canning Pineapple in Warm Water Bath CannerPineapple is a funny looking fruit that tastes wonderful but looks like it will take a war to get into the sweet fruit. However, it is worth it to learn how to handle this funny looking fruit.

 

Canning Nectarines in a Hot Water WashIt is important to pick fruit that tastes good when canning. It should be ripe. It will be firm but not really hard and should not be mushy. Once you start canning it, the fruit won't change its taste.

 

Canning Mangoes in a Hot Water BathThe mango should be firm but not rock hard. It should be ready to eat. Probably the best bet for finding mangoes would be the big outlets such as Costco, Sam's Clubs, or one like those.

 

Canning Mushrooms in a Pressure CannerMushroom are used in lots of casseroles and soups as well as fried with onions for some good toppings on meat and potatoes. Now if you want fresh, fried mushrooms, you need to find an experienced mushroom hunter and go hunting.

 

Canning Lemons in Hot Water BathLemon trees are a wonderful thing to have in your yard if you like lemon meringue pie. I particularly enjoy Ponderosa lemons. They are big and almost look like grapefruit except for little knobs at the ends.

 

Canning Kiwi in a Hot Water BathKiwifruit is your first consideration when canning the kiwi. To check the fruit that you might want to can, you need to "sloop" the kiwi. Sloop is a word made up in the kiwi world for slicing and scooping.

 

Canning Green Beans in the Pressure CookerOnce green beans become ripe on the vine, they need picked and preserved. Picking goes on for days as a new crop appears. If you have your own garden, you can pick and can until you are sick of green beans and still have plenty to give away.

 

My Frugal Life: Saving Made EasySince being a mother, I have found that there are so many ways to save. One of my favorite is by never wasting food. I love to reuse my left overs but in different ways. Even though we are having the same food, it is different.

 

Canning Lemons in Hot Water BathLemon trees are a wonderful thing to have in your yard if you like lemon meringue pie. I particularly enjoy Ponderosa lemons. They are big and almost look like grapefruit except for little knobs at the ends.

 

Canning Kiwi in a Hot Water BathKiwifruit is your first consideration when canning the kiwi. To check the fruit that you might want to can, you need to "sloop" the kiwi. Sloop is a word made up in the kiwi world for slicing and scooping.

 

Canning Grapefruit in Hot Water CannerGrapefruit is found in the southern states or southern western states. If you happen to live in the area for citrus and have trees in your yard, you probably will want to learn to can the fruit.

 

Save Money on MeatOur local restaurant supply store has specials on meat. We get Angus beef for less that $2.20 a pound. The catch is you need to cut your own steaks.

 

Canning Cherries with a Hot Bath CannerIf a person wants to can cherries, there is one rule of thumb to follow. Taste one. Is it ripe enough? What do you want it to taste like? If it is firm and not too ripe, you have the cherry you will want to preserve.

 

Canning Figs in Warm Bath CannerPicking and eating or picking and preserving is the best thing to do with figs. Figs need quick attention. They also need to be harvested at their best moment. Figs don't ripen once they leave the tree.

 

Canning Beets in a Pressure CannerBeets are one colorful vegetable. It might not be one of my favorites for eating but many people like them and want them canned for the winter months. Beets have to be canned in a pressure canner.

 

Canning Artichokes in Oil (The Italian Way)Artichokes are a strange looking vegetable that kind of looks like a pine cone. It is green and the petals come up around the center. I would start with baby artichokes rather than the hearts for my first venture in canning in oil.

 

Canning Apricots in a Hot Water BathCanning takes some time at harvest but the results prove to be time well spent. If you have never canned before, don't plan to can the whole garden in one day. Harvest of very much takes some time. There is time needed to prepare the food.

 

Canning Asparagus in a Pressure CannerIf you have planned ahead, you may have a thriving asparagus patch in your backyard. You have to start two years ahead of being able to eat or can anything from the asparagus growth.

 

The Lowly Bread MachineNothing smells any more awesome that homemade bread baking. And nothing is more loved than fresh bread. You can make your bread, and eat it too!

 

Reusing Paper Coffee FiltersWe drink a lot of coffee in our house and each time after making coffee, we threw out the paper filter along with the grinds. Since I didn't like wasting so many paper filters, I tried the resuable plastic coffee filters with the mesh.

 

Free Kitchen Storage Containers I was trying to figure out how to keep my pantry dry and thought about the old fashioned 1 gallon glass jars. I took a trip in to my local grocery store to see if I could get some at the deli. I ended up with 1 Gallon plastic salad dressing containers.

 

Canning Apples in a Warm Water BathI had always been a city girl who bought her beans and tomatoes at the grocery store. They came in cans and I had no idea how they got there. One day I made a discovery and saw beans and tomatoes and lots of other things grow right out in a field.

 

Turning One Meal Into SixWhether you're short on time or money, preparing one large meal on the weekend and stretching it all week long is a cost and time efficient way of meal planning.

 

Food: The Final FrontierYes, I am an old school Star Trek fan. "These are the voyages of the . . ." Oh ok, I will come back down to Earth for a moment and talk about how I am feeding my family.

 

Meals Ideas from a Roasted ChickenEach week I buy an already roasted chicken for $4.98 from Sam's and can put together a different quick meal from it using the following recipes.

 

How to Chop an OnionTrim off the flat top end of the onion, that is opposite the root end. Set the onion down on the cut side so it won't roll around.

 

Finding Great RecipesEveryone knows that recipes are my "thing." I am blessed to have not only been born into a family of cooks, but also to have married into one as well. I have access to thousands of recipes from family members and friends, including the cookbook that my mother had published.

 

Dry Beans, Beans, Beans!Beans are a great way to stretch your food budget and can feed a crowd. Most people love a great chili or baked beans, but most people don't know how to identify the beans in every dish.

 

Think Outside the Bird: Ideas for Cranberry...You can use canned cranberry sauce for the following ideas but I make my own and it works just as well. I absolutely love cranberries so I've done all the ideas listed.

 

Watkin's Pound CakeAlmost every year that I can remember as a child, Mother would make several huge fruitcakes; and this Watkin's Pound cake recipe is what she used as the cake part of the "fruit-cake".

 

Lime Kale ChipsQuick and easy kale chips. A healthy alternative to potato chips.

 

Morel MushroomsThe buttery rich flavor is unbeatable and they are free!

 

Mother's Day CookiesLot's of mothers love cookies rather than candy. I know that one of the sweetest gifts I ever received from my kids was a plate of cookies. They baked them for me and put them on a pretty plate that had flowers all around the rim.

 

Microwave Safety TipsSeveral times, I used the microwave oven, only to have pitted "microwavable bowls," and the inside of the microwave, a food mess. I discovered on my own, to use a smaller "heat" setting for a longer period of time.

 

10 Ways to Use Extra Candy CanesIf you're wondering what to do with all those extra candy canes, here are a few ideas you might want to try.

 

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potatoes and...How many times have you stood in front of the potatoes in the store and wondered what the difference was in all those different varieties of potatoes?

 

Savory MuffinsNow we all love warm sweet muffins, but there are a group of muffins that never get any recognition. These savory muffins are great with soup or a main course meal.

 

A Collection of Halloween TreatsMy husband's favorite holiday is Halloween. He loves all the candy he gets to give out. (and eat!) I have been collecting Halloween treat recipes for many years. I hope you enjoy them all.

 

Make Your Freezer Work For You: Jams, Jellies And PicklesThere are many ways of preserving food. You can can it or you can dehydrate it, but if you have a freezer, you have a world of possibilities. The freezer is not just for storing your meat and TV dinners anymore.

 

May Day LuncheonWhy not invite your friends to a May Day Luncheon? The foods could be as easy as finger sandwiches and lemonade but I am going to give you a recipe for a really easy and simple quiche and ideas for decorations that will make your May Day party an easy success.

 

Using DurianDurian often referred to 'that stinky fruit' to those who are not accustomed to the smell, but cherished by many who grew up around it. Known as 'The King of Fruits' throughout Asia.

 

Tribute to My MomWhen I think of my mother, the first thing to come to mind is, believe it or not, food! Crazy as it may sound, you have to understand that my mom was a top notch cook during my childhood years.

 

Using Fish SauceFish sauce is fermented for many months and the liquid is drained out through a spigot and processed. It comes in many varieties, made with herbs and spices mixed in or just with salt.

 

Keep Veggies Fresh LongerI have found that you can keep all your vegetables fresh longer if you remove the cores and seeds from them as soon as possible after you purchase them.

 

Using Bell PepperBell peppers come in a variety of colors, including, green, red, yellow, and orange. Delicious in a variety of dishes, they originally were grown in Mexico, Central and South America.

 

Butter vs. Margarine: You DecideI asked my doctor about "butter vs. margarine" and was told that, believe it or not, butter being a natural product was probably better for our bodies.

 

Recycled Dinners as Easy as 1-2-3As grocery prices rise, the skill of recycling leftovers becomes even more valuable (as if it weren't already crucial in most family meal planning.) To ease the strain of grocery shopping as well as meal planning, try a 1-2-3 recycling plan to lengthen the life of your leftovers.

 

Save Money By Baking Your Own BreadOne way to save quite a bit on food is to learn your way around baking yeast. You can find a whole pound of it for about $2.50 at little shops or places that sell in bulk and you use it a tablespoon at a time - it lasts for months in the refrigerator.

 

Use What You Have: Mac and Cheese Without a Pan or ColanderThis happened to me and my friend while camping and thought I would pass it along. We had decided to go camping and packed everything we thought we would be needing only to discover when we went to make macaroni and cheese for dinner the first night, we had no pan to cook the macaroni in and no colander to strain said macaroni.

 

Storing Root Crops Outdoors Over WinterStoring garden vegetables whole is quicker and more economical than freezing, canning or dehydrating them.This is especially true for certain root crops. Potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, rutabagas, winter radishes, and parsnips, adapt well to winter storage. No room indoors? No worries.

 

Freezing ApplesHow do you prepare fresh apples for freezing? I plan on making pies later. Selecting High-Quality Apples: If you're purchasing apples, fall offers the greatest selection. Choose ripe apples for freezing that feel firm and crisp in hand and have a bright color.

 

Using Balsamic VinegarTraditional artisan balsamic vinegar is highly praised by gourmet chefs and is also very expensive. The balsamic vinegar drizzled liberally over a salads which many of us are familiar is not made in the same way as the traditional artisan balsamic vinegar...

 

Cookie Swap PartyI love cookies so when I heard about Cookie Swaps, I was in HEAVEN! There are many ways you can do your party. I set the date and just asked all my guest to bring a big batch of their favorite cookies.

 

Using Argan OilArgan oil is produced in Morocco by Berber women. In recent years this oil has been discovered by western cosmetic companies which praise this oil for its skin benefits.

 

Summer's BountyI don't know about you, but I love shopping at the farmer's market. I have a small garden, but it is not enough to feed the seven people who live in my house so I do my quantity shopping at the farmer's market.

 

Vegetable Dishes Brighten Summer MenusNo matter what the season, you can never have too many healthy, easy-to-prepare vegetable dishes. In summer, when local gardens and farmers' markets have produce aplenty, you can establish a broad repertoire of recipes drawing from the many fruits and vegetables in season.

 

Barbecue Food SafetyCooking outdoors was once only a summer activity shared with family and friends. Now more than half of Americans say they are cooking outdoors year round. Use these simple guidelines for grilling food safely.

 

Lowering Fats and Sugars in Your DietThis really is not a recipe, but I feel it should be put with the recipes. Being as we have certain hereditary diseases in the family. I have to learn to cook differently now as I think I am young but my body is not agreeing with me which I don't think is right.

 

Healthy Living Tips To Keep Weight OffI've been slim for about 10 years (of course with a few ups and downs!) and have just realized that there are a lot of things I have been doing over the years automatically to help keep my weight down.

 

Using Leftover Pork RoastHere are tips for using leftover pork roast from ThriftyFun community: Take your leftovers, toss 'em in the crockpot with a jar of salsa, and shred it up for pulled pork sandwiches. Cook on Low for 8 hours, or High for four.

 

The Seasonal "Locavore": Guidelines for Healthy...Few of us would argue the health and environmental benefits of locally produced food. It is usually the freshest, best tasting and most nutritious food we can give our bodies, and growing, harvesting, and transporting it locally leaves the smallest carbon footprint and does the least amount of damage to the environment.

 

Ideas for Healthy SnacksNot only are these snacks healthy, most of them make great "grab and" go snacks for the whole family.

 

Saving Money On BreadTips for saving money on bread as posted by the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.

 

Saving Money on EggsIf you have a reasonable sized back garden (yard), and your local government allows, keep 2-4 chickens depending on the size of your family.

 

Using AllspiceAllspice is a dried berry. It is very important in many cuisines around the world including Caribbean and Middle Eastern foods. In the west, it is usually used in desserts, but is also a main ingredient in barbecue sauce and chili and an important spice for making sausage.

 

Using Annatto SeedAnnatto seed is used as a red food coloring and for flavoring. Annatto is used for coloring cheeses such as cheddar and also for butter. Most often found in Caribbean, Latin American and Filipino cuisine.

 

Using AlmondsAlmonds have been praised for many health benefits, such as, cancer prevention. If eaten daily can help lower cholesterol, and boost the immune system.

 

Herb and Spice Charts for Your RefrigeratorMost of us decorate the front of our refrigerators with magnets and pictures and if you have small children in the house, yours is covered with small plastic letters spelling out all kinds of words. Well, I have a craft project for you that will make your refrigerator a one stop for reference.

 

Ten Easy Ways to Eat HealthfullyDiet is a four letter word! Restrictions lead to a feeling of deprivation and that leads - you guessed it - right to the kitchen cupboard, in search of a reward.

 

Countdown to ThanksgivingBelieve it or not now is the time to start organizing your holiday meal. It does not matter whether your planning for 4 or 40, there are a few things you can do now to make it a whole lot easier on yourself on the big day.

 

Saving Money on Baking SuppliesTips for saving money on baking supplies from the ThriftyFun community. Buy supplies during that special period between Halloween and Thanksgiving. That's when the sugar, flour, chocolate chips, coconut, yeast, etcetera, go on sale for unbelievably low prices.

 

Dehydrating Fruits and VegetablesThe next time you go to the grocery store and they are having a great sale or your garden is overproducing, try my friend Amy's trick for easy winter soups.

 

Understanding Food AdditivesKnowing what is really in the food we eat can sometimes be a mystery, and so with this article I hope that I can give you some information that you can use and be a more informed consumer. If you know what some of the additives are and why they are put into your food than you can decide for yourself if this is something that was needed or if it was an additive that you would rather do without.

 

Be Thrifty in the Kitchen With EggsI love to look for ways to be thrifty in the kitchen. One of the most inexpensive food staples I have in my refrigerator is the egg! If you are still concerned about the cholesterol in your diet, in most recipes, you can use just the whites.

 

Old Fashioned Soda Fountain Treats (Part 4 -...There is nothing better in the world than homemade toppings for ice cream. You can make so many more flavors than you can buy at the grocery store.

 

Old Fashioned Soda Fountain Treats (Part 3 -...Well, here we are with part three of our "walk down Memory Lane". I sure hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I did. The basic construction of a sundae is ice cream in the bottom with a topping and garnishes on top.

 

Vacuum Packing & Food StorageMy newest experiment has been vacuum sealing my food. As one who always loved to "put up" food in glass Mason jars and keep a stocked freezer, the thought of further food preservation intrigued me.

 

Old Fashioned Soda Fountain Treats (Part 2 -...Vanilla Milk Shake (White Cow): 4 scoops vanilla ice cream, 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract, 1 1/2 cups milk. Put into a blender container and blend until smooth.

 

Saving Money on FruitTips from the ThriftyFun community. Here in L.A. we have orange vendors and that's the best place to get nice, juicy, ripe oranges! And we also go to farmer's markets to get the best deals in seasonal fruit - so we can splurge on things like nectarines, peaches and strawberries!

 

Soup's OnWith all the cold weather we have been having, a bowl of steaming soup brings us back to our mother's and grandmother's kitchens. Soup is a labor of love. Even if you don't like to cook, most of us can heat a can of soup and magically be brought back to that time and place.

 

My First Recipe: Fried Chicken For The MinisterMother was away and Dad and I invited our Presbyterian minister to dinner. I had helped Mother in the kitchen, but had never prepared dinner on my own.

 

Kitchen Time SaversTips and ideas for saving time in the kitchen. Feel free to post your ideas!

 

Stocking Up the Proper WayStocking up can be a great way to save money, but if it's not done properly it can do exactly the opposite. To succeed one must have a good grasp on the household's habits as well as a good sense of organization.

 

Making Powdered Milk Taste BetterI am using powdered milk to save money (I get the powdered milk for free). Is there anything I can do to the reconstituted milk to make it taste better? I added a tablespoon of sugar and some vanilla today, nothing changed. It still tastes like powder.

 

Uses for Bacon GreaseWhat are some uses for bacon grease? We like to put a little in green beans, especially fresh picked ones.

 

Blanching VegetablesBlanching Vegetables. All vegetables contain naturally occurring enzymes. In some vegetables, unless these enzymes are deactivated with heat before the vegetable is frozen, the enzymes will continue to break down and age them even at freezing temperatures.

 

Freezing WatermelonCut in half, remove seeds and rind. Cut watermelon into slices, wedges, cubes or balls.