Search Results for: blog frugal recipes adapting what you have

How Are Your Preparing for High Gas and Food Prices?

It seems like the news just keeps getting worse. Gas and food prices continue to rise, and experts are warning that by the Fall, we may even start to see some scarcity that drives these prices up even more. It is very scary, but don’t panic. There are things that you can do to help offset these costs. What is your plan? Gas For a couple of weeks, we were was confused over the fact that we just couldn’t make our budget balance. We accounted for any new expenses and still the numbers were off. So we had to sit … Continue reading →

Frugal Recipes: Adapting What You Have

Do you have more of something and less of something else? What to make a fabulous recipe with cheaper ingredients? You can! Frugal cooking to the rescue. Whenever I am meal planning, whether it is gathering a menu for the week or more likely, figuring out what I am going to make for that night, I always take into consideration the ingredients that I have on hand. There is no running out to the store at the last moment to find a thing or two that I don’t have for the meal. Instead, I’ll substitute, leave out or adapt the … Continue reading →

Making the Most Out of Your Crock-Pot

Posted on by

If you have a Crock-pot, you probably have a few tried-and-true meals that you like to cook in it. But did you know that it is very easy to adapt other recipes for use in your Crock-pot? Knowing some of these tricks can help you get a home-cooked (and frugal!) meal on the table even on the busiest of days. I see my Crock-pot as an alternative to ordering out on hectic days. Doing a small amount of planning in the morning can save you money (and energy!) come mealtime. Here are a few tricks for adapting meals to your … Continue reading →

How to Store Dried Food

Having a supply of dried food is a good strategy to include in your emergency preparedness plan. Many important nutrients can be found in dried food, and those nutrients are generally more concentrated in a smaller package, ideal for storage and transport if needed. Because the food is preserved when it is dried, there is no need for refrigeration or freezing, an important factor when electricity to run appliances may not be available. While dried food generally keeps very well, there are some special considerations that you can follow to ensure a long shelf life and optimal nutritional content of … Continue reading →

Food Rationing and Practicing Portion Control

When it comes to food, portion control can be a touchy subject. No one wants to think about restricting themselves or their family from food. But sometimes it is necessary to do to make ends meet. If you find yourself in this situation, there are several strategies to employ in order to get through. First, let us talk about the reasons that you might desire or be required to practice portion control when it comes to meals. You might find yourself with a reduced income due to a loss of a job, you might have an unexpected expense that makes … Continue reading →

Crockpot Sweet Apple Butter

What do you do with an abundance of organic apples? Turn them into sweet apple butter. It is finally the season for the wonderful smell of cooking apples and spices in the crockpot. This recipe will make your whole house smell so incredible and bring the good things of the fall season rushing into your home. The recipe will make a good amount of apple butter. I was able to fill four large canning jars plus another large glass dish of it. Because of the amount made, you can store it for use throughout the fall and winter or be … Continue reading →

Five Tips for Great Slow Cooker Meals

Using your slow cooker or crockpot is a great money saving idea. You can use inexpensive ingredients and have dinner ready with ease, avoiding the cost of eating out. I often get a lot of questions about using slow cookers, especially from people who find that their meals are dried out, tasteless, over or under seasoned or a strange texture. But most of the time, this can be corrected easily by following some basic guidelines or tips to freezer cooking. Here are five tips for great slow cooker meals. Be careful about opening the lid. While some recipes do benefit … Continue reading →