Frugal meal planning is a three-part system—shopping on a budget, meal planning and not letting leftovers go to waste. Not all meal planning is frugal meal planning though. Meal delivery services or “done for you” meal plans or memberships add up. It’s not just the cost of the service. Making a grocery list from a meal plan doesn’t factor in sales, the season or what’s in your pantry. When you shop from a meal plan, you’ll spend more money. If you want to be a frugal grocery shopper, start with a grocery list (the meal plan comes after) and make a plan. In this article, I give you tips and my ..read more

Are you looking for snack ideas that are convenient, cheap and healthy and that you and the kids will like?  As a parent, I understand the struggle of finding satisfying and nutritious snacks without spending a lot of money. There are endless varieties of chips and cookies to choose from in the snack aisle. But when you’re trying to stock the pantry with nutrient-packed options, there doesn’t seem to be as much to choose from. If you’re out of ideas and need help getting out of a snack food rut, use the list below as a starting point to try something new. In this article, I’ll provid ..read more

Are you overwhelmed by a blank meal plan calendar and don’t know which recipes to choose? Theme nights give you a template to start from when you plan meals week to week. You’ve probably heard of “Taco Tuesday” or “Meatless Monday”. Every day of the week is assigned a category and when you sit down to make your menu all you do is plug in meal ideas that fall under each category. In this article, you’ll get ideas for theme nights and for creating a weekly meal plan using this method. Making a Theme Night Meal Plan This method is great if you’re overwhelmed by the infinite recipe options ou ..read more

Do you feel overwhelmed by the thought of cooking dinner all week when you’re stretched for time? With batch cooking, you can prepare complete meals or prep components of meals and store them for quick meals later. Bulk cooking and prepping ahead means less clean-up and less decision-making and cooking on busy weeknights. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about batch cooking from planning and organizing your meals to practical tips for efficient and stress-free meal prep so that you can save time and money in the kitchen. Different Batch Cooking Techniques The be ..read more

This chicken and broccoli pasta dish is a family favorite go-to recipe. It’s the ultimate pantry meal that you can assemble with leftovers but it’s also an easy meal to cook from scratch. You can easily substitute most of the ingredients in this recipe without changing the basic ideas of this dish, which are pasta, vegetables, protein and an oil-based sauce. This can transform into a balanced vegan meal by swapping the chicken for chickpeas, using vegan pesto, and skipping the parmesan. I’ve made this recipe from scratch but it tastes just as good with leftover chicken, frozen or leftover broc ..read more

Savory zucchini bread tastes delicious right from the oven or refrigerator. Zucchini quick breads are typically sweetened. This savory zucchini bread with parmesan cheese, based on an old family recipe doesn’t contain sugar. The tender bread is moister than quick bread but heartier than a casserole. It’s perfect for any occasion and is as casual or formal as the meal where it’s featured. My family makes it for barbecues, brunch, holidays or as weekday side dishes. Leftovers go well with salads and soups for lunch. What you’ll need to make ●  Zucchini – green squash is one of my favorite v ..read more

Whether you’re vegan, lactose-intolerant, or looking for a refreshing summer dessert, homemade chocolate banana ice cream is a nutrient-packed frozen treat that will satisfy your sweet cravings. So, instead of wasting ripe bananas headed for the garbage, freeze them for later. Bananas are loaded with natural sugars. When frozen, they whip up into a consistency like ice cream (minus the saturated fat and added sugars in ice cream). And, this naturally sweet dessert is high in fiber and protein with no added sugars. I’ve tweaked the recipe over the years to get the consistency and flavor right ..read more

Are you tired of chicken drumsticks and thighs catching fire on the barbecue? Bone-in chicken legs take longer to grill than boneless chicken breast, but the fatty skin can quickly catches fire before the chicken is even ready. While gas grills give off a more even heat, controlling the flames is difficult when fat droppings from chicken skin or other fatty meats ignite them.   After years of trial and error, we found a method to cook the chicken slow and low to avoid burnt skin and barbecue sauce. Give this method a try the next time you host a BBQ. You’ll need a charcoal grill, cha ..read more

A casual outdoor party for a large crowd doesn’t have to be stressful. If you want to enjoy the party you’re hosting and have time to talk to your guests, a plan will get you to get organized. I host parties and major holidays every year including barbecues, outdoor parties, and Thanksgiving. Sometimes the timing was perfect, and I had time to spend with family and friends instead of cooking during the party. And other times I felt stressed and unprepared even though I planned everything. Through trial and error and post-party debriefs, I came up with a strategy for hosting a stress-free BBQ f ..read more

Homemade yogurt doesn’t require an appliance. All you need to culture milk is a warm spot and about 8 to 12 hours. While a yogurt maker consistently makes thick and creamy yogurt, if you don’t want to buy another single-use appliance, the Instant Pot Duo’s yogurt setting is a great alternative. I’ve been making yogurt in an Instant Pot for a few years and the results are consistent depending on the milk’s fat content and the fermentation time.  I’ve tested this recipe with three kinds of different milk and fermentation times. This recipe yields the best result. How to make instant pot yog ..read more