If you're looking for ways to save money in the kitchen, here's a good one: try steaming food, rather than boiling, frying, roasting, or baking it. Steaming tends to be less expensive than most cooking methods.

Plus, it's ideal for delicate foods (including seafood and fragile vegetables) that cook quickly and might fall apart if you prepare them using other methods. Steaming cooks food exclusively by bathing it in moist heat; there's no agitation involved.

Continue reading "Steaming Food Can Save You Money" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

While Martha Stewart has been known to sneer at the very idea of owning a microwave, she just might change her mind if she ever learns about these microwave tips and tricks. You see, that little nuclear-powered box on your kitchen counter can save you a surprising amount of cash.

Continue reading "Money Saving Microwave Tips and Tricks" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

Many of us instinctively eat soup when we're feeling cold or ill -- and we all know the healing powers of chicken soup. In fact, most soups are pretty darn good for you, in nutritional terms. But it's easy to forget that soup can be good for you in fiscal terms, too.

Think about it: most soups use inexpensive ingredients that you can combine in interesting ways and enhance with simple spices. And the main ingredient is usually none other than water.

Continue reading "Let Them Eat Soup!" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, upset stomach and dehydration are all signs of salmonella. According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, every year approximately 76 million people get sick from salmonella poisoning. Of those 76 million, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die. Learn how to stay safe and prevent this from happening to you and your family.

Continue reading "Do You Know How to Avoid Salmonella Poisoning?" »

Posted by Lydia | Permalink

What's that -- you've never heard of an ice cream ball? That's okay, because it's a fairly new product that's awfully popular with campers, travelers, and those with small children. The basic concept involves putting ingredients in a central tube and playing with the ball for a while until ice cream forms.

So with all this fuss about homemade ice cream ball fun, does it really work -- and is it worth the investment?

Continue reading "Can an Ice Cream Ball Produce Results?" »

Posted by Lydia | Permalink

If you've picked up a cookbook lately -- or even just read a few magazine recipes -- you've probably stumbled across Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is the newest craze in cookery, and many people rave over its nutritious properties. So what exactly is Greek yogurt, what makes it different, and is it really as great as people think?

Continue reading "The Real Deal on Greek Yogurt" »

Posted by Lydia | Permalink

Whether you just like the idea of saving some money or you're trying to make your life a little greener, one way to do it is by making your own homemade vinegar. Believe it or not, it's pretty straightforward--as long as you're willing to follow some instructions and put in a little effort.

Continue reading "Why Not Make Your Own Vinegar?" »

Posted by Max Anderson | Permalink

You may have seen the Redi Set Go cooker infomercials on TV and wondered if it was really all it was cracked up to be. In a word, the answer is yes! If you love to cook, then the express Redi Set Go is going to meet all of your expectations and then some.

Continue reading "Redi Set Go: Are You Ready to Cook?" »

Posted by Max Anderson | Permalink

When I first heard about the nuwave oven, my initial reaction was: too good to be true! This little machine uses infrared technology to cook even an entire turkey quickly, efficiently -- and without heating up the house? It grills, dehydrates, bakes, roasts, and even fries without using oil? This sounds like the poster child for false promises.

But to my surprise, the nuwave infrared oven actually delivers on all of these attributes. Here's what I found when it comes to the nuwave oven.

Continue reading "Everything You Need to Know About the Nuwave Oven" »

Posted by Lydia | Permalink

In today's 'green' culture, you hear about organic food almost daily - enough to make you think about eating organically. If you're wondering...

What exactly determines whether a food is organic or not?

Can eating organic foods improve your health?

Can eating organic foods help protect you from diseases?

Can eating organic foods extend your life?

Keep reading.

Continue reading "Are Organic Foods Really That Good for You?" »

Posted by Max Anderson | Permalink

You're in a rush, the family is starving, and you need ideas for cheap meals fast. You're in luck. That's what we have right here. Look through these recipes for some quick, easy cheap meals your family will love.

Continue reading "Let the Lowly Potato Help You Make Healthy, Easy, and Cheap Meals" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

For years, Splenda has been the number one choice of diabetics and calorie conscious consumers. With the headline "made from sugar," the company has created an image of a natural artificial sweetener with no calories.

Continue reading "The Truth Behind Splenda" »

Posted by Max Anderson | Permalink

We all use them -- storage bags, that is. If you're like me and want to cut costs to the bare bone, you don't want all your hard work ruined because food wasted or ruins in the freezer. One of the easiest and fastest ways to waste money is by letting food spoil. This is exactly why choosing the right food storage bags means a lot. It might seem like a minor detail, but hey...every little bit counts.

Continue reading "Confused About Which Storage Bags to Buy?" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

Have you seen the slap chop commercials -- online if not on TV. 'That crazy slap chop guy' is probably better known than the product he advertises. But as the novelty wears off, you turn your attention to the product itself, and begin to wonder: can you really do all this stuff with slap chop?

Continue reading "Let's Talk Slap Chop!" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

When it comes to trans fat, experts believe that we might as well be eating poison. That's right: there's simply no upside when it comes to trans fats. They're essentially a heart attack in food form -- far more so than the normal American diet of high fat, low nutritional foods.

Understanding the facts about trans fat foods helps you protect yourself, and your family, from this nutritional nightmare.

Continue reading "Get the Trans Fat Facts in Your Diet" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

You can't underestimate how important it is to eat healthy. Without good nutrition, your immune system is compromised and you find yourself getting sick more often. The problem is most people think eating healthy means buying expensive foods. This doesn't have to be the case. Learn to prepare healthy, easy, low cost meals by following these tips.

Continue reading "Eat Healthy, Eat Cheap -- Is it Possible?" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

How to Have a Big Christmas Dinner Without the Big Cost

Christmas dinner is an important family tradition, but not everyone has the money to fork over for a big feast. Fortunately, there are ways around the financial hurdle. If you want to create a Christmas dinner to remember (without a bill that will haunt you) follow these budget-friendly feast tips...

Continue reading "Christmas Dinner on a Budget" »

Posted by Max Anderson | Permalink

Vegetarian Diets Don't Have to Cost an Arm and a Leg

It’d be great if eating vegetarian could make you a millionaire. Then I suspect everyone would do it. Overall, though, a vegetarian diet can save money on health care costs and on your monthly grocery bill, if you know how to work it. If you’re like many savvy consumers and considering the switch to becoming a vegetarian, or even if you just want to incorporate vegetarian meals into your menu each week, the following information can help you save some money in the process.

Continue reading "Make Sure Vegetarian Foods Don’t Drain Your Wallet" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

Weekly Meal Planning Made Easy

If you have a family and work full time (or even part time) weekly meal planning can seem like mission impossible. After all, you want everyone to eat healthy but you don't have hours to spend in the kitchen. How do you manage to feed everyone home-cooked meals without paying for a personal chef? With a few insider secrets, you can manage it. Here are some tricks of the trade I've been using for years.

Continue reading "Weekly Meal Planning Doesn't Have to be a Nightmare" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

Cast Iron Cookware Is Back In the Kitchen

If you would have told me a few years ago that I'd be cooking with cast iron cookware, I would have laughed till it hurt. After all, why would I use old-fashioned cast iron when Teflon is all the rage? But then Teflon-related health issues started to arise and we got a few exotic birds (who can't be around hot Teflon pans due to the fumes) and I began looking for alternatives. Cast iron cookware wasn't looking so bad anymore.

Continue reading "This Ain't Your Grandma's Cast Iron Cookware" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

You Can Save Money without Compromising Taste

Making coffee at home is a great way to save money. Buying coffee at a local coffee shop can be convenient, but it is also costly. I’ve talked before about making coffee at home to save money, and hopefully you’re following that advice. Today, I’d like to address how to make coffee that actually tastes good.

Continue reading "Save Money and Brew Tasty Coffee at Home" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

Skip the Canned Soup and Make Your Own

Canned soup is high in sodium and overpriced. Sure, canned soup can make a quick lunch or be an easy appetizer at dinnertime after you’ve a particularly busy day. A great alternative to canned soup is to simply make your own soup at home.

Continue reading "Cheaper Alternatives to Canned Soup" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink

Turkey Cooking Tips That Will Change The Way You Do Thanksgiving

Each and every Thanksgiving, cooking the turkey is pretty much the same. Stuff the bird, put it in the oven and baste it every so often, right? The turkey is always delicious, but don't you ever find yourself wanting to kick it up a notch? If you're tired of the status quo of Thanksgiving turkey, here are a couple of turkey cooking tips you may want to put into use this year.

Continue reading "Top-Secret Turkey Cooking Tips For Thanksgiving" »

Posted by Lydia Johnson | Permalink