Lard has a bad rap. And most people have no clue what tallow is. I’m included in that “most people” too – I was clueless until earlier this year! However both lard and tallow are excellent choices of cooking fat. And in case you didn't know either, lard is pork fat and tallow is beef fat. They have way more nutritional value than the yellow vegetables oils we’ve been groomed to use. Being able to make ... Continue Reading
Focaccia Bread Recipe: Our Favorites Homemade Bread
If you've been trotting along with the various bread recipes that I've been sharing, you've made very little bother oat bread for sandwiches, special loaves of potato buttermilk, hot dog and hamburger buns for summer cookouts, beer bread with cinnamon butter for steak night, a warm slice of chocolate banana bread for breakfast and six different types of dinner rolls to suit the different flavors of meals they would ... Continue Reading
What are Flour Bugs and How to Get Rid of Them
Have you ever noticed flour bugs in your rice, cereal or pasta? Let's talk about what they are exactly, how they got there, whether or not it's safe to eat the food and what you can do to keep them from coming back! Buying items in bulk is one of the best grocery saving tips that continues to work month after month, but I do wonder if the 50 pounds of flour sitting in my closet (in it's original thick paper ... Continue Reading
Why You Should Switch to Cloth Napkins and How To Do It
Roughly two weeks ago I took $14 of our grocery budget and invested into washcloths. A strange investment, I know. You don't want me in control of your 401k! I kid. Not really. Seriously, these washcloths are amazing. They are not your typical run of the mill washcloths. First, they’re white.And, they’re square.They’re made of cotton.They were cheap.They’re brand-name (the store's).They’re ... Continue Reading
How to Make Kefir: A Step by Step Easy DIY
This post contains affiliate links. How to Make Kefir Making kefir is as easy as making citrus vinegar and removing labels from jars - add, stir, do nothing. It's perfect for when you're too busy making bread to make healthy probiotic yogurt. Or if you just like to go to sleep and wake up to the work being done for you! The process truly is simple. Those with NO kitchen experience can do this ... Continue Reading
What is Kefir and Why We Should Be Drinking It
This post contains affiliate links. I’m apparently one of the last few people to board the fermentation train… or I’m still wet behind the ears when it comes to complete and real nutrition. Can someone hand me a towel, please? I’ll admit that I’m still kinda new at this real food thing. Baby steps, right? I’ve learned leaps and bounds these past few months and it’s changing how we eat, and why we ... Continue Reading
Easy Broccoli Salad
A few weeks ago we attended my husband's summer BBQ (a work-related gig). On the table was this broccoli salad. I've never been a big fan of broccoli salads, but I was trying to be a good girl and wanted to eat a fair amount of vegetables before making a bee-line to the tortilla chips and dessert table. Do you think four heaping servings of broccoli salad is considered fair? Let.Me.Tell.You. ... Continue Reading
Nitrates: The Good, The Bad, The Truth
As my family and I prepare to celebrate Labor Day with some delicious hot dogs and homemade buns, it's hard to shake the thoughts about nitrates. It's a deciding factor for many people when they buy processed meat like bacon or lunchmeat, and it's been hanging out in the back of my mind since I bought all-beef Hebrew National hot dogs last month. But what exactly is a nitrate? What's the big ... Continue Reading
How to Heal a Spider Bite with a Potato
I sincerely hope no one is deathly afraid of spiders out there... if so, scroll down quickly! Late in the day of our second day camping, Mr. Crumbs noticed a spider bite on his leg. Totally.Not.Surprised. He must have some sweet-smelling skin or something, because in all the years of his childhood - growing up outdoors in woods and dirt and bugs - he had never been bit by a spider. Yet during the ... Continue Reading
Why I Couldn’t Buy Ranch Dressing… and a {Yummy} Recipe
In last week's budget accountability post (counting crumbs) there was a very short trip to Savemart consisting of only three items - black beans, half and half, and a red pepper. Little did you know that there was originally a fourth item... But it never made it out the store. In fact, it didn't even make it off the shelf. ... Continue Reading
