Blog

Tax Time!

Tax refunds are important. For many families, the tax refund is the most important financial event of the year, and families make careful plans to use the tax refund to improve their family’s wellbeing.

Balance Your Holiday Plate

Warm Up with Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

When the weather cools down or you are feeling under the weather, nothing hits quite like a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup. But have you ever wondered whether that restaurant or takeout version stacks up to what you could make at home?

Breakfast on the Run

I am a busy student, trying to balance classes, work, and an internship, so I am often eating on the go. I was planning out my meals for the week and decided that breakfast sandwiches would be a great option. They’re portable and easily customizable with your choice of protein, toppings, and bun… and the best part? They freeze and reheat beautifully.

Thanksgiving Meal Plan on a Budget

Holidays in the fall and winter are my favorite because of the warm, comforting foods that are always served. The air is filled with spices and herbs, and the sweet smell of a pie or two.

Be Mindful of Holiday Debt This Season and Beyond

Holiday spending can sneak up on us—gifts, travel, meals, and more. If you followed Barb Wollan’s recent 4-step plan to map out your holiday budget, you are already ahead. Now, take it a step further by using resources from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Utah State Extension, to stay mindful and in control of your personal finances this holiday season and beyond!

Spend Smart for the Holidays

When there is not enough money for everything we want (and there never is!), we can get the most value for our dollar by carefully planning how we’ll use the money we have. As the holiday season approaches, it is a great time to think through what your spending will look like to avoid starting the new year with money stress.

Welcome Fall with Sweet Potatoes

Is the weather cooling down where you are? The fall vibes are beginning here in Iowa and that makes me want to use the produce that comes in season for us in the fall. For our October recipe of the month I would like to share three ways to use sweet potatoes. Even though we can get sweet potatoes at the grocery store year-round, I tend to be in the mood for them during cooler months. Whether you’re planning a nicer meal for guests or a quick weeknight meal, consider one of these tasty options!

Plant Protein Made Simple

I had an interaction with a friend recently that I decided to use as inspiration for a blog. She shared with me that she had heard a lot of buzz about plant protein and how it was important for good health. However, when she went to the grocery store to buy plant protein products, she could not find any that seemed appetizing to her. She looked at ground meat substitutes, ‘chicken-less’ nuggets, and soy-based cheese and sausage. She shared that these products were expensive, had a whole lot of ingredients, and she did not think her family would like them. How was she supposed to get plant protein? I can relate to this challenge. I grew up eating mostly animal products for protein and learning to incorporate plant proteins took some time.

Recipe Mashup – Slow Cooker Pork Roast on a Sandwich

This month we are sharing food mashups. These are ideas for using foods or recipes in unexpected ways. You will hear about a mashup from each of the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. bloggers through the month of June! Have you tried our delicious Slow Cooker Pork Roast? This is one of my favorite recipes on our website. It is rich and tasty and has bright citrus flavors that are somewhat unexpected in a pork recipe.

Double Up Food Bucks

One of the best things about summer in Iowa is the wonderful fruits and vegetables that come into season. Sweet corn, summer tomatoes, and fresh green beans are high on my list. In Iowa, we are lucky to have a program that helps Iowans who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eat more fruits and vegetables while sticking to their grocery budget.

Sloppy-ish Joes!

This month I am excited to bring some attention to an old favorite recipe and offer an idea for how you might try it a different way. Sloppy Joes have been around for a long time and most people have a favorite version of them. My favorite is the version on our website. This recipe tastes more like ketchup and mustard than it does like barbeque sauce or tomato sauce – it’s delicious!