Blog
What an Egg-cellent Idea!
This month I’m sharing with you a recipe that is a bit unique. It’s our recipe for Hard-Cooked Eggs. Most people call them hard boiled eggs, but when I started working with Spend Smart. Eat Smart. I learned about this recipe and that eggs shouldn’t be hard boiled. To hard-cook eggs, the water comes to a full boil, but then the pan is removed from the heat and the lid kept on. The eggs continue to cook gently in the hot water. This method produces tender eggs. It also reduces cracking and the green color that can form around yolks when eggs are hard boiled.
My Go-To Ways to Stay Active
As the weather warms-up and the days get longer here in Iowa, I am looking forward to being active outside more. Over the past couple of years, one of my favorite ways to be active outdoors is going on bike rides. Last year was my first time riding a day of RAGBRAI. I rode with my colleague and fellow Spend Smart. Eat Smart. blogger, Justine Hoover. If you haven’t heard about RAGBRAI before, it’s a week-long bike ride across Iowa with overnight stops in different towns. Find out more at ragbrai.com. I like that it’s not a race and all ages and abilities participate. We had a lot of fun last year and are planning to ride another day this year. To prepare, I’ll spend some time on my bike on local trails.
What’s in Jody’s Freezer?
Recently I wrote about the benefits of processed food. One type of processed food that can help with meal planning and stretching the food budget is frozen food. For the next four weeks Katy, Christine, Justine and I are going to share with you some of the foods you can find in our freezers and how we include them in our meal planning.
Can Processed Foods be Good for You?
As Heart Health month comes to an end, let’s talk about processed foods. We often hear that processed foods are bad for us. So, are there any benefits to processed foods?
Who Wants Pizza?
My favorite way to spend time in the kitchen is baking. I enjoy making different kinds of bread and muffins. So, this month I want to share with you our Whole Wheat Pizza Crust.
What are Functional Beverages? – Part 1
As we start the new year, many people set goals to change their eating habits. They may want to increase their fiber or protein intake or drink more water. There is no shortage of products on the market claiming to help with all the above. One product that has increased in popularity recently is functional beverages. What are they and what’s in them?
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays from the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. team!
Five Foods to Eat for Brain Health
We often connect what we eat to our physical health. Eating to reduce our risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Or eating to keep our bones and muscles strong as we age so we can keep doing the activities we enjoy. What we eat can also affect our brain health. No single food can guarantee a sharp mind as we age, but following a healthy eating pattern that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant proteins, fish, and healthy fats can help your brain function at its best. The good news is that the best foods for your brain are also the ones that are good for your heart and blood vessels. Good blood flow is important to a healthy brain.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers: A Lifeline You Didn’t Know You Needed
Let’s be real—being a caregiver is one of the most loving, selfless things you can do. But it’s also one of the hardest. Whether you’re caring for a parent, spouse, child, friend, or neighbor, the emotional and physical toll can sneak up on you. That’s where Powerful Tools for Caregivers comes in. And trust me, it’s not just another class—it’s a game-changer.
Air Fryer Adventures – Part 2
This week I get to share with you about my air fryer adventures. Check out Justine’s blog from last week to hear about her experience making roasted broccoli and fish in her air fryer.
Back to School Breakfast: Oatmeal Pancakes
My kids are starting their second week of school, so we are slowly getting back into a morning routine. It’s important to me that they start the day with a good breakfast to fuel them for learning and after-school activities. One of our go-to Spend Smart. Eat Smart recipes for breakfast is Oatmeal Pancakes. My kids, husband, and I all love these pancakes. They are made using a pancake mix that only requires the addition of water. It’s usually called ‘complete’ pancake mix. For this recipe, you will replace half of the pancake mix with uncooked oatmeal. The oatmeal adds a good source of fiber to the pancakes, which makes them filling and keeps my kids satisfied until lunch. I like to make these pancakes on the weekend and have leftovers for breakfast during the week. They also freeze well and can be reheated in the microwave or toaster when a quick breakfast is needed.
Recipe Round-Up: Flexible Ways to Use Produce
Vegetables here, vegetables there, vegetables everywhere! Gardens and farmers’ markets are bursting with produce. You may have some tried and true ways you like to use summer vegetables. If you’re looking for some new ideas, here is a round-up of some of our recipes that allow for flexibility in the vegetables that are used.
