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Hard-Cooked Eggs

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.

Banana Ice Cream

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Have you ever played a game where you can only choose one food to eat for the rest of your life? If you asked my oldest daughter what that favorite food would be, I could guarantee that her answer would be ice cream! Each week when I put together a grocery list, ice cream is one of the first (and only!) items my daughter will add.

bags of frozen fruits and vegetables in a freezer

What’s in Justine’s Freezer?

Welcome to our final week of sharing what we keep on hand in our freezers. If you were to take a peek into my freezer, you would find a mix of foods you would expect, leftovers, and random surprises.

woman cooking dinner in her kitchen

A Freezer Full of Possibility: Cooking for One Without the Waste

Last week we took a peek into Katy’s freezer and learned how she makes day-to-day meals and snacks easier for her family of four using frozen foods. This week I get to share how I use my freezer as a household of one. In some ways cooking for one is simpler because I have only myself to please and I know what I like. However, cooking for one or two requires some careful planning to minimize waste and make the most of your effort.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

Pumpkin Muffins

This past fall we had two fantastic interns who helped us with testing some new and some old recipes. For our March recipe of the month, I would like to share with you the first of those recipes – Pumpkin Muffins. This is a new recipe to the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website and it makes a great breakfast or snack.

frozen foods in the freezer drawer

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.

A woman looking at canned food on the grocery store shelf

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?

woman reading food labels at the grocery store

Reading Your Way to a Healthy Heart

With February focusing on heart health, it’s a great time to take a closer look at the foods we enjoy and how they support our personal health goals. As Justine shared last week, the choices we make each day play an important role in caring for our bodies and hearts.

WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA CRUST

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.

making a smoothie at home

What are Functional Beverages? – Part 2

Last week, Jody shared with us about functional beverages and some of the newer sodas that have added fiber. This week, we will look at some functional beverages that have been around for a while but are surging in popularity – protein shakes. You can purchase pre-made protein shakes at the store, or you can buy protein powder and add it to water, milk, or a smoothie.

Girl drinking a functional beverage in a glass with a straw

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?

Thai Chicken Curry

Comfort in a Bowl: Thai Chicken Curry for Cold Winter Nights

When winter hits and temperatures drop, I crave dishes that bring warmth and comfort. For me, that means hot soups and stews in a bowl to wrap my hands around. But by January, my family is ready for something different. Thai Chicken Curry is a great alternative to soup at my house. I still get that warm, comforting meal in a bowl, yet it is different enough from traditional soup to keep everyone in my family happy.