I’ve struggled with meal planning – and I haven’t been afraid to admit that.  I’ve always complained that my kitchen is too small and relied on boxed meals and quick dinners (and take-out or ordering in) to keep things easy.  I go to bed with dirty dishes in my sink (and on my counter and on my stove – ACK!) because I hate washing dishes. I need help, people!!! It’s not that I hate to cook.  Nope – I...

In our day and age, where foods come from all over the world and the use of pesticides is common, it’s more important than ever to know where your food comes from.  It isn’t always easy to know this – but it is always important. Grocery Stores have noticed this consumer trend and many of them have a section in the produce and meat areas for “organic” food.  While the FDA is still defining organic, you should read...

Would you join me for a cup? I’ve got some Tazo Calm (lovely stuff) or my PG Tips, excellent with a little milk and honey for sweetener. Yesterday, after writing about cleaning my desk, and then reading Nans post at Moms The Word, and knowing about Bliss Challenge Week 1 at Blissfully Domestic, I tackled the project with some trepidation because I had let my desk go for sooooooo long.  (How many “encouragers” one needs is in...

Hey Coffee Girls – grab a cup of Joe and a toasted bagel or cinnamon raisin English muffin with cream cheese and settle in.  We’re buried under snow. Okay – we’re not entirely buried under.  Our sidewalk was shoveled last night and driveway was snow-blowed.  But still – we’ve got lots of snow.  It is a snow day – schools all around us are closed, closing or on delay.  We will be playing in the snow...

Tricia Traxler, of Grace Works Planners and Handfuls of Purpose, is beginning a 28 day Challenge for Menu Planning TODAY!  It is not too late to join up and walk through methods and means of Menu Planning. Tricia is a homeschooling mom of 3, and owner of Grace Works Planners.  (If you are a planner-aholic like me – you’ve GOT to check out her products!) Because this is done over a 28 day period, you will find daily TIPS and...

Although I am very new to freezer cooking myself – as in planning, preparing and freezing meals ahead of time – I am very excited about incorporating this process into my family’s mealtimes. Getting started is half the battle.  Changing the way you typically do things can be accomplished with a little practice and by starting off small.  Instead of preparing meals for one whole month in one day, start off by preparing 2 or 3...

Do you plan ahead for you week’s menus?  Maybe even for a whole month’s worth of menus? It can be overwhelming and even difficult to plan many meals in advance in the face of busy schedules and changing moods.  Here are a couple of tricks I’ve discovered that have proved successful in my own family life: Make a list of family favorites.  If your family has a few favorite meals that they love, why not make a list of them...

Product Name:  Freezer Cooking Made Simple Rating:  10 Where to Buy:  http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com Description:  This great e-book is filled with all you need to learn how to freeze foods and stretch your budget dollars!  With information on how to get started, what items you need, what foods freeze well and foods that don’t measure up when it comes to freezing, this e-book is a handy tool for meal planning – whether...