I think I made this buffalo chicken dip for the first time over Memorial Day. Ever since I have been asked to bring this to every family function or holiday and someone always asks for the recipe. Some like to use bleu cheese dressing instead of ranch but since this has quite a kick to it I prefer the ranch. This really does taste like chicken wings but without the mess! Read more »

According to Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, pork and sauerkraut should be served on New Year’s Day for good luck. My mother makes this every year and now I prepare it for my family. Read more »

I am not from the South, however I have friends who are and they always eat black eyed peas for New Year’s.   Since black eyed peas are economical and easy to prepare why not make up some for New Year’s day.  Read more »

Savvy shoppers have a lot of budgeting tips to save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars each year just by shopping the bargains.  Keep in mind that the only true bargain is one that you would have been buying anyway.  If you buy something just because it is on sale then you won’t save any money in the long run.  Here are some budgeting tips for saving money every time you shop. Read more »

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the high cost of living these days? If you think it is impossible to cut back any more than you already have think again. Here are 15 different tips to help you with household budgeting. Even if you followed a few of them you could find that it is possible to make your money go further. Read more »

Although buying in bulk is a great way to save on groceries it seems to have been somewhat forgotten.  There are so many good reasons to shop this way that its astounding more people aren’t doing it regularly.  Most large towns and cities have some form of bulk grocery store or wholesale club.  You may be charged a membership fee but it is usually reasonable.  Quite often a membership pays for itself with the first shopping expedition. Read more »

I love breakfast casserole recipes for breakfast, brunch or anytime!  Not only are they easy to put together but they are good old fashioned comfort food!  Breakfast casserole recipes such as the Amish breakfast casserole below can be quickly put together with ingredients that you likely have on hand.  Read more »

If you are like most families who are trying to stretch their budget, you might be worried that you wont be able to splurge on your favorite holiday foods. There are some creative ways to cut costs on your Christmas meal, and still have a delicious Christmas menu with all of the trimmings. These ideas will help you stretch your budget a little further so that you can still splurge on your holiday favorites. Read more »

Dinner is over and now you are busy putting away all those leftovers, while in the back of your mind you know they will most likely go to waste.  If your family is not too thrilled with eating leftovers then it is time to get creative.  How about saving some money by planning ahead with some leftover recipes that your family will love. Read more »

In parts one and two of household budgeting I touched briefly on reducing expenses such as groceries, heating and cooling and credit card debt.  Of course there are many ways to cut back on your expenses.  You can go drastic like we did such as getting rid of your furnace in favor of heating your home with a wood stove (not for everyone) or you can just start looking for ways to cut back on your day to day living. Read more »