Tag Archives: beans

Growing Your Own Vegetables

There’s nothing quite like vegetables from your own garden. They have a freshness and taste that is missing from shop bought vegetables and fruit. Part of our garden is dedicated to growing vegetables and some fruit. It helps the finances as well. The other week Mick bought vegetable plants. He usually grows tomatoes. They have a totally different taste to shop bought tomatoes. Most years our tomatoes are in well before this, but because he was unwell it didn’t happen as early in spring this time so he bought larger plants that he would normally. Beans we grow from seed. … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Preschooler Busy

You just dropped a bundle on back-to-school supplies for your older kids and now you’re scrounging around for money to purchase another box of diapers for your infant. Where does that leave your preschooler? You can show him how much you love him without spending a dime. Simply set up the following activities and have fun playing together: Beads: String some plastic beads onto a straw in an easy pattern of alternating colors. Glue the first and last beads to the straw so they won’t slip off. Give your child another straw and have him string beads to match your … Continue reading →

Dip Into These Simple Snack Recipes

Are you ready for some football? Millions of college football fans have been eagerly awaiting tonight’s match-up between Florida and Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game, including my former college roommate who lives near Miami. She’s planning to host a massive viewing party complete with the dips we used to make together during our years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Whether you are planning to pig out in front of the TV watching the pigskin fly tonight or during this weekend’s NFL playoff games. Or you are simply looking for a few simple yet delicious dips to serve at your … Continue reading →

How to Frugally Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee

We all long for that perfect cup of coffee, don’t we? That is, after all, why we spend so much money going to our favorite coffee houses and spending a fortune on those designer coffee’s that we could honestly re-create at home for a lot less. Here are a few frugal money saving tips to creating the perfect cup of coffee at home and not having to pay the high prices to do it! Coffee Pot Maintenance – This is important because a coffee maker that is not working properly will never make the perfect cup of coffee, and usually … Continue reading →

Aimee’s Healthy Vegetarian Chili

Beans are an amazing food — and not just because of their “magical” powers! Beans have more antioxidants than superfoods like blueberries and cranberries. They’re also full of fiber; a one cup serving can give you half of the daily recommended amount of fiber. I love beans, and here’s one of my favorite bean-laden recipes: vegetarian chili. What you’ll need: 2 15 ounce cans of black beans (they’re rich in antioxidants that fight heart disease and cancer) 2 15 ounce cans of kidney beans (they’re full of thiamin, a vitamin that protects memory) 2 15 ounce cans of garbanzo beans … Continue reading →

Beans, Beans the Magical Health Food

Beans have a bad reputation — probably in part because they’re the “magical fruit” that can cause some serious gas. But beans are a health superstar! Some good news about beans: One cup of beans provides thirteen grams of fiber — that’s half of what you need daily. Beans are full of protein. Beans are full of nutrients like calcium, potassium, and magnesium — three things that many women don’t get enough of in their diets. Red, pinto, and kidney beans are FULL of antioxidants — more than even blueberries or cranberries. Personally, I love beans. I make a mean … Continue reading →

Creating the Perfect Dip Table

A big bowl of chunky dip surrounded by chips, crackers, and veggies solves a lot of life’s entertainment problems. The quick and easy dish serves as an attractive table centerpiece, doesn’t require utensils and is one of the only ways my kid will eat raw vegetables without being bribed. If you’ve been reading my recent guest blogs in the FOOD category then you know that I’ve been on a dip kick as of late. Blame the Green Bay Packers. Our hometown football team is on the road to the Super Bowl and ever since they made the playoffs, party invitations … Continue reading →

Tacos Sans Ground Meat

How often do you make tacos for a meal? For some reason that is one meal idea that I forget about, and there’s no reason to forget about how painless and quick tacos are to get on the table. Really. So why can’t I remember to make them more often? The other night I made tacos for our evening meal. Because I used canned kidney beans instead of ground meat or refried beans, my meal became less of a hassle (no cooking!), was much less expensive, and much easier on my figure. Sure I still had to chop fresh veggies … Continue reading →

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

For this recipe, you will need four large green or red sweet peppers (which ever you prefer), olive oil, one small onion, celery stalks, cumin, chili powder, basil, oregano, brown rice, red kidney beans (cooked), cayenne pepper, canned diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. To prep for this recipe, chop enough of your onion to make 1 cup. Dice two celery stalks. Cook enough brown rice to make two cups. Open the can of red kidney beans and drain the juice off them. Wash the four peppers and then cut them in half. Remove the seed from inside. Place a rack … Continue reading →

Pineapple Baked Beans

Sound strange? It did to me, too! But give this a try. This recipe is sinfully delicious. It rivals any comfort food dish, and best of all, it’s perfect for a picnic. Give it a try and watch your guests melt with delight. For this recipe you’ll need: Four (16 oz cans) pork and beans 16 ounces French fried onions (put ¼ aside) 1-cup molasses 1-cup barbecue sauce (any brand you prefer) 2 TB Dijon mustard 20-ounce can crushed, drained pineapple 5 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled To make this recipe: Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a large … Continue reading →