When I lived in Texas, we welcomed the dry air of winter as a break from very humid summers. Now that I’m living in the north, the dry winter air is problematic. We’re suffering from dry skin, irritated nasal passages (this increases the likelihood we’ll come down with a cold or flu), and frequent static shocks. We looked into … [Read more...] about Ways to Increase the Humidity in Your Home Without a Humidifier
Keeping the Home
Handling the Endless Work of Homemaking
Not long after I got married I realized that the work of a homemaker is never complete. There is no 9-to-5 work schedule. There are no days off for the weekends or holidays. There aren’t even meal breaks. Instead, the sink fills with dishes every day—especially on weekends and holidays. The clothes hamper refills with dirty clothes as … [Read more...] about Handling the Endless Work of Homemaking
Easy Cheesy Beef Stroganoff
Whenever I ask my husband if he’d like me to place anything in particular on our menu, he always responds that he’d like this dish. If he likes it that much, then it must be good! It’s super easy to prepare (it’s made in one pot), so I’m a huge fan, too. Ingredients (Significantly adapted from this recipe.) 1 lb. ground beef ½ cup … [Read more...] about Easy Cheesy Beef Stroganoff
Frugal Approaches to Heating Your Home
We’ve had a number of super cold days recently. We want to keep our home warm so we’re comfortable and the pipes are protected, but we don’t want to break the bank doing so. I’ve looked into it and found several affordable approaches to keeping our home warm. Perhaps some of these will work for you, too. How to save money when heating … [Read more...] about Frugal Approaches to Heating Your Home
Curry Tortellini Soup
I made this recipe for the first time back when my husband and I were dating. We both loved it, so I’ve made it frequently since then. It’s easy to prepare, so I often make it on nights when we’re short on time. Ingredients (Adapted from the Mushroom Tortellini in Curry Cream recipe in the Easy Soups & Stews cookbook.) 1 onion, … [Read more...] about Curry Tortellini Soup
Bacon Mushroom Swiss Macaroni and Cheese
It had been a while since we tried a new macaroni and cheese recipe, so for this menu I came up with a truly unique variety: Bacon Mushroom Swiss. These flavors go so well together! Ingredients 3 cups macaroni (uncooked measure) 2 tablespoons butter 2 cups homemade cream of mushroom soup or 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom … [Read more...] about Bacon Mushroom Swiss Macaroni and Cheese
Winter 2014 Menu
With a newborn baby in the house, we’ve been consuming many meals that we’ve assembled hastily. Now that our little one is two months old, we’re ready to get back on track with a menu. As I’ve shared in previous posts, I periodically develop monthly menus. We use each for 3 consecutive months before moving on to a new one (read more on … [Read more...] about Winter 2014 Menu
Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
We have several family members coming to spend the week of Thanksgiving with us. As much as I love cooking, I’d rather spend time visiting with my loved ones than in the kitchen preparing meals. We’re also on a tight budget, so I don’t want to break the bank when purchasing foods for us to eat. I’ve been brainstorming and have come up … [Read more...] about Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
