Top Ten Frugal Living Posts Plus Frugal Friends

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Aren’t we all looking to save some money this time of year? I thought so. With that in mind, I’m sharing the top ten Hodgepodge posts of 2011 in celebration of frugal living… Back to Basics Series Meal Plan: Cheap Eats for Two Weeks Frugal Living: Homemade Wheat Thins Frugal Living: Homemade Laundry Detergent (or [...]

Christmas Favorites

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I found myself looking through my archives for some Christmas favorites. So, I thought it would be good to place them all in a nice little spot. Favorites like recipes we use often in December, advent resources and holiday and winter art. He appeared and the soul felt its worth… From all three Hodgepodge categories [...]

Simple Thanksgiving Menu, Tips and Allergy Friendliness

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Don’t you love Thanksgiving? Our celebration is practical, simple and fun. I’m sharing our chalkboard menu with you today along with a few tips I’ve learned along the way. I like to ease into the holidays, spreading preparations over several days. Below are our favorite annual recipes: Overnight Turkey (Easy, Delicious and Always Moist!) Be [...]

Back to School Big Cook # 2 + Two Week Menu

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This past Saturday was another impromptu batch cooking day. Saturday morning I made a double batch of pancakes while we were having an easy-going morning. The benefits of the batch resulted in two gallon-sized freezer bags stacked full of pancakes. Then, after Hodgepodgedad’s trip to the grocery, I found myself blessed with six pounds of [...]

A Month of Cooking Fun

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Keeping up the Friday habit of sharing a helpful habit. Today, Cooking Fun! What is cooking fun? It’s simply the habit of letting the children have fun making something easy in the kitchen. We keep a Cook Box stocked with simple cake mixes and ingredients to make it even easier. Since we are eating out [...]

Meal Plan: Just a Sandwich

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Yes, a meal plan stacked high with sandwiches. I need to hone my sandwich making skills with warmer weather coming. But it won’t be just any regular ol’ sandwiches. Inspiration comes from $5 Dinners Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook as well as the red and white checked I’m Writing My Own Cookbook. So settle in and [...]

Meal Plan: Bunches of Batch Cooking

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“A man ought to eat what’s offered and be glad to get it!” ~ Rose Watson, Mitford Series My freezer is depleted thanks to the last couple month’s worth of freezer/pantry challenges and good, cheap eats. So, it’s time to batch cook again. Maybe a mini Big Cook. I’ll use what I have on hand [...]

Meal Plan: Slow, Southern and Sunny

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Slow because I love my slow cooker. Southern because I am and that’s the finest kind of frugal, comfort food. Sunny, simply because it’s spring time! I’ve been browsing my Southern Living magazines and their site for a fresh, two weeks worth of meal ideas. With a few Hodgepodge favorites thrown in for good measure. [...]

Meal Plan: Cheap Eats for Two Weeks

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It has been a while since I posted a meal plan because when Grandma and Grandpa retired out west, we were given the contents of their freezer and pantry. Wow! And, so, I am working around what we already have again, just like in the last freezer and pantry challenge. Supplementing with a grocery run [...]

A Month Long Slow Cooker Celebration

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(An update from the September 2010 Hodgepodge archives, adaptable for any time of the year) Because it’s the change of seasons… Because there’s an ever so slight chill in the air… Because we’ll be hitting the books pretty hard for a week… Because we’ll then be taking a week off for field trips and fun… [...]

Meal Plan: Freezer & Pantry Challenge

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I hope y’all don’t tire of freezer and pantry challenges because they sure are a money saver. It is a bit of time investment upfront to assess, to face the freezer and pantry. But this handy inventory print out from Once a Month Mom helps with the planning. Click freezer inventory. Plus, a freezer and [...]

Hodgepodge Meal Plans

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Hodgepodge Meal Plans “Let’s have lasagna tomorrow night!” the eldest agreed. So started the week’s menu plan. By posting, my hope is to be intentional in using up leftovers and be a better steward of all we’ve been blessed with. The Truth Behind Meal Planning – the real process Resources for Menu Planning: Sonflower’s What’s [...]