tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post8397781455721762809..comments2024-03-26T10:01:18.135-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: February Frugal Action Item: Kitchen CompetenceKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-72522415225809393482009-03-05T09:46:00.000-05:002009-03-05T09:46:00.000-05:00I'm an avid cook and I find cooking a wonderfu...I'm an avid cook and I find cooking a wonderful creative outlet. Unfortunately I'm overweight. I'm in the process of trying to simplify my diet & reduce my meat consumption. So I've decided to increase my creativity by making more basics - low sugar rootbeer, vinegar and yogurt. This week I'm going to start on yogurt. I make it occasionally with varied results. Hopefully I'll soon be a vy competent yogurt maker & can begin on homemade vinegar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-50564298514494166102009-03-04T06:55:00.000-05:002009-03-04T06:55:00.000-05:00Thanks, Stacia, for letting me know you enjoy the ...Thanks, Stacia, for letting me know you enjoy the blog. I'm flattered.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-56652740244940533952009-03-01T20:44:00.000-05:002009-03-01T20:44:00.000-05:00Love reading your blog and have mentioned some of ...Love reading your blog and have mentioned some of your posts in mine...Great ideas and looking forward to reading more!Staciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15051467682669557152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-32412140814387316362009-02-08T12:39:00.000-05:002009-02-08T12:39:00.000-05:00TCE, Go you! Enjoy every bite of your bread!LIALZ...TCE, Go you! Enjoy every bite of your bread!<BR/><BR/>LIALZ, I agree on homemade bread's vast superiority to store-bought. I'm going to try to do more and more varied canning this year.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-6356913834739283782009-02-05T04:56:00.000-05:002009-02-05T04:56:00.000-05:00I have become addicted to baking my own bread. It...I have become addicted to baking my own bread. It just can't compare to buying pre-made, plus it's a great feeling of accomplishment on that night after a few hours of breadmaking. I'd love to hear of others' fav recipes. The latest fav for me are wholemeal rolls with yogurt mixed in.<BR/><BR/>Food preservation - I'd really like to take up the challenge throughout the year with more canning endeavors. The freezing/dehydrating methods from the summer should get me through the winter, but I am longing for more fruit, variety, and the added space for veg that comes with canning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-14737969462299381432009-02-03T21:05:00.000-05:002009-02-03T21:05:00.000-05:00This past weekend I made my first loaves of bread ...This past weekend I made my first loaves of bread so I'll continue on that and improve by checking out your no-knead method. Whoohoo! Here's an item I'm not behind on yet. :)The Country Experiencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02273780434096961474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-27465334798787037662009-02-03T10:39:00.000-05:002009-02-03T10:39:00.000-05:00It's great to hear from so many kitchen-competent ...It's great to hear from so many kitchen-competent folks, and also those inspired to be more competent. You guys rock!<BR/><BR/>Alison and Matt, I'm going to urge you both to check out the no knead bread method. I really cannot praise it highly enough. You don't need a bread machine to make it, and the technique is so incredibly easy, with so little hands-on time, that a child could make it and turn out a superb loaf of bread. Try it! You'll like it!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-61705908557025661402009-02-03T01:46:00.000-05:002009-02-03T01:46:00.000-05:00For the longest time I've been wanting to learn to...For the longest time I've been wanting to learn to bake my own bread. I just needed a little motivation. I might just have found it. Thanks!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12575367528069835849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-35652057716700610882009-02-03T00:41:00.000-05:002009-02-03T00:41:00.000-05:00I'm a decent cook and I can bake, but I lack the t...I'm a decent cook and I can bake, but I lack the time to make bread regularly (unless my hubby caves to his consumer cravings and buys a breadmaker, which would handle the kneading and rising while I was @work, school, etc.)<BR/><BR/>I, too, used to can fairly frequently, but haven't done so much since the birth of my six year old son. He takes applesauce to school almost every day for lunch, and I have lately been thinking I should really make my own and can it instead of buying it. I will consider this my 'kick in the pants' to actually take this on! (I wonder if I can make it in the crock pot?)Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06930063125203710694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-51123561695255295562009-02-02T18:31:00.000-05:002009-02-02T18:31:00.000-05:00We're already experienced cooks and bakers; this y...We're already experienced cooks and bakers; this year's goal is definitely to preserve more. We froze some garden produce and dehydrated just a bit last year and the results were so yummy and so useful we'll definitely do more. I used to can about a million years ago but stopped when I moved to suburbia and stopped growing or gleaning quite so much of my food. The time has come to consider it again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-58165068201951836312009-02-02T13:27:00.001-05:002009-02-02T13:27:00.001-05:00Wonderful post! I also highly recommend a couple o...Wonderful post! I also highly recommend a couple of cookbooks from the Moosewood line - "Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home" and "Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites." Both are mostly vegetarian and include recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less (many are 15 to 20 min.). They call for some canned or frozen foods for convenience, and they recommend side dishes with every main dish. If you only choose ONE cookbook, I adore The Joy of Cooking. We use it all the time, and it is nearly foolproof. Read the introductory sections to learn more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-66301648974962244162009-02-02T13:27:00.000-05:002009-02-02T13:27:00.000-05:00I do know how to make bread already but haven't do...I do know how to make bread already but haven't done it since before Thanksgiving. Thanks for the kick in the pants. I'm off to make some now.Green Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.com