One thing that I get asked over and over again is how much groceries cost us.  The cost more since I have been working because I tend to buy some things I used to make form scratch but for our family of 8 (which includes at least 3 very big eaters) and three cats and a dog we spend about 600.00 a month.

I love pasta.  It is quick, cheap, easy, and filling..what more can you ask?
This is my entry for Presto Pasta.

Noodles, bacon, cheese….what’s not to love?
This freezes well, kidls love it, so do husbands and hormonal women…Perfect for a cold day, a bad day, a busy day…or just because.  Vary the cheese for flavor changes, use ham instead of bacon…Use a different type of pasta if you want. Yum.
This is my entry for Presto Pasta.   For more great pasta dishes head over to Presto Pasta Nights

I have such a backlog of recipes and cookbooks that I could probably cook something different, three times a day, all year long, until I died and I would still never have to repeat anything.  I love vintage cookbooks for several reasons, but the main one is practicality.
Now, if you are reading this, and you have the perfect family of 4 people you can buy any cookbook and follow a recipe with out a glitch. But when you have 6 or 8 or 12 people ot cook for then you need a vintage cookbook.  They are family friendly.
Anyway.  …read more

I love carbs.  My body does not like them at all and so there ensues a war between the desire to be a size six and the desire to eat what I like.
Chicken and noodles is basic comfort food.  Call it chicken and noodles, pot pie, chicken and dumplings, or chicken alfredo you just can’t beat the mix of flavors.  This is chicken and noodles with an epicurean accent.  Think of it as….hmm…Ma Kettle wearing a Dior.

This is my entry for Ruth’s Presto Pasta night!Hey I am getting good, two weeks in a row.
This was inspired by the fact that I had an eggplant in the fridge that was threatening to grow fuzz, a few leftover mushrooms, and a can of artichoke hearts. Not a very poetic beginning but wait until you try the end result! This lasagne is buttery-creamy and very rich. At the same time it is light because of the lack of meat. You can adjust the cheese however you want but I used a lot. I …read more

There are some recipes that have been around a long, long time..and you try them and think…
Why?
But strata is one of those ancient recipes that began because some busy homemaker had some leftover ham, some cheese, a few eggs, and not much time. It has stayed around because, well, it is just good, simple food. And it is quick.
Did I mention versatile?

If you see dusty fingerprints on this post it is because I have been strolling through the vault looking at some of the old posts. If you are looking for some quick and easy casseroles for this weekend look no further!

When I was growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania we always called this chicken pot pie. Later, after moving south, I was informed that it is chicken and noodles. Ah well, whatever. It is chicken, it is pasta, it is comfort food, and it is wonderful. Best of all you can use it for your once a month cooking.
Really, does it get better than that without chocolate in it? I don’t think so. The creamy sauce, tender chicken, and savory vegetables make this perfect for a blustery day. Add a salad, bran muffins, and maybe apple …read more

Shepherd’s Pie is one of Marc’s favorites from my once a month cooking repertoire and it is really easy to make. It is one of those comfort foods, I think, at least in my family.
The thing is, that there are a lot of steps to it so I don’t make it as much as I should. I “scaled” this recipe down to serve eight because I realize that most of you have smaller families than I do. In fact, there are countries with smaller populations that this household…well, at least towns in Arkansas. I have driven …read more