Heather Solos Heather says: My mom grew up in Arizona and has fond memories of a neighbor who made tortillas and refried beans. It has become a quest of mine, I want to know how these things should taste, not like Taco Bell tells me they ought to. Remember the pinto beans from last week? The leftovers …
Heather says: This 4th edition of a weekly grocery list and menu rounds out a month of meals with no main dish repeats (week one will have been edited by that time). Next week instead of posting a menu, I will consolidate the four menus into one monthly menu with a two part master shopping …
Heather says: I had to laugh when a radio show I enjoy began a segment, Minor Confessions. I like to pretend they are closet Home Ec 101 fans and someday they’ll slip and confess that. Sometimes life sets the bar pretty high and not all of us meet it every day. Rather than hide those slips …
Heather says: Late last week we played a game I referred to as Disaster Scenario. It’s a quick way to check your own preparedness level when rumors of disaster are hyped in the media. Well that and I’ve always enjoyed apocalyptic fiction. After watching the Twitter stream for a while, I feel the need to …
Heather says: There are many wonderful frugal sites in the blogosphere (such a funny word, isn’t it?) I have been lax over the last few months and have not acknowledged those who deserve credit for their contributions. Take a moment and visit these fine folks and feel free to leave a link to your favorite …
Dear Home-Ec 101, Everyone acts like dried beans are the end all. How do I get the beans in the bag to work like the beans in the can? I’ve soaked them overnight and they still aren’t like what I get out of a can. Am I legume challenged? Signed, Baffled Bostonian Heather says: …
Dear Home Ec 101, How in the WORLD do you clean off the reflectors on the stove top after you’ve successfully made them the most horribly dirty items in your house? I am down to one burner that I can use without setting my fire alarms off! Signed, ~Smells Like Smoke in Smallville Heather says: …
Heather says: The next time you visit the grocery store explore the produce department. Somewhere in the vicinity you may find a shopping cart, bin, or shelf marked damaged or reduced for quick sale. This is a goldmine for frugal shoppers. Crisp and fresh produce is a necessity for salads, but cooked vegetables needn’t be …
Heather says: Another Monday and here we have another fully planned menu. The shopping list is a downloadable PDF file. Simply print the list and cross off the items already on hand. Each meal includes at least two servings of vegetables, sometimes the second serving is included in the main dish. I would love to …
Heather says: Yesterday’s headlines on Swine Flu reminded me it was time to ask, are you prepared for an emergency? Please understand that I’m not trying to be a fearmonger. Don’t turn to your spouse and say, “Heather says we’re all going to die from pandemic swine flu!” Understand that I’m a total geek, fascinated …