2020 Update: This post on stocking the emergency pantry was written in July of 2010. Ten years have passed and it’s more relevant than ever. I want to emphasize that I am not saying hoard all of the toilet paper. As you make your trips to the grocery store just set a little aside each …
Heather says We spend a lot of time on here talking about cleaning things. Today those things will include you. A few years ago I mentioned the Voluntary Ban on Phosphorous in Automatic Dishwasher Detergent. While I don’t think this particular bill that will ban the use of microbeads in personal care products by 2018 …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have a question about towels. Is there any way to tell when you buy a bath towel (or any towel for that matter) if it will be absorbent? I’ve purchased many 100% cotton towels over the years. Some are absorbent and others repel water as badly as those hideous 100% polyester …
Heather says: I shouldn’t have so much affection for a robot. There, I said it. I am far too fond of this vacuum, heck it even has a name. Internetz meet Gertie, my newest minion¹: Do you remember the story, There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury? Nine-fifteen, sang the clock, time to clean. Out …
Dear Home-Ec 101: A few months ago Heather wrote a post on the voluntary phosphorus ban in dishwashing detergent. I don’t recall offhand if Texas is under that ban, but regardless I can’t buy phosphorus detergent anymore. My cousin found a website that offers Cascade with phosphorus but hasn’t tried it out yet. My only concern …
Brian says: It’s hard, I know. Send a woman to any corner of the planet with just $50 and a dream, and she’ll come back with what seems like sacks of clothes, shoes and trinkets. Send one of us to do the same thing and we’ll probably come back with one “really nice” pair of …
Dear Home Ec 101, If you were going to replace some of your cookware with cast iron or enameled cast iron, including a large dutch oven, would you purchase enameled cast iron, plain cast iron, or stainless steel? I do cook a lot of acidic foods, is this a concern? Signed, Pot Likker¹ PS. I …
It has just been brought to my attention that Pyrex cookware has been receiving some attention from Consumer Reports via the Consumerist. I love glass cookware and I will continue to use my glassware for baking; however, there are a few precautions one should always use. Glass, even tempered glass, is fairly rigid and doesn’t conduct heat …
Dear Home Ec 101, I just got back from the grocery and I’m despairing. I’m trying to be frugal these days, but still I don’t want to intake HFCS and I like to choose organic eggs and milk when I can. And I feel like it’s a balancing game to keep my family healthy but …
Heather says: The ideas in this post may not be of immediate use for you. Many of you will say, it would take more time than the savings provide. That may be true for where you are today, but you never know what information you may need in the future. Just mentally file it away …