Retro Saturday: Kitchen Towels vs Paper Towels

Retro Saturdays give Heather and Ivy a chance to spend time with their family. It also gives new readers a peek into the Home Ec 101 archives. Sit back and enjoy this blast from the Home-Ec 101 past. Dear Home-Ec 101, I use way too many paper towels and kitchen wipes.  Part of the problem is that …

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Retro, uh, Thursday? 2 Sick Hostesses Edition

Ivy says: Proof positive that Heather and I are the very best of friends: we share everything. I turn on my computer this morning after getting back from the doctor. Heather says, “I think I have the flu.” I reply with, “Funny, I just got back from the doctor where I was diagnosed with…that’s right, …

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Frugal Friday Free For All and a Giveaway

Heather says Until recently many of my friends merely humored my frugal traits, now everywhere I look someone is writing about how to be frugal. It seems we’re trendsetters and everyone is jumping on the frugal bandwagon. It’s been a long week here at Home Ec 101. I’ve been under the weather and Ivy’s family …

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Saving Your Personal Economy By Sharing Collective Knowledge

Ivy says: Even though I’ve been avoiding the news like the plague to keep from being worried about the economy, I’m still hit with reminders nearly every day that the recession is here in full force. Friends and family are losing jobs, having hours and/or pay cut, you name it. Seems like everyone is struggling …

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Revive Cilantro and Parsley

Heather says: If you have a wilting bunch of cilantro or parsley you can perk it back up by cutting 1/2″ off the stems and placing the bunch in a glass of water, just like a bouquet of flowers. Place the glass in the fridge and please, try not to knock it over. Alternately, you …

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Retro Saturday: A Guide to Thrifting

Retro Saturdays give us a chance to spend time with our families. Enjoy this blast from the Home Ec 101 past, originally published in January of 2008. Ivy says: If you’re trying to live on less money and you are not yet acquainted with the joy of thrift store shopping, let me introduce you. Reader, …

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Frozen Fingers

Dear Home Ec 101, We scored a great deal on a 7 cubic ft freezer. Since our family gardens and we have a teenager, it’s great to have the extra storage space, but the storage part of that is a problem. It only has one lone basket on the top where I keep bread. Otherwise, …

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Keep Evaporated Milk on Hand: Quick tip

Heather says: Always keep several cans of evaporated milk in the pantry. It has an incredibly long shelf  life and can prevent an “Oh crap, we’re out of milk” trip to the store. To use a substitute for fresh milk, dilute the evaporated milk with an equal amount of water. Evaporated milk can also be …

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Retro Saturday: Free Bulk Food Storage

Retro Saturdays give Ivy and I a chance to hang out with our families and gives our newer readers a peek at what’s in our archives. Please thank Ivy for holding down the fort while I took a much needed vacation with the kiddos. Heather says: My family goes through oatmeal at an amazing rate. …

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