Dear Home Ec 101,
I need to get our food budget under control, we spend a ton of money eating out.  It’s starting to cause fights.  I can’t cook, I can’t plan, and even if I could I wouldn’t know where to start.
Signed,
Hopeless in Hopeswell
Heather says:
Welcome to part two of this series on meal planning.  Part [...]

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Heather says:
If you load this dish up with steamed broccoli it’s easy to pretend it’s healthy. This recipe makes four servings of alfredo and can create a variety of meals by varying the accompaniments.  My favorites are blackened beef, chicken, or shrimp.  If spicy foods are not your style, try grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables.
For [...]

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Heather says:
I love zucchini.  It’s one of those plants I don’t have to grow to reap the benefits.  As the season turns toward summer local gardeners may have more than they know what to do with.  In fact August 8th is “Sneak Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night.”  Friends and neighbors, I am here to [...]

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Heather says:
I was not content with the pizza crust I originally posted, it was good, but not something I felt others would rave about.  Consequently I have been experimenting with variations for the past few months.  While searching for a simple crust I had some criteria in mind: the ingredients must be both inexpensive and [...]

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Dear Home Ec 101,
I’m sorry if this is a silly question, but is there a difference between chives, scallions, and green onions?  Can I substitute? Does it matter?
Signed,
Addled Allicae
Heather says:
Here’s a brief rundown that should help.
Chives:
These are the smallest onions and are grown primarily for the leaves.  They have a somewhat milder flavor than green [...]

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