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Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Recap

Aimee — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:52:25 +0000

With ‘Food Resolutions’ as our theme for January, the ladies of our Eat Well, Spend Less monthly series didn’t hold back. Things got personal, as they should when one is closely examining one’s eating and cooking habits.

Shaina bravely threw open her pantry to expose the need for more organization. Jess shared her desire to teach her boys to be self-sufficient in the kitchen. Carrie admitted to a history of wasting food and lays out how she intends to change that.

Each post had tremendous takeaway and you’re certain to relate to more than one confession. Hopefully in reading them you’ll find a few gems that you know you need to apply to your kitchen in 2012.

Saving Money on Healthier Foods :: Kingdom First Mom
Wasting Less In The Kitchen :: Denver Bargains
Tips for Baking with Whole Grain Flours : Good Life Eats
The Never-Ending Chicken Broth :: Kitchen Stewardship
The Key to Changing Your Diet for Good :: Life Your Way
Overall Kitchen Organization :: Food for My Family
Frugal Budget Considerations for 2012 :: Tammy’s Recipes
Teaching My Boys to Cook :: Life as MOM
Eating Well, For Baby :: Simple Bites

Have a wonderful weekend!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Recap is a post from Simple Bites

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Weekend Links and Tattler Winner

Aimee — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:24:10 +0000

It’s a new year, a new canning season, and you all are excited to start preserving! Yesterday’s giveaway from Tattler received a terrific response, thank you very much.

I loved reading through your answers to my canning question and hearing what you’ll be putting up in jars next. Talk about inspiring!

So the grand winner, who will receive 200 Tattler Reusable Canning Lids shipped directly to her door is…

Yvonne! She said she can’t wait to can summer peaches. Congratulations, Yvonne! You have been notified via email. Happy Canning!

A big thank you to all who participated in this giveaway. Don’t worry, there will be more opportunities in the future to win products from Tattler. In the meantime, stay in touch with them on Facebook for advanced notice of sales and discounts.

Read on for this weekend’s link love….

5 Real Food Shortcuts and “Cheats” :: Modern Alternative Mama
Cheese and Sunflower Seed Crackers :: Food in Jars
Inspiration For Eating Seasonally This Winter :: Simple Organic
Tips for Drinking More Water :: Goodlife Eats
An Organized Kitchen with Aimee Wimbush-Bourque :: Tidy Mom

Have a wonderful Sunday!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links and Tattler Winner is a post from Simple Bites

Weekend Links & Giveaway Winners

Aimee — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:03:59 +0000

We had our first major snowfall this weekend, making it the perfect time to brew a pot of tea and catch up on some reading. I’m really enjoying Mandi’s book, All In Good Time, and am delighted to announce the winners of my first Bite This Book! giveaway.

Two people will receive a copy of All in Good Time and they are:

Liz who said:

“For me, it will be anything that helps save money. We are on a TIGHT budget as it is and I may be taking a pay cut.”

oneshabbychick who said:

“I was drawn in by the cover hinting at the best time to remodel your kitchen! That is in my future and that’s the first tidbit I would want to look up. Thanks for the chance to win!”

Congratulations to the both of you! You have been notified via email.

A big thank you to all who entered! Remember, if you’re feeling like you need a leg up on getting organized in 2012, you can pick up your own copy of All In Good Time: When to Save, Stock Up, and Schedule Everything for Your Home on Amazon.

Now on to some more weekend reading! Here’s what caught my eye around the web this week…

Beet Brownies :: Stetted ~ A healthier brownie to ‘beet’ the cravings!
Kids in the Kitchen: Tortilla Pizzas :: Kitchen Simplicity ~ Fun step-by-step recipe to make with kids.
Kale Salad with Yogurt-Mint Dressing :: A Thought for Food ~ A fresh and beautiful winter salad.
The Easiest Way to Make Squash Purée :: Food for My Family ~ Practical and time-saving.
Baked Maple Oatmeal :: Foodie with Family ~ Next up on my breakfast menu.

Have a great weekend!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links & Giveaway Winners is a post from Simple Bites

Weekend Links

Aimee — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:16:03 +0000

Canning 101: A Field Guide to Jars :: Food in Jars
Two Pea Soup with Ham :: My Fabulous Recipes
No Kid Hungry (A recipe for the new year) :: The Perfect Pantry
Chicken Alphabet Soup :: Kitchen Explorers
Get Motivated for More Family Dinners in the New Year :: Life…Your Way

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links is a post from Simple Bites

Meet the Contributors for 2012

Aimee — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:11:54 +0000

I do the majority of the writing and recipe development in this little corner of the web, but I am supported by a talented and diverse group of seven individuals who lend their voices to this space every Wednesday.

Each contributor to Simple Bites brings something different to the table, expressing different styles, voices and opinions on everything from kids to canning. They’ve written some of your favorite posts this year and continue to submit relevant, engaging and insanely useful content. I’m so fortunate to have each of them.

Here are the contributors for 2012. These folks know their stuff, and I couldn’t be happier to be their editor. Head to my Contributors page to read more of their bios or follow them on twitter.

Cheri writes Kitchen Simplicity where her love of spending time in the kitchen shines through every post. I’m delighted she’s back on board as a contributor where she shares her tips for good food fast. She recently relocated to New York City from Norway and I’m so happy to now have her in my time zone!

Danny helps to balance out our nearly all-female cast of characters, writing from a guy’s perspective, as well as that of an engineer. His in-depth posts on topics such as sharing the cooking load or lessons in substitution will always leave you with food for thought. I’m glad he’s bringing his writing to Simple Bites for another year.

Katie’s been working her tail off on a gorgeous site redesign for GoodLife Eats. Her work certainly paid off, and her pretty little corner of the web is one of my favorite places to hang out and read about travel, book, family, and of course, food. If you love Katie’s sharp photography here on Bites, you should definitely pay her a visit.

I’ve been reading Kristen’s blog, Dine and Dish, for years now, so it’s still a little surreal to have her thoughtful writing and memorable photography gracing my pages. Ever gracious and always honest, Kristen brings us encouragement and motivation as well as rock-solid recipes. Look for her posts coming soon to this corner and be sure to follow her on her own site.

Marisa is one of our resident jam and preserve makers! Author of the blog Food in Jars, she’s always finding new things for Simple Bites readers to spoon onto toast or stir into a warm bowl of oatmeal. Her first cookbook, titled Food in Jars: Preserving in Small Batches Year-Round, will be published in June, so keep your eyes peeled. It can be pre-ordered now, which I highly recommend doing, as it will likely sell out for this canning season!

Since leaving her full-time editing job, Megan has been busy with her family, freelance work, and of course keeping up her blog, Stetted. She volunteers much of her time working as the membership chair for the Austin Food Blogger Alliance, and co-organizes monthly events for the ATX Swappers group. Megan’s pen recounts her family’s journey from junk food addiction to whole foods diet and she shares many of these accounts with us here.

Shaina continues to contribute nourishing, irresistible recipes to this space, as she does weekly on her own blog, Food for My Family. This spring she will sprout something a little different – her first cookbook! Look for the decadent and beautiful Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine available for pre-order right now.

This group rocks. I was fortunate to meet most of my contributors last year during my travels. Shaina, Kristen and I shared some laughs at Blissdom ’11, Marisa, Megan and I swapped canning tips at Big Summer Potluck, and Danny, well, we met some 19 years ago and are married!

This summer I hope to meet Katie at Evo ’12 and connect with Cheri when I pass through New York sometime. It’s high time we meet in real life!

Have a question for our contributors? Ask away!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Meet the Contributors for 2012 is a post from Simple Bites

A Year in Review: Top Posts on Simple Bites

Aimee — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:01:28 +0000

Tomorrow at midnight, we’ll ring in 2012 and a whole new season of blogging here on Simple Bites. I’ve got so much in store – new series, fun tutorials, health tips, and plenty of recipes – and I can’t wait to get started!

Just for fun, however, let’s look back at the year that was 2011 here on the blog and some of the popular articles from the 200-or-so published posts.

My Picks: 10 Favorite Posts from 2011

Picking a handful of favorites is not an easy task, after all, how does one choose between a perfect strawberry sundae and an impeccable strawberry shortcake? There is just no way to make a logical decision.

However, here are a few posts published in 2011 that I am particularly proud of. Some of them told a story, a few allowed me to lecture in a friendly fashion, and others included newly developed recipes that I love to make over and over. All are worthy of a read.

Honorable Mentions

Most Pinned! Roast Potatoes Two Ways: Polenta-Crusted and Rosemary Hash Browns
Most Buzzworthy! Mid-Summer Update and an Announcement! (baby news)

A huge thank you to all my readers in 2011! Your warm enthusiasm on my wide range of topics has been an enormous encouragement to keep writing, cooking and blogging.

See you in the New Year!

What was your favorite post on Simple Bites in 2011?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

A Year in Review: Top Posts on Simple Bites is a post from Simple Bites

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Wrap-Up

Aimee — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:19:06 +0000

The countdown to Christmas is really on now and we’ve got plenty of tips for the festivities ahead.

This month in the Eat Well, Spend Less series we took a look at simple holiday entertaining and how to keep the budget under control. Seven contributors weighed in on topics such as easy appetizers, do-ahead breakfasts, and stocking up on essentials.

I’m sure you’ll find this recap helpful as you head into holiday mode!

Alyssa from Kingdom First Mom inspired us with 10 Easy Homemade Food Gifts. Skip that excursion to the busy local mall this week and head to the kitchen instead. I’m sure anyone would be thrilled to receive a tin of shortbread or a gingerbread mix as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Jessica from LifeasMOM sure knows her way around an appetizer tray! Her post on budget-friendly appetizers offers plenty of practical and simple suggestions for finger food this holiday season.

Katie from Kitchen Stewardship shares her “go to” list for cheap and easy party foods, those items she can make quickly and without much thought hosting or attending a holiday event.

Shaina from Food for My Family dishes out tips on Stocking Up for the Holidays. I know I’ll have to make one final grocery run and Shaina’s list of essentials is sure to come in handy.

Mandi from Life Your Way brings us a pretty and practical round-up of Make-Ahead Breakfasts for Christmas Morning. Make-ahead sounds great to me, as do all of her menu ideas.

Tammy from Tammy’s Recipes names her Frugal Cold-Weather Comfort Foods and has me craving chili and turkey soup! Bookmark this round-up to help balance out all the rich, holiday foods.

In case you missed it, I wrote about Homemade Substitutes for Holiday Favorites. With a little planning, you can make many, if not all of your favorite holiday foods. This can help you save money, as well as avoid the sugar and preservatives that tend to be in the grocery store versions. The post contains a thorough round-up of sweets, appetizers, beverages and savory foods.

Have a wonderful weekend!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Wrap-Up is a post from Simple Bites

Weekend Links: Holiday Baking Edition

Aimee — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:06:34 +0000

Dark Chocolate Bark with Ginger, Pumpkin Seeds and Apricots :: Gourmande in the Kitchen
Jam Thumbprint Cookies :: Food in Jars
Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread :: Stetted
Eggnog Sugar Cookies :: Kitchen Simplicity
Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar: An Edible Gift :: Food for My Family
Eggnog French Toast :: Dine and Dish
Pistachio Orange Crescent Cookies :: Good Life Eats

Happy Holidays and Happy Baking!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links: Holiday Baking Edition is a post from Simple Bites

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Wrap-Up

Aimee — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:25:21 +0000

Every month eight other bloggers and I look at how we can feed our families well and keep the food budget in check with our series Eat Well, Spend Less. This month we share our strategies for frugal eating over the holidays, a time when most people tend to over-shop.

Now, I’m the sole Canadian in the group, so the focus is on the upcoming US Thanksgiving, but the tips and strategies are completely applicable for Christmas dinner as well.

These posts went live on various days over this past week, so here’s a handy wrap up of the topics covered, including subjects such as decorating, allergies, family dynamics, and leftovers. So pour yourself a coffee and join us for November’s edition of Eat Well, Spend Less!

Setting an Elegant Table on the Cheap – Carrie of Denver Bargains makes some fantastic suggestions for setting an elegant table on the cheap. I’m loving her edible centerpieces.

Recipes for Leftover Turkey – The ever-practical Katie of Good Life Eats shares one way to reduce Thanksgiving waste – by making the most of that turkey! She’s also got great tips for mindful eating.

Frugal Holiday Desserts – Shaina of Food for My Family sweetens things up with her advice on creating desserts on a budget. We all want to cut cost, not taste, and soon-to-be-published cookbook author Shaina shows us how to do just that.

Tips for a Homemade Make-ahead Thanksgiving Dinner – Love ‘do-ahead’ meals? Tammy of Tammy’s Recipes has the ultimate breakdown of tasks for your holiday main meal.

Allergen-Free Dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner – Mandi’s cooking with her GFCF daughter in mind this holiday season and provides a handy round-up of allergen-free recipes.

Tips for a Budget Friendly Thanksgiving Dinner – Jessica from Life as Mom declares no turkey dinner is worth going into debt over and shares her tips for a frugal holiday meal.

Do Your Holidays Focus on Family, Food…or Fighting? – Katie Kimball explores what happens when food philosophies clash at the holidays and offers some positive solutions for a peaceable holiday gathering with family of differing opinions.

10 Recipes to Make the Most of Turkey Leftovers – Head to Kingdom First Mom for more ideas on using up leftover turkey.

Lastly, I hope you caught my post on One Turkey, Four Meals. In it I give my recipe for Quick Turkey Noodle Soup, a simple nourishing meal that sustained us for the past week as we recovered from colds. It’s a good one to have in your repertoire as we head into winter!

Have a wonderful weekend!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Wrap-Up is a post from Simple Bites

Weekend Links

Aimee — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:48:11 +0000

How to Bake with Coconut Oil :: Simple Organic
Canning and Preserving: A Season’s Reflection and Looking Ahead :: Autumn Makes & Does
Artichoke, Leek and Potato Casserole :: Good Life Eats (and Katie’s new site design!)
Bad Cranberries :: Bloggers without Borders (encouraging us to think of local food banks this holiday season)
More Business of Being Born (Giveaway!) :: Under the High Chair

Have a great weekend!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Tattler - reusable, BPA-free canning lids.
Relish! - Time.Food.Life.
Plan It Don't Panic - A complete meal planning resource.
Real Food on a Real Budget - Good frugal food.

Weekend Links is a post from Simple Bites

Simple Bites » Link Love

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Recap

Weekend Links and Tattler Winner

Weekend Links & Giveaway Winners

Weekend Links

Meet the Contributors for 2012

A Year in Review: Top Posts on Simple Bites

Top 10 Most Visited Posts in 2011 on Simple Bites

Top 10 Most Commented Posts

My Picks: 10 Favorite Posts from 2011

Honorable Mentions

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Wrap-Up

Weekend Links: Holiday Baking Edition

Weekend Links: Eat Well, Spend Less Wrap-Up

Weekend Links