Best Prices for Herbs and Spices!

This is a HUGE frugal tip here, folks.  If you love to cook from scratch like we do, you use a lot of spices and herbs.  One awesome way to save money is to buy your herbs and spices in bulk.

Herbalcom.com is just the place. I have ordered from there several times and each time have been completely happy with my purchase.  They have so many items like loose leaf teas, herbs, spices, cocoa powder, essential oils, as well as empty capsules and things like beeswax!

Nothing fancy here, just straightforward great prices.  Their website will not tickle your visual senses! But hey, if I save lots of money, it doesn't have to be pretty!

For example,

Over time, that could add up to a lot of money!  Herbalcom.com sells the spices and herbs in 1 pound packages.  That can be a lot of spice so you may want to go in with a friend or just store them in mason jars like I do.  :)

I make up my own capsules of herbs to take orally by using herbs from Herbalcom.com.  That tutorial is for another post but if you like to use herbs for remedies, this is the source for you.

I also have met people who like to make their own special herb mixes and sell them.  At these prices, that option is very affordable.

But don't just take my word for it, hop on over to Herbalcom.com and comparison shop for your favorite items.

Happy cooking!

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

DIY Vanilla Extract

We do a lot of baking and cooking from scratch around here.  It is important to have a well-stocked spice cabinet.  One of the ingredients that I seemed to always be running out of was vanilla extract.  It comes in such little bottles! And is so expensive!!

Then when I started to watch my diet, I noticed that regular vanilla extract contained corn syrup! WHAT?? Corn syrup?!?  Yep, so unless you are buying organic you are probably getting ingredients you don't really want.

For example, from the Amazon site:

Watkins Original Vanilla Double Strength Extract
Water, glucose, propylene glycol, vanilla extract (alcohol, water, extractive of vanilla beans), alcohol (8.25%), artificial flavors, caramel color. Contains Sulfites.
$17.25 for 11 oz.

Simply Organic Pure Vanilla Extract Certified Organic, 4-Ounce Glass Bottles (Pack of 2)

$27.23 Water,organic Alcohol,organic Vanilla Bean Extractives


Flavorganics, Organic Vanilla Extract, 8 fl oz. for $21.41

Water, organic alcohol (35%), organic vanilla bean extractives.

McCormick doesn't even list the ingredients on their website or on Amazon.  The Food Renegade lists the ingredients as:

• Vanilla bean extractives in water,
• alcohol (35%),
• and corn syrup.

Did you notice that water is the first ingredient on some of the lists?  You don't need water in vanilla extract! 

But never fear, The Resourceful Gals are here!!  Make your own natural vanilla extract and know exactly what's in it!  :)

All you need are real whole vanilla beans and vodka.  Place the vanilla beans in a container (that you can seal) and cover with the vodka.  We use the vodka because it has no other taste.  Let steep for a few days to a week before the first use.  Then use as you like and refill the container with the vodka as needed.  You will have wonderful vanilla extract and as much as you want right at your fingertips!  

Not to mention CHEAPER!!  This large bottle of vodka cost about $8 for 59 oz. which comes out to 13.5  cents per ounce and will last a good long time.  

You can get your vanilla beans at Herbalcom.com for only $18 for 26-28 beans.  I use 5 beans, cut in half and they will last for several years. That is only 69 cents per vanilla bean and using 5 costs $3.46. Use the rest of the beans for a back-up (they will keep) or make gifts to share with those you love!

So your 10 ounce bottle of vanilla extract initially costs $4.81 and will only cost you to add the vodka at 13.5 cents per ounce after that for about 2 years.  *Does happy dance*

So go ahead and get started on your own vanilla extract.  You'll be glad you did!!

You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

The Health Benefits of Cooking with an Iron Skillet

Julia here! Do you cook with an iron skillet? Iron skillets are one of the most wonderful tools you can use in your kitchen! And here are a few reasons why...

Health Benefit #1- Use Less Cooking Oil!

That lovely sheen on cast-iron cookware is the sign of a well-seasoned pan, which renders it virtually nonstick. The good news about this is that you won’t need to use oodles of high-calorie oil to cook your tasty foods like potatoes, veggies, chicken, and more. :D We usually use a dab of butter on our antique frying pan, instead of cooking oil. I've heard it's not best to mix butter and cooking oil when seasoning one skillet, and we use butter because we usually cook scrambled eggs in our antique pan. :)

BTW, To clean cast iron, never use soap. This will strip the pan of its natural seasoning.Simply scrub or scrape your skillet with a washcloth or a brush and hot water and dry it completely. (We actually scrape ours off with a small square of plastic that came with our pizza stone.) :D

One way to season your cast-iron skillet is to cover the bottom of the pan with a thick layer of kosher salt and a half inch of cooking oil, then heat until the oil starts to smoke. Carefully pour the salt and oil into a bowl, then use a ball of paper towels to rub the inside of the pan until it is smooth. If you're using butter, heat a small amount of butter in the pan until it's good and sizzled, then wipe clean with paper towels. (why paper towels? So you can discard them after use.) If you have purchased a new iron skillet, it may take a few times before it's seasoned enough to use. 

Health Benefit #2- Avoid Harmful Chemicals.

Hang onto your hats, this is the scary part! The repellent coating that keeps food from sticking to nonstick pots and pans contains PFCs (perfluorocarbons), a chemical that’s linked to liver damage, cancer, developmental problems and, according to one 2011 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, early menopause. (YUCK. And we're using this regularly?) PFCs get released—and inhaled—from nonstick pans in the form of fumes when pans are heated on high heat. Likewise, we can ingest them when the surface of the pan gets scratched. Both regular and ceramic-coated cast-iron pans are great alternatives to nonstick pans for this reason.
We actually have a few nonstick frying pans still, but we're looking into replacing them for this very reason, and keeping an eye out at estate sales and yard sales for any unwanted iron skillets. :D

Health Benefit #3- Solve Iron Deficiency!

Did you know nearly 10% of American women are iron-deficient? (Neither did I, until I looked it up) Gloria (my dear mom and co-blogger) has struggled with iron deficiency, and I think cooking with our skillet has helped a lot. Her last blood-work report showed normal iron levels, even without her taking any iron supplements!

You see, while cast iron doesn’t leach chemicals, it can leach some iron into your food...and that’s a good thing. :) Cooking food, especially something acidic like tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet can increase iron content by as much as 20 times!

Now, this isn't a health tip, it's a frugal one - using an iron skillet means you can decrease your pan replacement costs by 100%! THEY LAST FOREVER. :D 

So, what are you waiting for?! Dig out that iron skillet (or beg, borrow or snatch one from your Aunt Bea) and cook something great and guilt-free for yourself today. :D 



You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.
More info about skillets here. :)

Simple Sprouting

We love sprouts! They are so good for you and tasty, too!

When I started sprouting again last year, ( had done it years ago), I tried making my own sprouter. What can I say, I am a DIYer at heart!

Well, it was a dismal failure. The sprouts got moldy and didn't grow well. Then I found the Easy Sprout  Sprouter! I love it!

The Easy Sprout Sprouter makes sprouting a joy. I got mine on Amazon here but you can find them elsewhere.

I bought my seeds from Sprout People. The seeds are wonderful and I especially love their mixes. The shipping was high for me as we don't live near them but it was worth the price. I bought several pounds of seeds so it was still a good deal. You can also buy the Easy Sprout Sprouter from them.

The Sprout People website has extensive information about sprouts, how to grow them and rinse them.

Basically, you give the sprouts an initial soak and then rinse morning and night until they have grown enough to eat them. It only takes a few days. Check out Sprout People for detailed instructions and videos.

Some nutritional info on sprouts from Sprout People:

"Research shows that sprouts are a veritable fountain of youth. Sprouts abound with antioxidants, they are full of protein, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Broccoli sprouts have been found to contain 50 times as much of the antioxidant sulfurophane as mature broccoli. Wheat Grass juice is the closest substance to hemoglobin, and is therefore a phenomenal blood purifier and liver de-toxifier. Sprouts contain enzymes, giving your body a much needed rest as they digest themselves - invigorating you while requiring no help from your body to process them. New research indicates that peanut sprouts reduce harmful cholesterol and that sunflower,buckwheat and grain sprouts dramatically improve the quality of life for diabetics. The list goes on and on."

And this will knock your socks off! " Broccoli sprouts can contain something like 50 times the sulfurophane found in mature broccoli, by weight, so you get as much antioxidant in 1 ounce of Broccoli Sprouts as you would if you ate 3 pounds of fully grown Broccoli."
  
So what are you waiting for? Give sprouts a try! You'll be glad you did!! :)

You will find us linked up to some of these fine sites.

Photo credit of Easy Sprout Sprouter goes to  Sprout People.