Struggling against the harsh realities of growing up, my parents had to work very hard to make ends meet Times were lean, so both of my parents had to work, so we had to learn early from my Grandma's way, to find new and creative ways to put nourishing, yet inexpensive, meals on the table. While some of her ingredients were found growing in nature, most of them came from her own garden. I remember my Grandma divided the garden for each of us and helped us to grow herbs and vegetables. I learned quickly how to do chopping, grounding, mixing, you name it - I did at all, doing all I can to help my Grandma with the cooking, learning to cook all the special Hungarian dishes. With both of my parents working, Grandma was the one mostly responsible for my upbringing. I frequently helped in the kitchen, gradually learning her simple approach to creating healthful, delicious,
Today I'm very thankful for that opportunity. Because of years I spent in Grandma's kitchen, I'm now able to pass her recipes and techniques on to you. This site provides a broad assortment of authentic recipes perfected by my Grandmother, and by her mother before her. They include a number of basic global dishes, many of which you may already be familiar with. I think you will find them easy to prepare and delicious.
Happy Cooking!

 

What Bulk Buying Saves You Money

Buying in bulk can be a real money saver. But you do have to be careful. If you have a wholesale club membership, you might find you spend a lot of money - and while some things can be a really great buy, others are not so good. So make sure you watch those unit prices when you are shopping for bulk.

You also want to make sure you have the storage and will use things before their expiration date. If you are a family of just two, buying 15 boxes of cereal because there's a "buy one get two free" sale might not be the best idea. Because are you really going to get through those boxes of cereal before they go bad?

Do you have room in your freezer? If you have an extra freezer, then buying meat in bulk can definitely be cost effective. The family packs generally are cheaper per pound, but you'll likely want to split up the packs into smaller serving sizes before freezing. You'll need plenty of freezer space to hold everything.

Here are ten items that it's worthwhile to buy in bulk and how to make them last longer.

1. Cereal - Okay, we know we said above that buying more than you can eat is a bad idea. But the truth of the matter is, when you find a deal on cereal you should go for it. Just make sure you use a clip to seal the bag closed after it has been opened, or have some handy Tupperware type containers to store the cereal in. Use something air tight to keep it from going stale.

2. Foil and wraps - You know this is never going to go bad and you will use this for storing things.

3. Paper goods - This is another thing that doesn't have an expiration date and that you'll get plenty of use out of. Bulk toilet paper purchases and paper towels are especially good value. Watch those unit prices to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. The 1000-roll of toilet paper is a better buy than the Charmin. And no, you don't have to sacrifice comfort for price.

4. Toothpaste and toothbrushes - You want to keep your teeth healthy and a great way to do that is with plenty of dental care products. Never worry about running out of toothpaste again when you buy this in bulk.

5. Alcohol - Now, not to encourage over drinking, but when you are having a lot of company over you'll be happy for a well-stocked bar, that's for sure. Buying larger amounts of vodka is just cheaper per ounce and it's not going to go bad as long as it's stored correctly.

6. Batteries - Everything requires batteries, especially those annoying kid toys. As great as it might be to say a toy is broken once the battery dies, if you want to avoid the waterworks and be the hero then having a good stock of batteries on hand is helpful. And it's cheaper in the long run to buy the larger packs of batteries than the individual packs. Store them in a cool place to maximize shelf life.

7. Dried beans and pasta - Pasta can last up to two years in a sealed container and beans can last up to a year. So this makes the perfect bulk pantry staple to purchase. Keep them sealed in an airtight container. Make sure to label everything with dates so you know what to use first.