No Mess Bacon

Bacon cooking on a broiler pan.

The broiler pan. There has been one in every home I’ve lived in, but until recently I’ve never used it. I have discovered that it is an incredible tool for cooking bacon! There is no spattering and most of the grease drips into the bottom of the pan.   Directions: A spray… Read more“No Mess Bacon”

Cleaning Supplies – Making Your Own

Cleaning Caddy filled with cleaning supplies

A few inexpensive household items keep the cost of cleaning supplies to a minimum. I clean my house with cleaning supplies made from vinegar, dish soap or bleach.  Here’s the how to: Vinegar Dish soap Bleach Purchase spray bottles for your solutions or re-use clean, empty spray bottles. Label bottles… Read more“Cleaning Supplies – Making Your Own”

Ginger Cookies

When I moved to the Maritimes in 2002, I initially landed in Saint John, NB.  There I stopped at the Crosby Molasses Company and picked up a free copy of “Crosby’s Molasses Family Favourites” recipe book.  In it I found the most delicious ginger cookie recipe. This recipe won me a… Read more“Ginger Cookies”

Bread Machine Bread (3-lb loaf)

Fresh baked bread

Having homemade bread on hand is important to me, and I can accomplish this on a regular basis by using a bread machine. INGREDIENTS: 2 cups                        Warm water 3 tbsp                        Butter 1 tsp                           Salt 3 tbsp                        Dry milk powder 4 tbsp                        Sugar 1                                  Egg… Read more“Bread Machine Bread (3-lb loaf)”

Bread Machine Bread

Fresh baked bread

Have you ever looked at the ingredients for most store-bought bread? Sugar or glucose/fructose is often the second ingredient followed by a lot of ingredients you can’t pronounce, let alone know what they are. But what can you do about it? You can buy your bread at your local bakery. Local bakeries make… Read more“Bread Machine Bread”

Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

Back to school 1982

Packing lunches quickly becomes a dreaded chore when school starts in the fall.   Here are some ways to keep them interesting: Main Snacks Fruit Drink Lunchbox Food Safety Tips from Health Canada Don’t miss a thing at Homemaking Jewels.  Subscribe today!

Homemade Croutons

I never used to eat Caesar salad because I didn’t like the hard, store-bought croutons.  And when I got wise to looking at the ingredients of processed food, I became even more convinced that I didn’t want to eat them. Then I started cooking for my husband who LOVES Caesar… Read more“Homemade Croutons”

Food Storage

There has been much discussion and concern raised about storing and heating food in plastic containers. As someone who prides herself in taking a bag lunch to work, I was guilty of doing this regularly! When I heard of the possible hazards of chemicals leaching into my food, I quickly… Read more“Food Storage”

Homemade Peanut Butter

Put homemade peanut butter in a glass jar and store in the refrigerator. Julia Stewart photo.

Peanut butter is a satisfying snack full of healthy fat, protein and fiber. But peanut butter can be full of salt, sugar, glucose-fructose and trans fats.  So read the label carefully to see what has been added to the peanut butter you are buying.   Or, better yet, make your… Read more“Homemade Peanut Butter”