Frugal Living

Cleaning an Oven Naturally without Toxic Cleaners

January 7, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Say goodbye to harsh chemical oven cleaners! Swap them out with something that’s gentle, yet powerful. Similar to using commercial cleaners, cleaning an oven naturally calls for time and a little bit of elbow grease without all the nasty toxins.

CLEANING AN OVEN NATURALLY

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I’ve met a single person who enjoys cleaning their oven.

Like cleaning the fridge, scrubbing down that hardworking oven isn’t high up on anyone’s list of favourite afternoon activities.

It’s one of those chores that is often put off until it can’t be ignored any longer.

I know my oven is due for a cleaning when every time I turn it on, it smells like smoke from that pile of burned melted cheese that oozed from a frozen pizza.

That’s a clear sign that it’s time to put on the pink rubber gloves and get to it.

Forget about the chemicals or the self-clean option, though. There’s a better way that won’t have you coughing up a storm or fearing for your skin.

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Making Pumpkin Puree from Scratch and Roasting Seeds

October 4, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

Making pumpkin puree at home doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it’s easier than you might think. Preheat your oven, gut your pumpkins, and get ready to cozy up to fall with these minimal waste pumpkin practices…

Making pumpkin puree is one of my favourite ways to ring in autumn.

The days are cooler. Green leaves adopt the colours of fire before falling to cold concrete sidewalks and pavement, blanketing lawns with a cozy comforter for the winter season.

The nights are cold and I can see my breath in the brisk morning air, my car windows weeping with condensation.

I don’t dare go outside without a jacket anymore.

My yearnings for gallons of old-fashioned lemonade and ice cream sandwiches are now cravings for tea, spicy baked goods, and everything pumpkin.

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The Frugal Kitchen Pantry: Part One

September 13, 2019 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

One of the best ways to save money in the kitchen is to keep a well-stocked pantry. Learn which pantry essentials you should have on hand if you’re looking to stay in more and eat out less.

barley lentil buddha bowls and how to DIY

FEEDING DREAMS WITH THE FRUGAL KITCHEN PANTRY

Most of us have savings goals.

Some of us want to buy a house, a car, or a family vacation; others want to be able to afford karate classes for their children.

Whatever those goals may be, one way to get closer to them is to eat out less. The temptation to dial for delivery or to make a quick stop at the fast food joint on the way home from work is weakened if you know you have something you can whip up with minimal effort.

Accepting the challenge of using what’s on hand is not only gentler on your pocketbook, but it’s usually better for your waistline, too! And guess what? It all starts with what you have in the kitchen pantry.

The frugal kitchen pantry.

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11 Frugal Kitchen Rules to Waste Less & Save More

August 6, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 17 Comments

Frugal kitchen rules for wasting less and saving more. Learn how to maximize what you have and create less kitchen waste with these 11 simple rules. Are you up to the challenge?

HOW TO BE MORE FRUGAL IN THE KITCHEN

I’ve heard it said more than once at work, “Sylvia, you’re so frugal, teach me your ways!”. This always baffles me because the only thing I’m doing at the office is bringing my own lunch. While I enjoy eating out as much as the next person, I also like putting my money towards things I care about, like books and gardening. It’s the same thing in my kitchen.

I enjoy challenging myself to stretch my groceries so that I can afford to spend more on local produce and building my vegetable garden. Not only am I saving money with my frugal kitchen, but I’m also reducing plastic waste in the process.

There’s so much I could have learned from my grandparents when it comes to running a frugal kitchen–there’s nothing like wartime rationing to teach you how to stretch the food you have. These are some of the tips I’ve come up with on my own.

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Broth from Scratch with Scraps

July 30, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 5 Comments

Who said making broth from scratch had to be complicated? Save your hard earned money and learn how to make something from nothing.

make your own broth from scratch with kitchen scraps

WHY SHOULD I MAKE MY OWN BROTH FROM SCRATCH?

I get it. We all have busy lives. Who has time to make their own broth when you can pick up a carton for three or four bucks? If you pay anything less than that, I promise you it’s not a steal. Take a good look at the label the next time you want to put it in your shopping cart and tell me what you see. It’s going to be packed with sodium!

HOW TO MAKE STOCK WITH FOOD SCRAPS VIDEO

If this is your first time visiting the kitchen, you’re about to find out why I call my kitchen vintage… If you like my style, please consider subscribing to the Vintage Kitchen Vixen YouTube channel!

This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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How to Grow Your Own Sprouts at Home

June 21, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 1 Comment

Growing your own sprouts at home is a reward all on its own. Learn everything you need to know about sprouting these nutrient-rich shoots right on your kitchen counter!

Believe it or not, sprouts used to be a treat for me.

I grew up in a small town, so finding alfalfa sprouts in the local grocery stores wasn’t an easy task.

I always appreciated them when my mom was able to get her hands on a little plastic container, but I never really gave them much thought.

When I was living near Montreal’s Jean-Talon Market (a magical place) sprouts became a regular thing, but I wish I had known then just how simple it really is to grow your own…

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