http://www.frugalvillage.net Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:10:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en photo by D'arcy Norman DEAR SARA: How do you keep your butter soft and spreadable? We've switched from margarine to butter. -- Carol, e-mail DEAR CAROL: I simply take it out of the refrigerator before I need it so it has a chance to soften. I'm not very picky. I'll scrape thin ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/17/keep-butter-spreadable/ photo by erix! Homemade gifts are a popular topic this year. While do-it-yourself baked goods and gift baskets are great, I really like the first three creative tips from readers. They would be well received by most anyone. They're fairly cheap, too. PHOTO GIFT IDEAS: Grab your camera and look for ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/16/creative-homemade-holiday-gifts/ photo by 427 The holidays are approaching quickly, and the tension is building. Readers are sharing their seasonal planning tips. Some people have it broken down to weekly tasks. They're cleaning and organizing and buying ingredients, and holiday cards are ready to be mailed. But even with the best plans in ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/15/slow-down-for-the-holidays/ photo by chotda The holidays are almost here. Many people could kick themselves for not setting aside money. Again. Not to mention the long list of people to which they "need" to give gifts. More people are making homemade gifts this year. Many of my frugal readers share their anxiety over ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/14/easy-homemade-gift-ideas/ photo by framboise Affordable pasta is a staple in any frugal pantry. With so many types and recipes available, you could eat it throughout the year and not grow tired of it. Pasta is versatile and can be made elegant even on a budget. Ever serve pasta that didn't seem quite ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/13/pasta-offers-big-budget-bites/ photo by zesmerelda DEAR SARA: I've been looking for deviled-egg variations. How do you make your deviled eggs? -- Debbie, Maryland DEAR DEBBIE: I like my deviled eggs simple. I combine mayonnaise, yolks and mustard. It's the basic and traditional way. I don't like pale filling because it looks unappetizing. As for ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/10/bedeviled-reader-seeks-eggs-planation/ photo by ilovebutter I haven't noticed my eyes tearing up when cutting onions in a while. I attribute that to using fresh onions, working quickly, cutting the stem end before the root end and using a sharp knife. I've heard tips such as using chilled onions or applying vinegar to your ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/09/no-more-onion-tears/ photo by eudaemonius Family celebrations are the perfect time for pies. If you're a pie lover, you look forward to this time of year. While store-bought frozen or bakery pies are fine for some families, others wouldn't dare serve anything but homemade for the holidays. Often, people don't bake their own ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/06/holiday-baking-as-easy-as-pie/ photo by uhuru1701 On my frugal forums, we have a section for frugal-living challenges. This allows readers to set frugal goals and be held accountable by peers. This is one of the greatest motivators, because not only do you have a place to share your own peaks and valleys, you can ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/04/meet-the-challenges-head-on/ photo by exfordy DEAR SARA: How do you arrange in drawers those many plastic containers and lids? They take up so much room and are hard to "match" up when you need them. -- Vickie E., New York DEAR VICKIE E.: I don't have a good solution for organizing lids in drawers. ... http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/04/put-a-lid-on-it/