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Corn Cob Stock

12 September 2011 by local kitchen

It was my friend Kelly who first mentioned corn cob stock to me; at the time, I was simultaneously impressed by the brilliance of the idea and skeptical that I would actually like the taste. Don’t get me wrong: I love corn. Corn on the cob: I mean, who doesn’t love it? But corn cobs themselves? Seem like something that people in the South make pipes out of, or what Pa Ingalls made a doll of for Half-Pint. Not stuff that you […]

Categories: 100% local, corn, stock, summer • Tags: cooking, corn, corn on the cob, food, frugal, local, preserving, recipes, stock, vegetarian

Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking: Review + Contest!

18 April 2011 by local kitchen

My lovely friend Kate, of Hip Girl’s Home fame, has published a book: The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking: Decorating, Dining, and the Gratifying Pleasures of Self-Sufficiency – on a Budget! While the official release date is tomorrow, April 19, her publisher, HarperCollins, was kind enough to send me an advance copy to review and an extra copy to host a giveaway on the blog! To tell you the truth, I was a little nervous about this review: obviously, I […]

Categories: community • Tags: budget, canning, crafts, decorating, frugal, gardening, hip girl's, homemaking, kate payne, preserving, sewing

Homemade Hand Cream

15 February 2011 by local kitchen

I am a crocodile. Well, not literally, obviously (opposable thumbs being a great boon to typing ability) but my skin is so dry, especially in winter, that it feels more true than not. Given that both of my grandmothers were Irish and one grandfather was Scottish, 75% of my DNA is used to a moist, mild climate. Not the description I would use for this buried-in-snow, always-below-freezing New York winter. Just before Christmas, I stumbled upon this recipe for homemade […]

Categories: home goods • Tags: body lotion, frugal, hand cream, homemade, quick & easy, recipes, thrifty