Why I Buy Toilet Paper at Amazon

Yes, it's true. I buy my toilet paper at Amazon.

Not because I'm too lazy to truck the bulky package from a local store to my home, but because it is often less expensive and so much easier.

In fact, I've been purchasing more and more of my groceries and toiletries online and have been thrilled with the cost savings and the convenience.

Toilet paper is just one example.

Right now, you can get 32 rolls for Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper for as low as $.36 per roll with free shipping. To get this deal, combine the $2.00 available coupon with a 15% Subscribe and Save discount.

Or, you might opt for 48 rolls of Quilted Northern Ultra Plush for as low as $.42 per roll shipped.

Both examples are less than what I would pay locally. No clipping coupons, no running around town for a deal. And one less item on my weekly shopping list.

I save money and time. Can't beat that.

Puppy Images via Cottonelle.

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

A Simple Idea for a Scented Bathroom

This is such a simple idea for keeping your bathroom smelling great. 

Put a drop or two of essential oil inside the cardboard toilet paper roll. Each time you use the roll, the scent of the oil fills the air. I'm currently using the lemongrass essential oil  pictured about and I love it.

If you like, you can switch out the scent each time you change the toilet paper roll.

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Make Your Own Custom Binders for Back to School

Want a custom look for back to school binders? Start with clear front binders and the possibilities are endless.

Three-ring binders have so many uses! I use them for recipes, calendars, and to keep projects organized. 

Recently, my amazing niece shared the back-to-school binders she made this year using the free monogram printables at ForChicSake. I love the monograms and her choice of colors!

There are so many ways you can customize a clear front binder.

Amazon has Avery binders available in various sizes. The clear front binders are currently available in white and black.

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Storing Fresh Blueberries

Image Credit

When blueberries are in season and inexpensive, it's time to stock up. Follow these tips to care for your blueberries so that they stay fresh longer.

Wash and Dry

If the berries will be used right away, use a colander to wash the berries under running water. The quickest way to dry berries is to use a salad spinner lined with paper towels. About three layers of paper towels will protect the berries.

If the berries will not be used right away, wash them in a bowl of three cups water and 1 cup white vinegar. The vinegar will kill bacteria and discourage molding. Then rinse under running water and drain using a colander. Dry using a salad spinner.

Storage

To keep berries in the refrigerator, use a rigid container lined with paper towels. Keep the lid ajar to allow any excess moisture to escape.

Blueberries can also be frozen with excellent results. For use in cooking, freeze a layer of blueberries on a baking sheet. When the berries are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag for storage.

If you plan on eating the thawed berries alone, you can improve the appearance and texture by tossing washed and dried berries in sugar until coated evenly. About 2 cups of sugar will coat 8 cups of berries.

When you are ready to use, take the berries out of the freezer and rinse off the sugar. The sugar will rinse off easily. Freezing with a sugar coating will improve the appearance and texture of the berries.

Resources:

colander , salad spinner , glass storage containers , baking sheet

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(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

These Shower Splash Guards Really Work

If you have a shower curtain liner and are looking for a way to keep the water in the shower, I highly recommend these wonderful little plastic devices.

Get Shower Splash Guards for just $7.99.

From Amazon:

• Prevent leaks and splashes from escaping your shower surround with these effective splash guards.
• Designed to keep both ends of your curtain liner held flush against your shower walls.
• Two Splash Guards per package - one for each end of your curtain liner.
• Made of strong, flexible, clear Lexan plastic.
• Inside-mounted, virtually invisible from outside of the tub/shower.

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Keep Strawberries Fresh Longer

Whenever I purchase strawberries and store them in the refrigerator, they begin to mold very quickly. Here's a smart tip to keep strawberries fresh longer. Fresh fruit means less waste and money saved.

Soak the berries (leaves intact) for just a few minutes in a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 10 parts water. Using a colander, rinse and drain the berries until completely dry. Remove any remaining moisture with a paper towel.

Store the berries uncovered in the refrigerator. The vinegar kills the mold spores but will not affect the taste of the berries. Drying the berries before storing prevents rot.

I have noticed my strawberries stay fresh much longer this way. This trick works for other types of berries too!

Here are some more great uses for vinegar:

Frugal Rinse Aid: Vinegar in the Dishwasher

Add Softness to Your Laundry with Vinegar

Removing Cooking Odors with Vinegar

Homemade Daily Shower Spray

Vinegar Kills Weeds

Selecting and Storing Fresh Produce: Tips & Tricks

Food is expensive. Yet, if you are like most Americans, you waste approximately 14 percent of all the food brought into your home.

A study at the University of Arizona tracked the food use habits of families for a year. Researchers worked with the United States Department of Agriculture. They interviewed families about their eating habits, collected their grocery receipts, watched them prepare meals, and documented everything that was discarded.

The results, reported in 2002, were pretty shocking. The families tossed out an average of 470 pounds of food per year. That’s about 14 percent of all food brought into the home which came at a cost of about $600.

When it comes to fresh produce, the statistics were even worse. The University of Arizona study found that Americans waste about 25 percent of the produce brought into their home, mostly because it spoiled.

Which is why I have been compiling tips and tricks for storing fresh produce. 

By selecting the best produce and then storing it properly, your produce will stay fresh longer. If the food stays fresh longer, it is less likely to go to waste.

And less waste is money saved.

What tips do you have for keeping produce fresh?

Drop me a note at ThePrudentPantry (at) gmail (dot) com.

Here is a list of posts I have compiled so far:


Keep Strawberries Fresh Longer
Keep Asparagus Fresh Longer
How to Store Mushrooms
How to Keep Tomatoes Fresh
Keeping Sweet Corn Sweet
How to Store Avocados
Refrigerate It Right: No More Frozen Produce in the Fridge
The Best Way to Store Fresh Herbs 
Keep Lemons Fresh  Longer
Controlled Ripening of Bananas
Storing Peppers
Storing Nuts
Caring for Blueberries 
Choosing and Storing Cantaloupes
Keep Cucumbers Fresh
Tips and Tricks for Storing Celery
Selecting and Storing Grapes
Selecting and Storing Onions

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Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Ideas

If you have been invited to spend Thanksgiving at another home this year, you may want to bring a token of your gratitude.

Here are some ideas that are sure to be appreciated.

1. Le Creuset Stoneware Pie Bird Funnel and Pie Dish,  funnel via Amazon , dish via Amazon
2. Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea, via Amazon
3. The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas, by Ann Voskamp, via Amazon
4. Homemade Spice Blends, via Family Bites
5. Thanksgiving Trivia Game (free printable), via The Mother Huddle
6. NEST Birchwood Pine Scented Classic Candle, via Amazon

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

The Scent of the Holidays from Your Crock-Pot

Here's a simple way to make your home smell fantastic using just a few spices you probably have in your pantry.

There are tons of "simmer pot" recipes online from which to choose, but I started with this one because it didn't call for any unusual ingredients. I may try some more exotic blends in the future, but it's always nice to be able to make something with what you already have on hand.

This is a great use for a small crock-pot . If you have only a larger crock pot, you can double this recipe, or simmer the mixture in a small saucepan. You will have to be more careful about keeping an eye on a simmering saucepan.

For my small crock-pot shown above, I used the following:

•  3 cups water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

If your crock pot has temperature settings, put it on high for one hour, then turn it down to it's lowest setting to simmer. Simmer uncovered for several hours, checking often to see if you need to add water.

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(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Dairy-Free Whipped Topping {made with coconut milk}

It's true! You really can make an amazing dairy-free whipped topping using canned coconut milk! All you need is:

• one can full fat coconut milk
• powdered sugar, to taste

But there are a couple of tricks you need to know.

First, you need thick creamy coconut milk. Canned coconut milk really does vary in terms of thickness. I have found that Native Forest is one of the best.

Second, to get the coconut milk at thick as possible, put it in the refrigerator overnight. When you open the cold can, you should have thick cream. Scoop the thick cream into a chilled bowl. If there is water at the bottom of the can don't use that part.

Using an electric mixer whip the chilled coconut milk, adding powdered sugar to taste.

Use as you would whipped cream. It's delicious on this dairy-free pumpkin pie.

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(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Free Christmas Music Sampler: 20 Holiday Favorites (2013), MP3 at Amazon

Ready for some Christmas music?

Get 20 of your favorite holiday classics on this MP3 album at Amazon. The Green Hill - Christmas Music Sampler: 20 Holiday Favorites (2013) MP3 free right now at Amazon.


(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Banana Bread & Muffins

I wrote recently about why I use coconut oil in almost all my baking. This is one of the recipes I use--it can be used to make either banana bread or muffins.

I just love the tulip paper baking cups. They are a nice touch when you want something special.

I almost always have bananas in the freezer just waiting to be used. Check out this post to read about what I do when my bananas get a little too ripe.


Enjoy the banana bread recipe!

Banana Nut Bread

2 1/2 c. flour (I use freshly milled soft wheat flour or Kamut)

½ c. ground flax seeds (that’s 1/3 cup whole seeds, ground)

2 t. baking powder

¾ t. baking soda

¾ t. salt

¾ cup chopped walnuts

¾ cup coconut oil

1 cup sugar (I use turbinado sugar )

3 eggs

1 ½ cups mashed banana –  4 bananas

Mix flour, flax seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add a little flour to the nuts. 

Cream the coconut oil and sugar in a mixer.  Add eggs and beat well.  Add mashed bananas. Add flour mixture and blend.  Add nuts.  Pour into one large bread pan or 4 small bread pans (greased).  (There may be a bit of extra batter to put in a few greased muffin tins, or use paper liners.) 

Sprinkle tops generously with sugar.  Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes for small loaves, 25 minutes for muffins, or 60-70 minutes for a large bread pan.

 For more great tips, follow me on Pinterest!

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(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Family Game Night Classics: Monopoly, Clue, Sorry & Trouble, $7.77 at Amazon

Family game nights are a big part of our holiday. It's a great way to make sure that we spend time together during this busy season.

We like to pop some popcorn, make some caramel corn, or snack on holiday cookies while we play.

Right now, you can get some deals on family games for your family night, or stash some games away for gifts.

Get Monopoly (now including the cat token!) , Clue Board Game (2013 Edition) , Sorry! (2013 Edition) , and Trouble for just $7.77 right now at Amazon.


(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Cinnamon Ice Cream

My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. For me, using the cinnamon ice cream makes it an extra-special holiday dessert.

Cinnamon Ice Cream

1 3/4 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 cups half and half

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

cinnamon to taste

Combine cream and half and half. Add sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir until sugar dissolves. Chill thoroughly.

Pour into a frozen ice cream maker . After about 10 minutes of turning, your ice cream should be solid enough to add the cinnamon. Keep adding cinnamon to taste (it takes more cinnamon than you would think).

Serve with apple pie for the ultimate Thanksgiving treat!

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(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)