Amy Barnes

It’s summertime and the living is easy because of a … tablecloth?

During the height of the pandemic, my family did a lot of hiking and outdoor picnics. The outdoor tables were often dirty, sticky, muddy, or covered in food. We tried using blankets to sit on or wipes to clear off the tables and benches. The fabric didn’t work well and wipes couldn’t handle big outdoor messes. We would just end up with a dirty blanket to wash once we got home.

Take a dip into this glorious stuffed sandwich this summer!

Use this method to keep your kitchen stocked.
Have you taken the last can of soup out of the pantry and dreaded another shopping trip? A solution to that experience can be creating a "back stock" of items you frequently use, beyond your regular pantry or cabinets. During the pandemic, I've created a back stock of things my family consistently eats and I plan on continuing that method going forward. By taking a look at what you use most from your pantry, you can create a back stock of those ne...

Here's why Southerners are sweet on sugar-sprinkled tomatoes.
My grandmother put salt on grapefruit and sugar on tomatoes. She always told me the slices just tasted better that way. As a child, it seemed like a weird approach to me, but it actually served a purpose: It balances the natural acidity found in those foods.
My grandmother certainly wasn't alone in her tomato-topping ways. Sugar on tomato slices is often a Southern summer staple. Sugar is also commonly used in many Southern tomato ...

Today’s kids are online and on their phones day and night. Because of this, they’re potentially exposed to a wide range of age-inappropriate and dangerous materials. They can also spend too much time online overall. How can you protect your kids and guide them toward a more balanced online experience? You may be considering a parental control app to monitor their usage, online exposure, and location, but choosing the right parental control app can feel overwhelming–you want to track your kids...

Whether you're looking to save money, plan ahead, stock up, or support your local farmers' market, a side of beef is a great option for people looking to buy in bulk, save money, and stock up. But before you buy, it's important to understand what a side of beef is and what cuts you can expect with your order.
What Cuts Come in a Side of Beef?
A side of beef is exactly what it sounds like: the meat cuts from one side of a cow. (The main cuts are called "primal" cuts.) You can purchase the meat...

Have you taken the last can of soup out of the pantry and dreaded another shopping trip? A solution to that experience can be creating a "back stock" of items you frequently use, beyond your regular pantry or cabinets. During the pandemic, I've created a back stock of things my family consistently eats and I plan on continuing that method going forward. By taking a look at what you use most from your pantry, you can create a back stock of those necessities.
What is a "back stock" of food? How...

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Take home your favorites from the bakery, deli, and snack bar.
Love pizza and cake from Sam's Club but want to make them yourself at home? Need cookies and frosting for a birthday party? Look no further than behind the counter when you check out bulk baked goods, frostings, fillings, and doughs at your favorite warehouse store.
Sam's Club will sell you frozen or refrigerated bulk versions of their prepared baked goods. Parbaked or...

Entertaining

Enjoy Dr. Seuss Day on March 2 with green eggs and ham, or a one of these other fun food options.

Whether you go with a green scramble or add in some avocado to your dish, making meals with the rhyming books can be a fun way to mark the occasion. When my children were in elementary school, one of their favorite days was Seuss Day in early March. Everyone dressed up as their favorite characters, with teachers putting up primary-colored bulletin boards and reading the books out lou...

I grew up in the Midwest where it often snowed by Halloween, and blizzards could land past Easter. My sister and I enjoyed the snow (and snow days out of school) for outdoor activities like making snowmen and snow angels, but once it was time to come inside, the snow came in too: as snow ice cream and snow candy.
Adding snow to your winter family activities outside and in the kitchen can be fun. With a few simple ingredients, you can create snowy, yummy ice cream.
Tip: Many snow ice cream rec...

Aldi has built their business around a wide range of beloved store-brand products. When I went to Germany with my family, we visited lots of touristy spots but one of my tourist goals was to shop in an Aldi. The stores originated in Germany and are much the same — simple aisles, small footprint, few cashiers, carts with quarter slots, lower prices, no frills, and store brands. My souvenirs included small Aldi products in my suitcase.
Years later, my love of Aldi and their store brands hasn't ...

Shop the Mexican Market To Spice Up Your Pantry
From Tex-Mex to Latin-America, Mexican food has a wide range of cultures infused in every bite. Just as vast as the flavors are the options in Mexican and Hispanic markets. From dry staples like corn, rice and beans to herbs and sweet items, it's easy to shop and keep your pantry shelves stocked to spice up your meals.
On your first visit to a Mexican market, start simply with spice options and dried options. With a base of herbs and spices plus...

Remember early foil-covered TV dinners with a special treat like a gooey brownie square or apple cobbler? Created in the 1950s as televisions became family room fixtures, TV dinners now are easily heated up in the microwave. Made more for convenience than gathering around a television set, today's TV dinners range from old favorites like turkey dinners to new options including protein bowls.
Now, you don't have to pull back the foil — you can simply make one of these 10 TV dinner-at-home opti...

Baking mixes are, in a pinch, a real timesaver. From pancake mixes to quick bread mixes, they can make homemade goods easier, faster, and (let's be honest) sometimes more tasty. But if you're only turning to the big national brands for your mixes, you're missing out.
Kroger's store brand baking, pancake, and quick bread mixes are excellent. Indeed, Kroger is taking on the baking aisle with their own luxury and specialized baking mixes. From scones to almond flour options, the Kroger store bra...