Feathers in Our Nest

a blog about faith, family, food, & more written by a wife and stay at home mom of five

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The Hows and Whys of Storing in Glass

August 29, 2014 by Aliesha

For several years, I have been using glass containers for food storage.  I try to avoid using plastic to store food in it, and instead reach for my Glasslock or other glass containers.

The advantages:

-Glass doesn’t hold odors the way that plastic tends to do.

-Glass is easier to clean and doesn’t stain (even things like red pasta sauces, etc.).

-Glass is freezer-, dishwasher-, and microwave-safe.

-Glass doesn’t get brittle and old with use the way plastic does.

-Food can be heated in glass without worry of toxic chemicals (like BPA and PVC) leaching into the food.

How to do it:

-Glass containers can be expensive, so start by recycling glass jars from salsa, pasta sauce, etc. and use them to store soups, sauces, and other leftovers.  Mason jars work well too for anything from salad to stock!

-One of the best places I have found to buy Glasslock containers (square glass containers with rubber seals) is at TJ Maxx (or similar stores, like Ross, Marshalls, or HomeGoods).  The cheapest way, ultimately, is to get a large set, but if you just want to get a couple pieces slowly, these stores are the way to go.

-You can also find round glass containers with plastic lids (made by Pyrex or other brands) at Target or Walmart.  (The blue/green set pictured in this post was a special buy from Aldi!)

-Build your collection over time, replacing your plastic containers as you can afford to do so.  (I still have a few that I use for storing muffins or cornbread, or for giving meals to others.)

Do you store in glass?

Filed Under: healthy eating, homemaking

Getting Back on the Healthy Eating Wagon

August 27, 2014 by Aliesha

I have a confession.  I haven’t been taking care of my health the way I should this summer.  We just finished a weekend of sweet treats at Vera’s tea party (hello, buttercream frosting!) and I honestly feel terrible.  I’ve been indulging in so much white flour, caffeine, and refined sugar lately, and it’s really affected my mood and my health.

It’s ice cream season, so I haven’t been very self-controlled in that area.  We’ve also eaten out a couple of times recently, and we really need to reign that in (not just for our health, but our budget!).

It just takes a few slip ups to make you start feeling bad (and I’ve had more than a few).

But I’m ready to get back on track.  You heard it here; I’m ready to start eating healthy again and making sure my family is too!

One thing that I KNOW is going to help me do this is the brand new (soon to be released) Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle!  EDIT: It’s here!

This exciting new bundle includes ebooks about DIY health and beauty recipes, essential oils, fitness, backyard chickens, gardening, homemade cleaners, children’s health, kids eating real food, freezer cooking, meal planning, soap making, healthy dinners, smoothies, holidays, gluten/grain-free recipes, and SO many more!  There are also several ecourses included, as well as a generous helping of bonus offers valued at over $200!  This bundle will also include a Getting Started Guide, in case you don’t know where to begin when you get all of these great resources.

I personally can’t wait to start reading these wonderful ebooks and begin making concrete changes towards better health for me and my family.

Last time I shared a bundle with you was in April, and because of many of you purchasing a bundle through my link (thank you!!), I was able to earn a free bundle.  This time around, I get to pass that offer on to YOU.  That’s right… YOU can earn a free bundle too!  Anyone who refers 1 friend (using this link) will receive $5 off their bundle! If you refer 5 friends you’ll receive a 12-session audio conference, and referring 10 friends will get you a healthy living bundle for absolutely free!  When you think about how many facebook friends you have, it probably wouldn’t take you long at all to find 10 people to sign up, especially since it is such an amazing deal!  (And each of the people you tell about can also sign up for a unique referral code as well so that they can try and earn a bundle too!)

Again, if just one person signs up for the refer-a-friend program using your link, you’ll get $5 off your bundle, and if ten friends sign up for it, you’ll get your bundle free!

I’m not allowed to tell you yet all the books that are included in this bundle, but I promise this is an amazing library of resources that will help you as you strive to live a healthy lifestyle!  I can’t wait for the bundle to be released (sometime in the next couple of weeks)!

So if you want to earn your own free bundle, just sign up here to get a referral link to share with your friends!
(Refer-a-friend program is now over; see full bundle post here!)

Comment below if you have any questions!

Filed Under: deals, healthy eating

16 Ways to Eat Rice and Beans

August 2, 2014 by Aliesha



I’m sure if you’re trying to save money on your grocery bill, you have heard the advice to eat lots of rice and beans!  When I first heard this advice (or saw “rice and beans” on other people’s menus week after week), I thought that sounded kind of gross and definitely boring.

BUT!  Due to financial challenges our family has experienced in the last few years, we have learned to enjoy “rice and beans” in many different ways!  It’s certainly not boring, and I’ve managed to find ways that are delicious.  We serve two or three of these recipes at our table most weeks.

Without further ado, here are 16 ways to eat rice and/or beans!

1. Bean Burritos
Stick some pinto (or black) beans in the food processor and give them a whirl, then heat and season with cumin, salt (if needed), and garlic powder.  Spoon into tortillas, sprinkle with cheese, then roll up (tucking in the ends) and serve.

2. Spanish Black Beans and Rice
I’ve made this recipe as written, but I’ve also changed it up by using a green pepper instead of red and pinto beans instead of black.  It reminded me of dishes I ate in the Dominican Republic.

3. Bean and Rice Bowls
We eat these a lot.  I make brown or white rice (often cooked in nourishing chicken broth) as well as seasoned beans (black beans + green chilies or pinto beans + cumin) and serve them in bowls, topped with cilantro, cheese, and salsa or fresh tomatoes!  These are warm, delicious, and filling!

4. Fried Rice (guest post on Money Saving Mom today!)
We love eating fried rice for lunch, and it’s just as good without any chicken in it!  It’s a great way to use seasonal veggies (or whatever is about to expire in your fridge)!

5. Cheese Quesadillas with Black Beans on the Side
This couldn’t be easier. I use whole wheat tortillas, whatever cheese I have on hand (though cheddar or monterey jack are delicious), and lots of black beans seasoned with cumin and green chilies! I also frequently put cooked, leftover rice inside the quesadillas as well.

6. Tacos with Beans and Rice
Easy – just make tacos as normal, but serve up generous portions of black or pinto beans and rice on each taco to fill everyone up without using as much meat!  This “trick” also works for stretching taco salads and chicken burritos!  Another thing I like to do is cook lentils and add a few cups in with the taco meat to help it go further (and it’s not very noticeable).

7. Cheesy Rice
I don’t have an exact recipe for this, but I just make a white sauce, add cheddar cheese, and pour over cooked rice (brown or white).  You can eat it right away or bake it to give it a “browned” look on top.  With a side of broccoli and/or homemade rolls, this can be a lunch.  Or, serve it alongside ham and green beans for dinner.

8. Black Bean Soup
This recipe is a snap to throw together, and it’s a filling lunch.  We like to top it with grated cheese and eat tortilla chips on the side.

9. Hummus
Serve this with fresh veggies, pita chips or crackers, fruit, and cheese and call it a “snacky” lunch!

10. White Chicken Chili
The recipe I use is from Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist, but there are lots of other good recipes out there too.  You can make this with less chicken (I usually do).

11. Black Bean Corn Salsa
This isn’t a meal, but it is a great side dish, particularly for Cinco de Mayo celebrations or picnics!  It’s so yummy with chips or as a topping for tacos.  We even like to put it on top of rice and bean bowls!

12. Chili
I don’t have a recipe for my chili, but I just combine lots of beans (any variety – kidney, black, pinto, even garbanzo), diced tomatoes (canned), a bit of tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, diced onion, minced garlic, and a little molasses and simmer all day.  Yep, no meat required!  We like to eat some homemade cornbread on the side.

13. Minestrone Soup
I add more beans to this now… more like 3 cans (white/canellini and kidney are both great).  This is another great way to use in-season veggies!

14. Chicken and Black Bean Soup
I’ve made this recipe several times, and it’s always turned out SO well!  I usually make it with less chicken and more beans.  Great soup for a cold day.

15. Korean Beef Bowl
This dish involves beef, but the fact that there is a generous portion of rice given to each person helps it streeetch pretty far!

16. Black Bean Brownies
This is a “bonus” recipe, since it’s not a main dish.  But it’s a yummy way to get some protein into your diet!

So there you have it!  Sixteen different ways of eating rice and/or beans to help stretch your grocery budget.

Do you have any favorite rice/bean recipes to share?


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Filed Under: cooking, frugal living, healthy eating, recipes

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This blog shares our family's story and our journey from newlyweds to a family of seven. We share milestones, we share struggles, we share sweet memories, and we share about our Savior. Keep reading...

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