This year I am trying something a bit different. Since I learned to can I have always done that when it comes to tomatoes. This year I do not have a garden so I do not have a large amount to can. I have decided I would like to freeze this year.

The first tip I came across when looking for freezing help was this. It may sound simple, but I had never thought about it. Using electricity for our freezers we have all been told to keep our freezers full. It helps to keep it colder and run more efficiently. But did you know that where your freezer is located will also help you save electricity? Parking your freezer next to your dryer would not be a good thing. Mine now resides out in the garage. Here in Wisconsin I don’t think this will be a problem. Let Mother Nature help keep your freezer cold.

Next purchase some high quality freezer bags or containers. I was in Walmart the other day and was impressed with the wide variety of containers that are out now, just for this purpose. I use a vacuum bag sealer. The bags are heavy duty, and removing the air lowers the chance of freezer burn.

Now that you have the freezer and the containers you need the tomatoes. I purchased mine from a local farmers market. The more you buy usually the cheaper they are.

I have to admit that fall is my favorite time of the year. I love all the fresh produce that surrounds us. This year we have an apple tree in our backyard. My mind is full of home made apple pies, apple sauce and apple butter. Then pumpkins. Think of it, pumpkin pies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin chocolate chunk bread. Are you hungry yet?

I love to make things from scratch. I save a lot of money in my monthly grocery bills do to the fact that I cook and bake many of our family meals from scratch. It may be a bit more time consuming, but it is well worth the effort. I can tell you ever ingredient that goes into my apple butter. Right from Grandma’s recipe too. Nothing in the world can top that. Eaten on warm from the oven sweet corn rolls. Yum yum. While it may not be in the nutritional column it is far from bad for you. No preservatives, limited salt. And guess what? I can actually pronounce every single ingredient I used!

Take time this fall to put all the wonderful produce to good use. You don’t have to be a master pastry chef to whip up an apple pie from scratch. Remember too that it is not what it looks like, but how it taste that counts!

Lately we have been trying different all natural toothpaste. Not as easy as it sounds. There are several on the market. We are even trying our own. Get the latest on this subject!

Everyone wants a bright, beautiful smile right? It is no wonder that toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouth rinses, and flavored dental floss have become a multi-million dollar industry. There are dental care products for designed specifically for children, seniors, and those who have dental health problems. There are toothpastes that are supposed to help soothe gums, whiten teeth, eliminate bad breath, and lessen cold and heat sensitivities. There is usually an entire isle devoted to dental products in the most grocery or drug stores. But does there popularity and accessibility make them the best choice?

A large portion of dental products contain fluoride. Basically fluoride is a mineral that is added to dental products to help prevent tooth decay. This action is based upon observances made in the early 1900s. Residents of the southwestern states were consuming high levels of fluoride in their water supply and despite the fact that the fluoride caused them to have stained yellow and brown teeth; they had an unusually low level of tooth decay. This lead many to believe that fluoride was responsible for preventing decay, despite the fact that other possible factors were not evaluated.