FAQs

In which Ashley answers questions the hypothetical reader may have about this blog

Hypothetical Reader: To begin with, what do you talk about around here?

Bean Diaries: A few different things. Practical house-running stuff, old memories and stories, maybe a product review here and there, the occasional unrelated musing...but mostly I'm here to chronicle my journey through a world of budget-conscious cooking that doesn't taste like salted cardboard.

Hypothetical Reader: How do you do that?

Bean Diaries: By using cost-effective ingredients, employing some simple rules of thumb to stretch the more pricey ingredients, and planning menus in a way that makes your leftovers work a little harder for you. I'm not a cook who measures much (unless I'm baking), but I share all the shortcuts, tricks, approximate spice combinations, and "it's-what-I-had-in-the-pantry" recipe variations that I use at home. Personally, I think that's more useful than measurements. Especially when you're cooking with what you have. (Because, really...who has time to run out to the store for one teaspoon of Italian seasoning?)

Hypothetical Reader: And why should I, an average, hypothetical reader, care what you say about that stuff?

Bean Diaries: Because I'm a young wife and mom on a tight budget and that means I have daily hand-to-hand combat with this budgeting and eating stuff in real life. Also because I'm told my writing style is quirky and endearing.

Hypothetical Reader: Cool. I was just wondering.

Bean Diaries: Yeah, I figured. Happy to help. :)