The Dish: A+ Brown-Bag Lunches When school starts, students aren’t the only ones who have to grab lunch on the go. Busy teachers also need to squeeze a meal into a short lunch break. With a little planning, you can enjoy a repast that provides a delicious break in the middle of the day. Read more

The Dish: Summer Sides We’re deep into the summer cookout season, and that calls for all manner of refreshing side dishes. While meat may be the star of the meal, accompaniments add color, texture and flavor. Make great use of the peak-season produce that’s so abundant in markets right now with these 3 recipes that offer a spin on favorite American sides. Read more

Energy Star Appliances: Going Green Puts Money in Your Pocket Is your ancient clothes washer rumbling? Is your icebox knocking? When you shop for a new appliance, here’s why you should make sure it bears the Energy Star logo. Read more

Pick the Perfect Flower Arrangement Thinking of sending flowers? They make a great all-occasion gift. Use these tips for picking the perfect arrangement and personalizing it appropriately. Read more

The Dish: Cherries Cherries are flooding into supermarket produce aisles and farmers’ markets right now, and we certainly love them. America produces more cherries than anywhere else on Earth. This June, try these 3 delicious ways to get your cherry fix! Read more

Free and Frugal E-Book Finds Curling up with a good book is a great way to relax, and many people are trading in their hardcovers for e-book readers—digital tablets that store books as text files. In addition to convenience, one of the great things about e-books is that there are plenty to be found for little to no cost. Here are some tips for building your digital library. Read more

The Dish: Empanadas From Cornish pasties to Indian samosas, the world loves a turnover. When it comes to Latin cuisine, turnovers take the form of empanadas, and in Mexico, they’re filled with everything from meat and sausage to fruit. This Cinco de Mayo, try our recipes for inspiration, and then get started on your own unique creations. Read more

20 Ways to Upcycle Before You Recycle Have you ever “upcycled?” We bet you have. Educators are experts at this—the art of transforming junk into clever creations for classrooms. We’ve taken 5 pieces of what’s usually considered trash and found fun and interesting transformations that you can use at home. Read more

The Dish: Eat Green Earth Day turns 40 this year, and eco-consciousness is more mainstream than ever. One of the best ways to reduce your impact on the planet is to focus on what you eat and where it comes from. We’ve got 3 eco-friendly recipes this month along with some tips to help you green your grocery trips. Read more

The Spring Garden: Help Yourself While Helping Others Whether your ground is still frozen, or you’ve been able to garden all winter, early spring is a great time to sneak in a few quick-growing, cool-weather crops before you plan for your summer vegetable garden. While you’re at it, sow a few extra rows to donate to a local food bank and you’ll give back to your community. Here’s what you need to know. Read more

The Dish: Destination Dinners One of the greatest pleasures of visiting a new place is the chance to enjoy the local cuisine. We hope you are able to get away for spring break this month, but if not, these dishes from 3 top destinations can bring some bright, exotic new flavors home. You can taste the world without leaving your kitchen. Read more

Detox Your Laundry Room What dangerous chemicals and health hazards are lurking in your laundry room? Give your laundry routine a spring cleaning with natural, non-toxic products and methods that will have your clothes cleaner, brighter and fresher than ever without the pollutants, irritants and carcinogens. Read more

The Dish: Heart Health It’s February, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and matters of the heart are on everyone’s mind. No wonder February has been declared American Heart Month since 1963. Start helping your heart by adding these 5 foods to your diet. We’ve got 3 new recipes to get you started. Read more

The Dish: Pressure Cookers It’s a new year, and like many, you’ve probably made some food-related resolutions. Maybe it’s a promise to eat more healthfully, cook at home more often or save some money on groceries. A pressure cooker can help with all three. Read more

International Holiday Cookies The holidays turn even reluctant cooks into part-time bakers, and cookies may be the most popular treat to make this time of year. Winter holidays around the globe provide inspiration for all manner of flavors, shapes and recipes. Here are links to our favorite recipes from the Web. Read more

Take Great Holiday Photos Are you tired of the same old ho-hum holiday snapshots? Would you like more predictable results when capturing those special moments? You’re not alone! Get a handle on your holiday photos this year with the following tips and techniques. Read more

The Dish: Cookie Class If the start of the holiday season sends you into the kitchen to root through cabinets for bowls, the mixer, cookie sheets and other equipment, you’re hardly alone. Cookies are fun to make, easy to give and even better to enjoy. Here are 3 recipes, and some professional baking tips, to make your favorite seasonal treats even better. Read more

10 Ways to Green Your Holidays Try these 10 easy, low-cost and fun ideas to make your holidays a little easier on the planet. Read more

The Dish: Super Sides The holidays are a time to indulge—an abundant Thanksgiving table certainly is something to be grateful for. And while the big bird is the undisputed star attraction, it’s supported by a stellar cast of side dishes. This November, try these 3 unique and nutritious sides. Read more

5 Ideas for a More Meaningful Holiday Season Looking for ways to avoid the holiday shopping frenzy? Here are 5 ideas to help reign in the excess and add a little extra meaning to your holidays. Read more

The Dish: The Great Pumpkin October could be dubbed Pumpkin Month. As soon as the calendar flips to Oct. 1, the orange gourds start turning up everywhere. While you’re stocking up on pumpkins to carve jack-o’-lanterns, pick up a few that are suitable for cooking, too. You’ll find this gourd is tasty in dishes beyond pie, and we’ve got 3 for you to try! Read more

The Dish: An Apple for Teacher America’s favorite fruit is an emblem of education—and the delicious first sign of autumn. As the days start to cool and the craving for heartier dishes intensifies, apples are ideal for homey entrees and desserts. This September, try this versatile fruit in these 3 recipes developed just for you. Read more

Protect Your Privacy When Recycling Your Old Cell Phone If you own a cell phone, at some point you’re likely to upgrade to a newer model. Learn what you should do with your old phone, and how you can make sure all your personal information has been removed. Read more

Weathering the High Cost of Heating Your Home Whether you heat your home with oil, natural gas or electricity, these tips can help you save money and stay warm this winter. Read more

The Dish: It’s Good to be Blue July is a fitting month in which to celebrate blueberries, since they are a North American native and have been an American favorite since colonial times. Try these 3 summer recipes now while blueberries are fresh, delicious, and inexpensive. Read more

The Dish: Fire It Up! The weather has warmed up, and if that means you’re planning on cooking outdoors, you’re not alone. More than 60% of people who own grills are grilling at home more often this year, largely due to the current economy. This June, try these grilling tips and techniques with 3 sure-to-please recipes. Read more

Fresh from the Garden: Save Money with Summer Vegetables Are you looking for ways to stretch your food dollars this summer? Grow a few of your own vegetables and you’ll save money. Plus, you'll enjoy fresher, healthier, tastier produce. Learn the basics of growing your own vegetables, even if you are short on space. NEA member Kevin Gleason adds his own gardening tips as well. Read more

Energy Saving Tips: Air Conditioners Get the most out of your air-conditioning system this summer by following these energy saving tips. Read more

The Dish: Salsa It’s a good bet there’s a jar of salsa lurking in your refrigerator or pantry. We bought more than 550 million pounds of the stuff last year, and it has become one of America’s top-selling condiments. This May, try these three homemade salsa recipes that are sure to please! Read more

The Dish: Pasta Have you ever noticed how your taste buds are eager for the next season? Right now, it’s early spring. It’s still nippy, but you’re starting to crave lighter fare in anticipation of warmer weather. For April, try these pasta recipes. Read more

How to Safely Begin Social Networking By now, you’ve probably heard of MySpace and Facebook. Or maybe you’ve had a colleague suggest you connect on LinkedIn. Before you jump into the world of social networking, know what you’re getting into. Read more

Kitchen Timesavers After a long, busy day, the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time fixing dinner. Getting dinner on the table quickly is often a matter of how you approach the process. Here are 9 expert tips to help you get dinner on the table, pronto. Read more

Decode Dinner Grocery shopping used to be simple. There were no claims about how foods were grown, raised or produced. Your biggest decision was chicken or beef. Not anymore. Do you know what all those food labels mean? We've done the research for you.  Read more

Food Math Supermarkets now offer all kinds of prepared ingredients to speed up cooking, everything from pre-chopped vegetables in the produce aisle to marinated kebabs at the meat counter. Are they a good buy? Here's what we found out. Read more

Tips on How to Survive a Recession Discover the necessary steps to take care of yourself and your loved ones during an economic downturn. Read more

Be Wise About Charitable Giving Find out how you can give wisely, keep track of your donations and hold your chosen charities accountable. Read more

Smart Shopping From Home These tips will help you steer clear of web scams, spot disreputable online vendors and keep your personal information safe while you shop online. Read more

Shop for Cost-Saving Appliances Sometimes the cheapest appliance in the store isn’t the least expensive over the long term. Learn how to factor in the hidden cost of energy before you buy. Read more

Find Where Your Home Has Air Leaks Making your home more energy efficient requires some detective work.  Read more

Cutting Gasoline Costs These tips will help you spend less money on gasoline and help save the environment. Read more

Beneficiary/Survivor Information Failing to tie up loose ends can put added stress on your family.  Learn more about why and how to prepare information for your beneficiary/survivor. Read more

Top Five Emotional Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Make Are you really ready to buy that first house? Learn from those who have been there and avoid these top five emotional mistakes. Read more

Move Planner Checklist Follow this week by week checklist to ensure a glitch-free and organized move. Read more

Windows Open the Way for Energy Savings Use your home’s windows to your advantage. Here are some warm- and cold-climate tips to help you cut your energy costs. Read more

Look for New Labels on Water-Saving Faucets Learn more about the EPA’s WaterSense label that helps consumers to identify high-performance sink faucets that use about 30% less water than conventional models. Read more

Ten Tips Every Tenant Should Know Renting a home is a serious responsibility. Learn about your rights as a tenant by reading through these ten helpful tips. Read more

Home Improvement: How to Avoid Paying Twice If any party in the chain of suppliers or workers does not get paid, you are liable. Protect yourself and your home by learning how a mechanic’s lien works. Read more

Tips for Buying a New Car Do your research before buying a new car. Learn dealership vocabulary and consider these suggestions to help you make a smart decision. Read more

Thinking About a Home Improvement? Don’t get nailed. Here’s how to find the right contractor and protect your assets. Read more

Safeguarding Important Documents in Your Home Follow these tips to keep your financial and tax records safe in the event of a natural disaster. Read more

The Right Estate Plan for You Most Americans haven’t made even a simple will, to say nothing of a more comprehensive plan to avoid probate or save on estate taxes. Read more

Auto Service Contracts Before you buy an auto service contract, ask these questions to help you understand the terms and the coverage. Read more

Canceling a Contract These “cooling-off rules” can protect you in certain circumstances if you need to cancel a contract. Read more

Helping Kids Connect Safely Subscribe to this newsletter to get the information you need to help keep your kids safe online. Read more

Lighten Your Lighting Costs Follow these indoor and outdoor lighting tips to help reduce energy costs. Read more

For Your Protection, Get a Home Inspection Ask these ten questions to get the most out of your home inspection. Read more

Organizing Paperwork for an Aging Loved One Give an aging friend or loved one peace of mind by helping them create a “care plan.”  Gather these items now so others can provide the right support later. Read more

Saving Water and Heating It Efficiently Looking for ways to reduce household utility costs? The water bill is one place to start. Installation of a more efficient water heating system can provide long-term savings while reducing overall water usage. Read more

Preventing Mold in Your Residence Mold growing in our nation’s households has been linked to a wide variety of health problems. Understand why mold in your residence could potentially be a problem, both for your health and the structure. Read more

Online Shopping Tips When shopping online, there are certain facts about which you should be aware. Read more

Fighting Back Against Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Learn how to take preventive measures against identity theft. Read more

What to Save and What to Shred When you start cleaning out household papers that have accumulated over the months (or years), keep in mind that failure to shred sensitive materials puts you at risk for ID theft.

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