If you don’t want to make it, Brown Cow whole milk yogurt is WAY better than grocery store brands and a LOT better for you – there are more kinds of active bacteria that each do something different.

Something else I do for a sweet-tooth fix is mix 2 Tbsp. sour cream with 2 tsp. sugar, then stir in about 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh fruit – enough so that the fruit is just coated with the sour cream mixture. Not as healthy as just the fruit, to be sure, but way better than a bowl of ice cream. In fact, I think I like it better with ice cream if the fruit is good. Peaches or nectarines are the best, but strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries are also fantastic.

One other thing that both my husband and I like: brown sugar toast. Mix softened butter (real butter, not margerine!) with an equal amount of brown sugar. I do 1 stick at a time and keep it in a sealed Rubbermaid container. Make toast, preferably from a good quality whole grain bread (we like Big Sky’s Multigrain bread or their Cinnamon Walnut Raisin bread for this), and while it’s very hot, spread some of this brown sugar mixture on it. It melts and is oh-so-good.

Plain yogurt with a little ground cardamom,a drop of vanilla extract a sprinkling of sugar, and 2 Tablespoons of raw oatmeal.

This might be a bit overboard, but I created a pocketmod with a list of common things I buy with their per unit price. I go to a big store once every 2 months, but a smaller store, which is much closer, once every two weeks. When I shop, I always keep my eye open for staples and I’m able to check if it is a deal real quick. I always check ingredients, quantity (price stays the same, but sizes get smaller), and expiration.

I’ve sliced a piece of whole wheat bread with some mixed-berry jam from TJ’s for dessert and it does wonders!

Yeah, and that epi of LOST rocked!

I’m with you on the homemade jams & jellies. I grew up eating nothing but homemade (which I often helped make myself) – it’s the best.