Saving money in the kitchen need not be difficult.

It's not like a diet. It is for getting by and still eating well.

There are a few things you will need to begin

• A sense of adventure

• A desire to experiment and try new things

• Proper cookware if possible

• Pantry foods in supply (as much as possible)

Although I will give you some recipes, eventually you will start your

own experimentation. Some will work, some will not,

but there is only one way to know, and that is by trying

SAMPLE THRIFTY RECIPES:

Black bean and salsa soup

1 1/2 Cup soup stock

2 Cans black beans

1 Cup of your favorite Salsa

1 Teaspoon Cumin

1/4 Cup Sour Cream

1 or 2 Green onions, chopped.

Put the beans, salsa, cumin, and

soup stock into a food processor

(a blender is OK too). Puree the mixture

until it is creamy in texture. Pour the mixture

into a mid-sized pot and heat on low-medium

until it is completely hot. This allows the flavors

to merge. If you are going to serve it cold, move

it to the fridge to cool off till it is time to eat.

To eat it hot, simply serve into bowls and garnish

with the onions and some of the sour cream.

Cheesburger Macaroni:

Make 1-2 boxes of Macaroni and cheese (depending on size of family)

Brown 1 pound hamburger or ground turkey and add to Mac N Cheese

Add 4 oz of Cream Cheese (you won't believe how much better it makes it!)

Viola: Easy, quick and inexpensive!

Calico Beans (crockpot recipe)

1 ham shank

1 can kidney beans undrained

1 can pinto beans undrained

1 can navy beans undrained

1 pound hamburger (already cooked and drained)

1/2 C Catsup (ketchup)

3 TBS Brown sugar

Add all ingredients to crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on High for 4-5 hours. Stir once or twice during cooking, if possible

BBQ Beef or Pork Sandwiches: (crockpot recipe)

2 pound lean pork or beef roast (OR browned, cooked hamburger)

1 bottle of favorite BBQ sauce or home made (recipe below)

Put all in a crockpot and cook on ow for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours

stir and shred meat as you do.

**You can make your own BBQ sauce by mixing

1/3 cup tomato sauce,

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 Tablespoons Vinegar

2 teaspoons sugar (I prefer brown sugar)

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Pinch of pepper.

English Muffin Pizza:

Split 2-4 English muffins and toast slightly

Pizza sauce from jar, or Homemade pizza sauce (recipe below)

Mozzerella Cheese

After toasting the English muffins, put about a Tablespoon of pizza sauce on top then sprinkle with cheese. Put under broiler for about 2 minutes

**You can also top with pepperoni, hamburger, or canadian bacon

**HOMEMADE PIZZA SAUCE:

2-15 oz. cans Tomato Sauce

1-12 oz can Tomato Paste

1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 Tablespoon Oregano

1/2 teaspoon fennel seed (optional)

1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mix all ingredients into a pan and cook until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for about an hour (the longer it cooks, the more the flavors mix, so cooking in a crockpot is excellent for this)

This makes a LOT of sauce, so put extra into freezer storage containers in usable portions. Keeps well up to 12 months in freezer.