Momtourage

With today's economy, I've been really trying to use everything we have on hand without adding to our grocery list, while really keeping the meals healthy. We have a local health food store that we're buying much of our stuff at, as the prices are really good and they also sell everything half-off the day after they go on the shelf, so we have a lot of produce on hand. Anyone finding this type of meal-planning to be a challenge?

What is everyone else doing to try to do better to stretch your food budget without going for the cheap boxed and canned food? And any ideas what to do with a big stick of fresh mozzarella?

ohhh cheeeese!!! I LOOVE cheeeese!!! lol

I am a BAD person when It comes to looking in my pantry and comming up with a dinner plan. I am a 'what sounds good tonight?? hmmm nothing I have thawed out thats for sure.. " kind of person. BAD, I know. So I've been working on changing that.

As for that Mozzerella, use it to top a lot of 'stuff' to make it 'better'!! Soups are GREAT if you toss  some homeade croutons on top  ( use day old french bread, toss cubes of it in garlic butter and bake at 350 til golden brown)  then add some  of that cheese!! ( we make our own homeade french onion soup by sauteeing thinly sliced onions in a bit of butter til they are reaaally brown, then add beef broth. THATS IT!! then do the crouton and  add a slice of provalone cheese on top and let melt.

Other cheese ideas? make some super cheesy lasgna!! , top some salad! ( a chef salad  can be a meal or use left over chicken to do a yummy grilled chicken salad and  top that with some parm. cheese)

ok now Im hungry!!

I love cheese!  Mozzarella can be shredded and frozen in a big Ziploc - it keeps up to six months and you now have topping for anything - pizza, lasagne, omelette or frittata, etc.

allrecipes.com (and I'm sure other cooking sites do too; I just use this one the most) has an ingredient-based search.  I used it just last night to figure out what to do for dinner. (Spinach lasagne - no leftovers.)

What about pairing it with some fresh sliced tomatoes and a little bit of Italian dressing?  I've stocking up on sale items when I see them, that's about it.

I try to use what’s on hand too.  Tends to be that I make a big pot of soup with the this-n-that’s hanging out.  rofl  Always works and turns out to be super yummy.

For mozzarella I liked the idea of laying slices on tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and some spices.