Paring Cheese

I haven't been posting, alas, but I've been trying cheap new recipes, learning even better how to produce delicious meals from what's in the pantry, and cleaning out old emails, my desk, my file and trying to come into 2012 leaner if not meaner.

Tonight we're having a Mexican flavored chicken sausage (on sale and a coupon) with refried beans (in the pantry) and corn tortillas (in the freezer). I have some lettuce, and grated cheese to put on the bean tortillas. Only thing we bought was grape tomatoes which we needed anyhow. An orange salad (orange are cheap this time of year) will round out the meal. Tasty and cheap.

Repeat after me. Tasty and cheap.

A Cheap Dinner with an even Cheaper Lunch

Last night I chopped up a grilled pork chop.  Set some onion to saute in the pan, added the pork chop with a handful of diced grape tomatoes.  Seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and salt and pepper.  I added about 1/3 can of refried beans and kept the heat medium low.


Meanwhile, I cooked 4 corn tortillas in oil, and cut up the following: scallions, cilantro, radish, tomato, mild cheddar, and lettuce.   When the pork chop glop was hot, we sat down at the table and concocted our own tacos.  I also put the sour cream and the salsa out.  Boy was it tasty!


Today for lunch, I cooked 3 tortillas (two for Significant Other, one for me).  Heated another 1/3 of the beans in the microwave:  served lettuce, tomato, chopped fresh mozzarella, radish and cilantro.  Also sour cream and salsa.  It was the last bits of lettuce, cheese, radish and cilantro.  Drank a glass of white wine with the feast on the deck, admiring garden and the tuberous begonias which are blooming like crazy.  Delightful meals.


And so cheap!


In the oven right now is orange yogurt bread.  We'll eat 2 slices tonight and freeze the rest for company.  This has become one of my go to quick breads. Find the recipe on this link.  This food blogger has other good recipes, too.  Orange Yogurt Bread   I use whatever Greek yogurt is on sale.   0 % fat is fine, 2% is even better.  This bread keeps well and is popular with guests and family.


The other food item on the agenda is:  Lemon-Lime Ice Milk from Epicurious.  the Plum Streusel-pie is good too, but we really go for the ice-milk. Here is the Epicurious link.  Many of their recipes are a) easy and b) don't break the bank.  Almost always tasty.  Try it!   Luscious Lemon-Lime Ice Milk