Thoughts and Tidbits:
Although this blog is intended to share good tasting and filling low-cost meals, some recipes may seem "a little to rich" when you are really pinching pennies. As an example, I use cheese in many recipies. I like using cheese because it is a good source of protein. Protein helps keep our blood sugar levels even which in turn keeps us feeling full longer. However, compared with other items you can purchase in the grocery store, the cost of a package of shredded cheese can seem quite expensive. Before deciding whether or not a recipe is too expensive for you to make keep in mind how many people the dish will feed and how long they will feel full.
I use little to no salt when cooking and it really has nothing to do with health. I personally do not like salty tasting foods. I don 't even put salt in water when I boil potatoes or pastas. That's not to say I don't salt my food to taste at the table. Very few recipes list salt as an ingredient, but that should not stop you from using salt when cooking. If a recipes says "boil potatoes", add the amount of salt you normally would.
This leads me to another thought. All my recipes make the assumption that those who read and hopefully try some of these recipes have basic cooking skills and knowledge. For example: “Cook onions till translucent” makes the assumption that you will use butter, margarine or cooking spray in whatever amounts you normally would when you cook onions.
I have created many of these recipes and many come from my childhood. As I have searched through the Internet, it is interesting to see that meals my mother created in the 50's, and 60's now have recipes others believe they created. Even in magazines over the last 5 years or so I have seen recipes for meals my mother made 40 years ago. That's okay. A person shares a recipe with another who shares with another and eventually someone claims they have created a great recipe. My mother may have done so as well. I will give credit where credit is due to any recipe on this blog that is not, to the best of my knowledge, of my own making or handed down to me from a family member.
For those readers who are extremely health conscious, this blog is not intended to provide the lowest calorie, lowest fat, lowest carb food option. The sole purpose is to provide relatively inexpensive, filling meals for those looking for a way to stretch their dollar as far as possible when trying to feed themselves or their families.
I am aware there will be critics, as there always are, who read these recipes and say "it would be so much better if you added this ingredient, or that ingredient". Please feel free to do so. Adjust as you see fit. There are many recipes that have quite a few other options of ingredients that would make the dishs taste great or even taste better, but those ingredients may break with my goal of keeping the recipes as low cost as possible. Add or change any recipe to what your budget can afford.
