Lately I’ve been seeing a few posts over on YouTube that talk about meal planning and dealing with a tight budget in addition to potential tariffs and such. For many households there is not much new when it comes to developing meal plans with tight budgets.

As I’ve thought about this and looked at my own kitchen and budget, I can see where changes might have to be made and what items I need to keep an eye on. If you have been a regular reader you know that I value See Mindy Mom‘s channel for her no nonsense approach to feeding a family without breaking the bank.

I have also seen a lot (!) of videos about creating meal plans and recipe books and pretty much anything you can think of as a tool to help with keeping on budgets, etc. One size does not fit all. What works for me might not work for you and vice versa.

What I suggest is that you take the time to figure out what you and your household need regarding meals, what your preferences might be, and what your budget is. Once that is done you have a good starting point for developing meal plans and budgets that serve you.

I also recommend that you spend some time looking not only at new recipes but checking out vintage ones, too. It might seem odd but everyone has had to cook from a budget at one time or other and some of those old recipes are not only family favorite but easy to make and easy on today’s budget, too. Your local library will have a collection of cookbooks that could prove helpful.

As we move into Spring and Summer, I am starting to think about lighter fare, more salads (with or without lettuce) fruits and veg from the local Farmer’s Markets. I am also continuing to think about precooking things like chicken so I can use them in a variety of meals saving time by having them ready in the fridge or freezer.

Now is also a good time to explore things like grains and beans to have either in addition to or in place of meat and poultry. Hummus and vegetables are a great light lunch or easy side for dinner. Carrot salad, coleslaw, potato salad and even pasta salad are all great options not only for a main dish but to replace at least one lettuce salad on the menu. (I like lettuce but not every day!)

Speaking of exploring, now is also a great time to check out the condiment aisle in your market and see what is on the upper and lower shelves. You could score some great mustards (yes, plural) that would be great with different meals or find pickles you didn’t know about or marinades. The prices on the upper and lower shelves are often for off brands which are comparable, if not better, in quality than Name Brand items. Check them out to see if you find something you prefer.

This, too, is a great way to Play With Your Food.

Happy Cooking!

Easier than I thought!

I discovered English Muffins after moving to the West Coast decades ago. Those lovely, crispy platforms for all sorts of goodies were a toast lover’s heaven! A few years later I discovered crumpets. OMG!

A recent edition of Glen and Friends Cooking shows the process to make English Muffins from scratch. Check it out:

Now, I think that if I follow Glen’s guidance and take my time, I could make these gems myself.

Where did I put that Culinary Bucket List…?

A good casserole is a time saver, budget friendly, and can use up all sorts of left overs or even create loads of left overs. They make wonderful next day lunches, too. If you are contemplating batch cooking, consider doubling your favorite casserole recipe and tucking the extra into the freezer – well wrapped, of course.

Allrecipes.com has come up with a collection of tips to make your next casserole fabulous. Click HERE to check it out.

And, if you need a refresher on how to make casseroles without a recipe, click HERE.

Wyse Guide has created what might be the Ultimate Chicken Pot Pie Casserole. No crust, no biscuit topping. Easy to do, easy to eat.

He even provides the link so you can easily print out the recipe. Go, Kaleb!

Never underestimate the level of Comfort Food that comes with a casserole. When the weather is iffy and you might not be feeling your best, a warm from the oven casserole could be just what the doctor ordered…so to speak.

Enjoy!