Day Thirty of Our Quest

Food...the World's Greatest Stress Reducer!

My family loves to eat, what child doesn't? The trick to saving money is to have great food at home, which reduces the urge to eat out. I have a few things to help me with this. I think that a kitchen needs good tools and equipment (I am a gadget freak). One is the Paninni Press (lower left) that I invested about $25 dollars in last spring at Walmart. If you figure that the $25 couldn't even pay for us to eat out once, it was a really good deal. Paninni's (Cuban pressed sandwiches) are a fabulous way to use up the miscellaneous meats and cheeses that are left over in the refrigerator. These sandwiches don't have to be piled high (saving money) and they are hot so it is a great winter lunch item.  Thick homemade bread make great paninni's! Next I have my Quesadilla Maker (lower right) that I again invested about $25 in last year. My kids love mexican food! I can make them cheese quesadilla's or I tend to use anything I have left over such as pork or beef roast, taco meat, or some re-fried beans in them. They devour them! You can make pizza or breakfast quesadillas too! And finally, a crock pot (rear) is a must have! You can make just about anything in a crock pot. The best benefit of these glorious appliances, they all save energy over using the stove!

There is nothing better than having the family all together around the table with good comfort foods!