[Kitchen Witch]

With today's economy the way it is, and jobs being lost in both the private and government sectors, many are not buying foods like they used to.

Many are now starting to make meals from scratch to save money - which to me is the best thing to do. Not only is it cheaper, but it is much healthier. Just think of it - when you die you will have to be emblamed if you eat better. Keep eating all these pre-packaged, sodium-packed and preservative-filled foods and you won't need to be embalmed - the process has already started.

Ok - I may be stretching it a bit - but a VERY tiny, itty-bitty bit. But it's one way to get a point across.

This thread has been created for those that are interested in BETTER and CHEAPER home cooking.

If you are the "I'm always in a hurry with no time for prep work" type cook - there will be recipes shared for making some of your store-bought items in your very own kitchen - less MSG, better flavors, better-for-you meals.

Will you save money? Of course! Have you noticed lately the prices of the foods in the supermarkets? Hey - what about these great coupon deals you get in the coupon section of the paper these days?

I'll start with food prices. For instance - a friend of ours has little ones who like snacks quite a bit. Thankfully they like fruits and veggies and they don't eat as much junk foods as other children. But they do enjoy a meal that is made by Banquet with chicken tenders, mac and cheese and a brownie thing. Not much in there - but just enough to satisfy them. These little gizmos used to cost $.88 each. Not bad. Not worth it - that's for sure. Now - with everything going up - they are averaging $1.00 to $1.19. for the price of one she can make two homemade with larger portions of chicken and mac and cheese.

Speaking of mac and cheese - since those lovely little boxes came out years ago they've gotten quite pricey for what you are getting. And the portions are getting smaller. I'll get to portions later - I'm still on a roll with prices.

How excited I was to find third-rate lettuce on sale at the supermarket for $1.49! No - I didn't buy it - I wouldn't want a rabbit to eat that crap - it was BAD! But the average head of lettuce was $1.99 for so long and now I just know it will be higher soon. Tomatoes are going for $3.99lb or more. Unless you want the vine-ripened HYDROPONIC Frankenstein tomatoes grown in chemicals instead of soil. No thanks.

Those of you that know me, know that I am an "adopted" gram to 2 little lovies. I pack their lunches daily for school. Amazing what they like to take at times and the prices of it now. For instance - little Slim Jims - used to be 5 in a box for $.88 - now there are 4 in a box for $1.00. Those boxes of mini-muffins used to have 5 or 6 little muffins in each pouch - and they had 6, then 5 and now 4 pouches per box - but now with 4 or 5 muffins. And the price is higher!

Mini-candy bars had 10 to a pack for $.88 - now there are 8 to a pack for $1.19 (or more). Small bags of chips or snacks that I would pack on occasion - those things are up to $1.29 each! Those adorable little packages of cookies - 4 or 6 cookies to a pack - a buck apiece.

Canned goods, staples, meats, produce, grains - you name it - smaller packages, less pounds/ounces, more money.

Which leads me to coupon shopping. Like it's worth the time clipping the darn things these days. We have stores that will not take coupons (Aldi's, Save-A-Lot, etc.) and we have those that will even double your coupons - up to $.99. Sounds good, huh? Yeah, right.

First of all - where are all those $.35 and $.50 coupons? Oh - that's right - they are now $1.00 off coupons. And you now need to buy THREE or more items to use it. Think about it - 3 items, smaller in size and weight, and prices higher than ever - what are you saving?

I don't like the higher prices - but I would prefer to have a company raise the price of the food items and leave the sizes alone! Half-gallons of ice cream are only 56 ounces. I'm waiting for them to hit 48 ounces! I've noticed more pint sizes in the stores lately. Dang expensive! The so-called pound packages of bacon are only 12 ounces. One pound packages of polish sausage are only 12 to 14 ounces. And so on and so on.....

For many it's time to tighten the belt. Time to stop eating out - time to start making more homemade and economical meals.

No problem with the restaurant recipes - we have tons here on RSN!

So let's "dress up" some of our foods - s-t-r-e-t-c-h those meals to fill those tummies and make tasty dishes our families will remember for years to come.

Let's share some economical, tummy-filling, and good-for-you meals!