Making Do Dinners

You know, I haven't been blogging much because the last few weeks (or perhaps even the last couple of months) have been more about eating for survival and frugality (i.e. not getting take-out again), then anything particularly interesting. Life has been busy, we've been sick off and on, we are dealing with insecurity in employment, and because of that wondering if we'll have to move .... and yet it didn't dawn on me until this morning that I am probably not the only one who needs "Make Do Dinner" ... so without any claims to originality, chefosity, or gourmet taste, here's a few easy meal ideas.

• Stuffed Shells & Turkey Meatballs, from the freezer: I frequently stock frozen stuffed shell, bought frozen at the grocery store, as well as frozen meatballs. Those, with a jar of tomato sauce (or homemade from your freezer, if you happen to be challenging Martha for her crown), layer them in a 13 x 9 pan, and bake for an hour at 400 ... easy dinner.

• Breakfast foods: eggs and toast (my favorite is frying a piece of bread, with a whole ripped out, then cooking the egg in the middle .... yum); pancakes w/ yogurt and fruit; corned beef hash from a can with a poached egg ...

• Fried rice, especially if you have leftover chinese take-out rice and various leftovers to use up.

• doctored soups - more on that soon.

Leftovers 911: Pizza

I moved recently. I think we ordered upwards of ten pizzas in a three week period, which is pretty unusual for us. (One a month is probably a bit higher than normal)

In my opinion, the best way to rewarm a slice of pizza:

Turn a large skillet or griddle to medium. Put the slices in the pan, crust down, and WAIT. The rewarmed pizza will have a nice crisp crust.

Another method: place the pizza slice directly on the wire rack in a warm oven.

Either is much preferable to the soggy, chewy crust a microwave produces - unless you are in a hurry.