First Tipster Tuesday and Penny-Wise Notes Edition

Tipster Tuesday and Penny-Wise Notes Issue No. 1 Welcome to my first edition of Tipster Tuesday, a column to provide tips and insights to enhance your daily life as much as they have mine. For more budget friendly meals, select recipes where the majority of the ingredients are already in your pantry. In my post about Mussels, I selected a recipe where I only had to purchase the mussels to complete the meal. I chose to purchase fresh pasta and a rustic bread, but it was not required. By selecting this recipe, I was able to keep my immediate costs down and purchase only one somewhat expensive ingredient. In this case, the mussels. The rest of the ingredients listed in the recipe are staples in my home. A Penny-Wise Note is I know I am going to use certain ingredients over and over in my cooking and either buy them on sale or in bulk to keep my long-term costs down. Without the fresh pasta and rustic bread, the Mussels Marinara di Amore meal only cost $4.98 to complete. Less than $2.50 per person. Even with the fresh pasta and rustic bread the cost per person was less than $4.00. This cost is less than eating at a fast-food restaurant and definitely healthier. And of course better in taste which is Yummier in my Tummy! Does anyone out there have any tips on selecting new recipes while keeping your costs down?