In the past several months, we've seen the cost of food jump. I've noticed certain staple food items that have nearly doubled in price. Taming the household food budget has become the new American pastime. Every family has their favorite dishes, but now it looks like we've got to come up with some new menus to make the food budget work. Vegetable casserole recipes are one way that can really make a difference in cutting food costs, while helping us along the road to getting those recommended 5-9 servings of produce per day. Americans are so used to having that portion of meat on every dinner plate, it can be a challenge to come up with dinner entrees that please both the wallet and the family taste buds. Here are a few ideas for vegetable casserole recipes you and the family will love to eat.

One way to skin the budget in a satisfying way is a simple variation on the well-loved pizza. Using a 9 x 12 inch baking dish, start by lining the dish with a pizza dough recipe. Bake for about 7 minutes and remove from the oven. This allows you to fill it up with veggies and a sauce, without making the crust soggy. Slice some firm tofu into strips and soak briefly in beef bouillon. Tofu, a soy product, readily absorbs the flavor of whatever it's soaked in. Layer the crust with sliced mushrooms, chopped sweet onions, julienned bell peppers, sliced olives, green onions, tofu and cheese. Ladle your marinara sauce over each layer and then repeat until the baking dish is full. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, for a vegetable casserole recipe that's satisfying, tasty, healthy and economical.

Alternatively, soak your tofu in chicken broth and substitute Alfredo sauce for the marinara sauce. Use Parmesan cheese and fresh mozzarella in place of cheddar and you've got another terrific vegetable casserole recipe.

Frittatas, the Italian version of an omelet in a crust, are another excellent resource of vegetable casserole recipes. Somewhat like a quiche, you can make this in your trusty 9 x 12 baking dish or a deep dish pie. You can use a ready made pie crust from the supermarket as the liner. Dice up a selection of your favorite veggies. Beat six eggs well. Layer your veggies in the same manner, pouring a bit of the beaten egg mixture over each layer. Include cheese and Italian seasoning to your liking. When your baking dish is full, top it off with cheese and bake for just 15 minutes at 375 degrees. This makes a heavenly vegetable casserole recipe that's as delicious as it is nutritious.

Another way to make an appetizing vegetable casserole recipe is to research Indian recipe books. In India, many people never eat meat, due either to a lack of money for meat or for religious preference. The Indian cook has perfected the use of fragrant herb and spice mixtures to flavor the dish with a gourmet quality taste. You'll be amazed to find that meat is not necessarily required to produce a dish that is healthy and a delight to the palate.

Noodles, baked in the sauce of your choice and a healthy dose of mixed fresh vegetables is yet another painless and tempting way to cut your food costs.

It's easy to see that there are almost countless vegetable casserole recipes lurking right in your cupboard and imagination! If you serve one of these, just twice a week, you can cut your food budget by at least 15%. This is certainly an idea we can all embrace, particularly when the taste is fantastic!



Click here to view our privacy policy and website info