By now, you all know I’m all about healthy ideas and stretching a buck.

The last two columns I shared recipes from Hungry Girl.  Tried them both and honestly-they were both quite good!  In fact, my dh-who isn’t thrilled with squash and sweet potatoes enjoyed the “I Can’t Believe it’s not Sweet Potato casserole” enough that he told me he’d like me to make it again!

The soft chocolate chip cookies are a darned good substitute for the 400 calorie version that you get at your local coffee house.  Maybe they aren’t as big, but even if you eat 2 (which would equal one of those sinful ones)you’d only be eating a few calories shy of 190!  And they are pretty darned good.

Here’s the “stretch your dollar” part for those recipes:  I found a generic version of the required Splenda part at my local Big Lots!  Yes, Big Lots.  Same sized bag that even Wal-Mart sells it for at $6.99-I paid only $3.99!

Big Lots is a great place to get some unique food items.  Just check the expiration date.  Last week besides the generic Splenda-I found some gourmet rubs, BBQ sauces and even our favorite Cholula!  And I did buy some Paula Deen preserves.

For cereal-besides Big Lots, I go to Wal-Mart.  We eat All Bran or Fiber One about 5 days a week here,  so we really can’t afford the $4.95 price tag at Von’s, but Wal-Mart sells it regularly for $3.64 a box.  If I happen to be lucky enough to have a coupon-they’ll let me use it!

Just as it’s important to cook and bake healthy-it’s also important to mind our budgets these days!

Do you have some ideas?  Share them!

I made a shoulder pork roast I picked up on sale for $1.67 a pound last us 5 days-which included one night where our son and daughter-in-law joined us!

You?