Gourmet Meals For Less

It's all Greek to me...Lamb and Olive Burgers in Homemade Pita

Wow we did something frugal and fun today!  As a homeschool mom I love the educational moments that just "happen".  Cooking together can be a great opportunity for home economics, a practical way to use math and science and provides some great one on one time.

Today, the girl and I made homemade pita pockets!  Who knew they could be so easy, so cheap and so healthy to make.  It was so cool to see them puff up right before our eyes, and we learned what worked and what didn't when it came to making the perfect pita.  I see lots of homemade pita pockets in our future.

Our pita pockets were made to accompany lamb burgers with olives and homemade taziki sauce.  We felt "oh so greek today", which has always been one of our favorite ancient societies to study.  I'm sad I never knew, before now, how easy and frugal it could be to recreate an authentic greek meal right in our own home.  I hope you will give this menu a try, it's a great way to expose your family to a different culture, and to appreciate the special art of bread making in a fun and easy way!

Variety is the spice of life....Lamb Ragu with Creamed Potatoes and Carrots

 

As much as I love to cook, my $10 challenge has exposed a weakness in my culinary abilities.  It has exposed a lack of diversity in my ingredient choices.  Comparatively to most people we know, we do eat a wide variety of foods and are always willing to try new things.  But, I have realized that I, like most everyone I assume, had gotten in a food rut. 

When it came to protein, we stuck with the usual: chicken, beef, fish…you get the idea.  Then I stumbled upon a $10 meal featured in Everyday with Rachel Ray that frankly called to me from the page, but (and there's always a but isn't there).... it was made with lamb, which frankly made me a little nervous.  Would I like lamb?  Would my family even try it? And most importantly could I even FIND lamb down here in my rural lil’ neck of the woods?

 

That answers to the above question in no particular order where…yes, yes, and unbelievably yes…and on SALE!!  Guess ground lamb isn’t the most popular choice of meat here in this part of Kentucky because there were, no lie, 4 packs in the manager’s special section of the meat case!  What normally runs $6+ a pound was a paltry $3.49! So, their loss was my gain and it allowed me to cook Lamb Ragú over Creamed Potatoes and Carrots.  So be a little adventures and try something new, you never know it might become a favorite!