This was another dish I wanted to make before Thanksgiving. It’s light and fresh, but still looks festive with the green cucumber and red tomatoes. Cornbread is also on everyone’s mind right now as well. I’ll admit I used a cornbread mix (gasp) but I had make something for dinner in between making turkey stock, gravy base, and pumpkin cheesecake for Thursday. The cucumber was $.50, I used half the tomatoes of a package that was $1.89, and we’ve been using the Fontina since last week and this was the last of it. This would also be great on Friday after you’re stuffed and tired of the heavy food (if you are that is). There’s no cooking, and you might just have all the ingredients on hand. Here’s Giada’s recipe.

This week I was inspired by some pretty shiny magazines. I just got this month’s Food&Wine, and I also got the first issue of Food Network Magazine from the Wine & Food Festival. I also wanted to use the local duck and pork ribs I bought at the farmer’s market last week and wasn’t able to use. Luckily, Food&Wine had a special article/recipe section about butchers and I found a great duck recipe from the chef of our favorite San Francisco restaurant, Nopa. I’m also going to make the pork ribs for the first time without a super sticky BBQ sauce. Johnathan is skeptical of this method, but the butchers said if you’re getting really good, fresh local pork don’t drench it, make it simple. I was also craving some Italian, hence Giada’s Bolognese sauce. I also want to make some big fall salads, so I’ll figure out those dishes when I get to the farmer’s market tomorrow. Here’s how the week will look:

Monday - Cassoulet with Duck

Tuesday - Pork Ribs with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday - Fall Salad w/ Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Thursday - Homemade Pasta with Simple Bolognese

Friday - Fall Veg Pizza/Salad Pizza

Giada De Laurentiis of Everyday Italian

Have you ever watched Giada cooking on Food Network? it’s her “penny pinching” episode, which includes pancetta, mascarpone, and special wonton pockets? While Ms. Laurentis has her unlimited supplies of “everyday” Italian delicacies to do her penny pinching with, my impulse mascarpone purchase for her recipe cost me $5.00 for 1/2 cup. I think a lot of us, myself included, watch or read some great recipes - grab our wallets and head out the door to collect all the ingredients mentioned. Hence, the $50 dinner for you, or you +1. And you have to do the dishes. This is where planning can be very empowering.

I’m a huge Jamie Oliver fan. He always emphasizes the importance of simplicity and freshness, which in some cases can translate into $$$. I also subscribe to Bon Appetit - another money trap with its pages of beautiful photography, glamorous party ideas, and “in” foods and restaurants. Before I know it, I’m at the Whole Foods fish counter buying a pound of tuna, pancetta, fresh pasta, and some unknown delicacy!

However, I do feel it is important to eat well, experiment, and really love what you’re cooking and get excited about it. BUT, a little bit of planning can make a world of difference. For example - I’ve discovered fresh blocks of parm are not cheap - as is most fresh cheeses used in great italian cooking or fondue (a guilty favorite). But to me, the flavor of fresh parm is important - so I plan on 3 different recipes during the week that use parm. Last week I bought 1/2lb at Whole Foods for about $7.00. It’s lasted through a crostata, fish meatballs, and a chicken/mushroom bake plus dusting on other dishes. But what I learned during this shopping trip is Trader Joe’s has a better price on fresh cheeses. So, if you’re dying to make the Semolina Gnocchi with Oxtail Ragu from this month’s Bon Appetit, go for it! Use the veggies from the recipe for 1 or 2 more meals, as well as the parm, and make some extra gnocchi for another meal. However, I’m not sure how much oxtail costs, so this may be a stretch for some budgets. Whats the recipe you’d like to indulge in?