A variety of leftover cooked meat-pork chops, sausage, bacon, chicken, or even hamburger patties-works well in this recipe. Just use 1/2 cups chopped meat. cheese ...

Making your own spaghetti sauce is easy and economical. Prepare several quarts and freeze the leftovers in 1- or 2-cup portions in resealable plastic bags, ready for the next Italian supper. broccoli ...

Lower your per-serving cost and serve 8 instead of 4 by increasing the pasta to 16 ounces and adding another cup of Great Northern beans. Increase the olive oil and Parmesan cheese to 1/3 cup each. beans ...

This dinner can be budget-priced if you prepare your own spaghetti sauce. Oil, garlic, canned tomatoes and herbs are all you need. Make a double batch and freeze half for later use. bell-peppers ...

Even imitiation lobster can really pinch your budget. For a more affordable lasagna, use only shrimp. For greatest savings, stock up when shrimp are on sale and store in your freezer for up to 3 months. bell ...

Save time and money by buying packaged croutons, often found in the produce section of the supermarket, and then processing them in a blender or food processor for quick and tasty bread crumbs. cheese ...

Bow tie pasta, also called farfalle, can be less expensive when bought in bulk. Since the pasta is dried, it will keep for several months if stored in an airtight plastic bag or canister. garlic ...

Half-and-half cream is not only expensive on the food budget, it can also bust the calorie budget. Use canned skim milk thickened with 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and save both money and calories. asparagus ...

Bargain warehouses and price clubs that sell items in bulk are great budget stretchers. Check them out for savings on everything from spaghetti to canned tomatoes to dried seasonings. cheese ...

If wine is not a staple in your pantry, you can use a less expensive ingredient for flavor. The tang of freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1 tablespoon, is an alternative to the white wine. bacon ...

Homemade gnocchi are thrifty. Mix the pulp from 2 pounds cooked potatoes, 11/3 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Roll dough into ropes. Cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Boil until gnocchi float, about 2 minutes. chee ...

Pappardelle are wide, ribbon-like noodles. If your grocer does not carry this pasta, or if you would prefer a less expensive substitute, use broken pieces of lasagna noodles instead. broccoli ...