Thrifty Goodness

One of my fave grocery store is the kookiest or one of the kookiest in Montreal.

My Dad calls it the dirty grocery, I've called it many names....but in fact it has no real official name outside. The sign says 'épicerie' or grocery store.

I know its real name but cannot say it....It is one of Montreal's best kept secret!

If you can get past the smell (Dried salted cod), the chaos and the noise....you will be rewarded with thrifty goodness.

The produce can be fabulous, or past its prime and sometimes they don't have red bell peppers....

I go there with a list, but rarely buy all that is written on it. Because you never know what deals you will find!

Here is some of the goodies i got today.

The Cracker Barrel cheese was $1.99 for 250g (about 8 ounces)

That is a DYNAMITE deal!

The cheese expires in 16 days....

The butternut squash was a dollar a pound, so it came to $1.06 

And the Oka cheese , was $1.49 for 100g (3.5 ounces)

The company introduced the sliced version of this iconic Quebec

cheese maybe a year ago. I saw it first at my local Maxi & Cie

(Canada's Superstore) and it was $6.99 for a big package, don't know the weight

but this cut of cheese has been MIA ever since.

It smells of feet and is amazing on toast!

  I also bought an eggplant ($1.11), 3 zucchinis ($1.07) and a

red pepper for .57cents

With the veggies I made a pig pot of ratatouille.

Eggplant,zucchinis,onion,garlic,red pepper and tomatoes....LOVE!

I also add basil, S&P and some Johnny's seasoned salt

It will be sooo good with Italian sausages

Cheesy Goodness (in PYREX)

Once in a while a recipe catches my eye and the other when Dan dumped a little booklet on the dining room table with the words : Hey I found those recipes, you might like them....

Those were Easter type recipes and we don't do Easter (we celebrate the holiday, we pray and we usually eat some ham but that is about it)  .

The recipe that really caught my eye was the Cheesy Baked Quinoa.

Here goes

3 tbsp butter divided 
8 cups baby spinach,kale or augula leaves (I used about half a bunch of kale and after I threw in some thawed frozen squeezed dry spinach)
1 leek white part only finely chopped (used an onion here)
1 1/2 cups whole grain quinoa insed and drained.
2 1/2 cups educed sodium chicken broth,divided
1/2 cup 36% whipping cream
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp ground pepper
2 cups grated medium old cheddar cheese (I used Kraft Cracker Barrel orange medium old cheddar because I want FLAVOUR not just gooyee cheese)

Preheat oven to 350F (180 C)

Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. add kale or spinach and saute 2 tp 3 minutes or until just wilted, transfer to a boel and set aside.
Add remaining butter and leek or onion and saute for 4 o 5 minutes until golden.
Stir in quinoa until well coated. Aad 2 cups chicken broth. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until most of the fluid is absorbed. This took me more like 15 ish 20 minutes.
Whisk remaining both with cream, mustard and pepper. Stir in quinoa mixture along with reserved kale or spinach and 1 cup cheese. Pour in Pyrex dish if desired.
Smooth top.
Bake, uncovered for  15 minutes and sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake another 15 minutes until bubbly.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.

                                It made quite a lot and was delicious! No, really...
                                it was even good room temp!

                                I will freeze this dish for another day....

                                Oh and the bonus is it is gluten free.
                               I serve it with leftove fish but they mention it would be great with chicken or ham

                              Enjoy!