A Tasty But Cheap Fritatta Recipe

One of the best ways to save money on your food bill is to buy what's on sale.  It also helps to use up all your leftovers, letting nothing go to waste.  That's why I like this recipe from Better Homes & Garden -- because it is so flexible, you can use whatever you have on hand or whatever is cheapest at the store.  The only real expense is the eggs -- but since a dozen is less than a pound of almost any other kind of protein (except beans), you are still saving.

The Anything Frittata

8 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon dried herbs (such as basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning), crushed, or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary or dried thyme, crushed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons butter, margarine, or vegetable oil

3/4 cup cut-up vegetables (such as chopped sweet pepper, chopped onion, chopped carrot, sliced mushrooms, chopped zucchini or yellow summer squash, chopped potato, corn, cut green beans, broccoli florets, and/or chopped, seeded tomato)

3/4 cup chopped cooked meat (such as ham, chicken, beef, pork, or turkey) or crumbled, crisp-cooked bacon or turkey bacon

Salt
Black pepper

1/2 cup shredded cheese (such as cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, mozzarella, or Havarti)

1. Preheat broiler. In a bowl whisk together eggs, milk, herbs, the 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; set aside.

2. In a large broiler proof skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add vegetables; cook and stir for about 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in cooked meat; cook and stir for another 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Season mixture with additional salt and black pepper.

3. Pour egg mixture over the vegetable-meat mixture in the skillet. Cook over medium heat. As the egg mixture sets, run a spatula around edge of skillet, lifting egg mixture so uncooked portion flows underneath. Continue cooking and lifting edges until egg mixture is almost set (surface with be moist). Reduce heat as necessary to prevent overcooking. Sprinkle with cheese.

4. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 1 to 3 minutes or until top is set and cheese is melted.

Makes 4 servings.