If your grocery money isn’t going quite as far as it used to, you’re not alone. Americans are suffering from the inflated economy, but nowhere does it do more damage than in the grocery store. Many people have chosen to change things up a bit in order to stretch their grocery dollars. While the biggest problem is the price of chicken, steak, fish, and lunch meats, the answer to the problem is simple. Cheese can actually help to stretch your budget, and it’s pretty effortless. You don’t have to give up chicken and other meats, but replacing a few meals with cheese can be a nice switch-up, and it’s truly satisfying as a main protein. The prep involved is even less than replacing meat with slabs of tofu. Where texture is concerned, fried cheese is a delight. Whether it’s halloumi, queso blanco, or any assortment of frying cheese, the outside becomes crusty and browned, while the inside remains soft, chewy, and creamy. Frying cheese is easy. Cut the block of cheese into planks about a quarter-inch thick (or thicker if you prefer) and add them to a frying pan. Make sure there’s some space between the slices. They will expand a bit when the heat is on, and you want to keep them from touching. Turn the heat up to medium-low and allow the cheese to cook for a couple of minutes. When one side is done, flip the slices over to cook the other side. From there, the world is your cheese plank. Nestle the crisp triangles onto risotto, or serve them as a centerpiece for a green salad. Place the slabs of cheese on a pedestal of pasta with tomato sauce, or chop the planks into smaller pieces and stir them into soup or chili. You can really keep it simple by topping a slice with a bit of jam and enjoying it as a tart and salty snack.
