OK, don’t laugh, ya’ll.   But I love me some dollar store action.   I like going in for cleaning supplies, toilet paper, holiday stocking stuffers, and even grocery items.   You’d be surprised at what you could find at the dollar store that will help you stretch your food dollar.

Pantry staples are easy to find at the dollar store. You can get canned veggies, beans, tuna fish, canned fruit, juice, spices, and cooking oil. You can even get those gourmet delicacies – ramen noodles. Some dollar stores carry fresh produce, and some even have dairy. The only thing that makes me hesitate about getting milk or butter at the dollar store is that sometimes the products are really close to the expiration date by the time they hit the shelves. But you’d be checking the dates on the package at the supermarket anyway, right?

Here’s a little game – think of it as a scavenger hunt. Limit yourself to $10 and then head to the dollar store. See if you can put together 2-3 menus with just $10. Then let us know what you cooked up for your dollar store dinner. We’d love to hear what you found.