Cheap & Cheerful

This Cheap & Cheerful, my friends, is one to stock in your pantry at all times.  Especially if you have kids.  Even if you don't have kids, come to think of it.

Cheap and cheerful in its truest form.  El Pato salsa is making a rather regular appearance around these parts lately.  The wee 7 3/4 oz cans run about $1, but I often see them on sale for 59¢, and of course, I grab several.  There's a very slight amount of heat in the red can, which the Kiddos love, and gobble up with their "specialty" (make-it-yourself, school-night quesadillas).  El Pato makes two other versions, one in a yellow can, one in green.  For some odd reason, the yellow's the spiciest, and I can't tell the difference between green and red, but whatever.  It's tasty and quick.  A smooth salsa, rather than the usual fresh, chunky style we tend to see more around the Pacific Northwest.  Perfect for those nights when dinner's delayed, and a little nibble of chips and salsa is necessary to appease the hunger pangs.  (And to postpone the inevitable "When's dinner?!" whining).  Or for when you're trying very hard to stick to eating in season, and tomatoes are a long way off from being locally available.  However you slice it, this is a no-brainer. 

Go grab some, and enjoy!

Have a great day!