Experiment with Mushrooms

I'm talking run-of-the-mill brown buttons. Try slicing them thinly and tossing them with shaved celery and garlicky vinaigrette. Or sautéing quartered criminis in olive oil with minced shallots and rosemary and mounding them on top of a sautéed chicken paillard (a thinly pounded chicken breast). Or try this recipe for Merede's Mushroom "Farrotto" with Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallots.

Buy only fresh produce this week

Take this week to clean house--and your pantry, freezer and fridge--by using what you have on hand and buying only fresh produce. You'll be amazed at the impact a tidier pantry has on your psyche . . . not to mention your budget.