Food on the Table

There’s much more to dough than bread and butter. In fact, there’s much more to bread than, well, bread.

Save some dough on dough this month, and make use after use after use of premade, store-bought breads. From sweets to savories, the money-saving powers of bread are aplenty, and this list is only a starting-off point.

Plus, using these quick-to-prepare dough delicacies will save you more than just money — you’ll spend less time in the kitchen slaving away at kneading, rolling, waiting and cleaning.

Doughnuts

Yes, you can with canned refrigerated biscuit dough. These tubes work wonders when it comes to fluffy delights whether going the traditional biscuit route or the guilty-pleasure doughnut route.

Simply separate the biscuit rounds after popping open the tube, and poke a hole through the centers. Deep fry until golden brown, and enjoy sans toppings or let the family in on the fun with a customized topping fest. Just don’t forget to make fresh berries or banana slices an option.

Empanadas

Take a trip south of the border, and try out some mouthwatering Mexican pastry pockets using refrigerated piecrust. Piecrust is a base that can be used for many more foods than the name implies. Because premade crusts are intended to complement a variety of pie fillings, the crusts themselves can have a variety of uses since they’re so basic.

Go meatless or meatful with these. There’s the traditional route of chicken or beef, but don’t be afraid to experiment and make sure to get the family’s input. But word to the wise — you should probably avoid using graham cracker crusts for empanadas.

Quiche

And for piecrust inspiration No. 2, try your hand at whipping up a quiche. Quiche fillings are seemingly boundless, so stuff this savory pie with a stuffing of your liking. From spinach and feta to crab to potato and artichoke to broccoli and ham, there’s practically a quiche recipe for any family.

Use a 9-inch pie crush, and serve in slices. It’s as simple as cake — er, pie.

Straws

We’re not talking about the drinking kind but the eating kind. From the sugary to the salty, bread straws are a delightful finger food ripe for entertaining guests or satisfying the family. Whether cheese or cinnamon-sugar, these twists are a hit for good reason.

Puff pastry shells are perfect for preparing straws, and don’t worry about these being too fragile to contort. Just like any other bread dough, puff pastry comes frozen, meaning just thaw and mold as you would another premade dough. The puffy goodness will come post-baking.

Above all, remember that store-bought doesn’t have to mean store blandness. Add some flair and flavor to economical grocery store purchases by using your imagination. And, of course, some goodies from your smartly stocked pantry.

This post is linked to Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.

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