Dear All, Unlike in Luvd_Lioness's state, in CA Food Stamps credits show up & are there for one's use, on the date when they are supposed to be -- even if that day falls on a weekend or holiday.  SO, I was not at all surprised to see/hear that my FS are in.  I have $20.09 left over from December, giving me a January total of $182.09.

I've heard that a market that I've never frequented, Mollie Stone's, carries Kosher cheeses.  I'm going today -- their phone message does NOT say that they are closed on the holiday.  I need mozzarella, Cheddar, Parmesan, & Monterey Jack, plus Swiss or Greyere if they have them.  I can get Cheddar & Monterey Jack at Cala/Ralphs/Kroger, but the cheeses are full-fat, which I don't like at all.  Parmesan is particularly difficult to find Kosher, as it is a hard cheese -- so I expect that Swiss or Greyere will be difficult to find, too.  Anyhow, I figure that if I have to spend $20 on cheese, which will last for ages in teh freezer, teh money is "found money," with my having saved it from December.  BTW, Kosher Ricotta cheese & cottage cheese are easy to find with the Kosher label; this si because they are soft cheeses.  There is much more rennent used in hard cheese, indeed there may be none in these soft cheeses.  Rennant comes from animals' stomachs.  For the cheese to be Kosher, the rennant must be chemically chaNged to the point where only 1/60th of the new structure contains meat ingredient.

Yours in Him, Deb

Good luck with the hunt for cheese!

We enjoy different cheeses but I can't afford to buy a great variety. I settle for cheap blocks here that come in only a couple types.

Well, Brandy, I used up exactly $20.34 to purchase 3lbs of 50%reduced-fat sharp white Cabot Vermont Cheddar.  They did not even have any Jack, let alone Mozzarella or Parmesan.  I have 1lb each of full-fat Jack & Cheddar in the freezer already (the CHeddar is dyed yellow, which I hate.).  I'm going to mix the reduced-fat with the full-fat 1/2 & 1/2.  That will leave me with 1lb of reduced-fat sharp white CHeddar.

There are a couple of Kosher butchers' shops in town, that probably sell dairy products in another section of hte store, but then I'd pay through the nose, & cheese is not THAT important to me... 

My remaining Food Stamps balance is $161.75.

Yours in Him, Deb

Oh I can't wait till we get ours. We don't get them until the 4th. :(

Dear Kott, teh 4th is just 3 days away, Friday!  It's fun to anticipate the big shopping trip, isn't it?  Mine will be tomorrow, at Cala/Ralphs/Kroger.  Yours in Him, Deb

Usally I get the Mazoerella cheese if its not kosher but the food stamps from the state ran out when Im home back in washington I get all the cheese from the eroupeian deli talking about alot of money wow its alot in town here in YumA.

Deb...I know...lol. I had a lot of food stocked and then we had my stepsons for Christmas week and they ate us out of house and home...lol. Growing boys I suppose,

Btw, feel free to call me Kay.

Dear CheapChic, Does your European deli take Food Stamps?  Yours in Him, Deb

Dear Kay, But what a warm feeling to know that your step-sons loved their stay wih you, if only for the meals!  Yours in Him, Deb

Lol Deb...thats why I keep things like raveoli and soups stocked for them...:) I can't cook to save my life. Wish I could learn tho. I want to learn how to cook from scratch but don't have anyone to teach me.