Though everyone is counting pennies, this is an important time to support local, independent restaurants. We all have our favorites—help their survival by continuing to patronize the ones you enjoy the most. Our community needs them as much as they need us!

By spending less money at the grocery store, you’ll be better able to support your restaurant habit. Below is a recipe that feeds a crowd yet is incredibly economical. 

Braised Pork

While at first glance this recipe may appear to be too much work for the average cook, believe me when I tell you that it’s actually a cinch to make.

The slow roasting method will produce meat that is falling-off-the-bone tender, and there’s no way you can overcook it—how great is that?? The finished product can be used in buns with cole slaw (a la the Carolina style sandwich from Oklahama Joe’s), or rolled up in a tortilla and served with shredded cheese, guacamole and salsa. Though the recipe suggests slicing the meat as an option, I find that the texture and resulting taste is so much better when shredding it instead. Take a fork in each hand and pull the pork apart. (There will be some fat, but it’s easily separated from the meat).

Serves 8

2-1/2 tablespoons Mole-Inspired Seasoning with Ancho, Cinnamon, and Cocoa (recipe follows)

1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon sugar

About 3-1/2 pounds pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat, tied to make a compact Roast (bone-in is preferable, though boned is fine)

1 head of garlic, broken into cloves but not peeled

1. Season the meat. In a small bowl, combine the mole seasoning, salt, and sugar. Rub all over the pork shoulder and place on a plate. Marinate for 1 hour unrefrigerated, or 2 to 24 hours refrigerated.

2. Prepare the meat for roasting. Preheat the oven to 275 F. Place the pork in a Dutch oven or deep-lidded roaster just big enough to hold the roast snugly. Scatter the garlic cloves around the roast. Place a large piece of aluminum foil over the pot, then press the lid down securely. Alternatively, wrap the meat in a tightly sealed foil package (make sure the seam is at the top so the juices don’t leak out) and place the package in an ovenproof skillet or casserole.

3. Roast the meat. Roast the pork until very tender and practically falling apart, 3-3/4 to 4 hours. Transfer the roast to a platter and cover with foil.

4. Defat the roasting juices. Pour the juices into a sauceboat and place in the freezer for 10 minutes. Spoon off the fat that has risen to the top.

We’re all feeling it.  Restaurants are especially being hit hard, and have devised value menus to attract customers despite these lean times.

If you think Webster House is only for special occasions, think again. On Wednesday-Saturday evenings, from 4:30-6:00 p.m., chef Charles d’Ablaing turns upscale entrees into small plates. For $3 each, there’s no reason not to try all of them. The list includes a half-pound burger, sweet potato and crab hash, a lemon grass diver scallop, and a mini shrimp po’ boy. Enjoy sophisticated tastes at pedestrian prices, in one of the city’s loveliest settings.

Extra Virgin is a hot spot at any time of day, but at Happy Hour the deals are unbeatable. And with its brick colored walls, open kitchen and oh-so-cool bar, what an incredibly fun spot to try some dishes not found anywhere else in Kansas City. Although a special section on the menu targets the “adventurous” eater, most diners will find the entire menu tilts towards the unusual. And what better time to try these tapas than between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., when many of them are half-priced? Onion rings, housemade chips, pork cheeks with white beans, chorizo and fig stuffed chicken thighs, baked pasta and carrot hummus all reflect chef Michael Smith’s well-known creativity. To sweeten the deal, on Monday nights, look for half-priced bottles of wine under $75 and  $8 handcrafted pizzas cooked in the wood-burning oven.

As noted in an earlier column, Café Europa in Crestwood, is under new ownership. Nate Feldmiller of the now shuttered Circe mans the kitchen. The wide-ranging menu has salads, pizza, sandwiches or traditional entrées at lunch or dinner, all at prices that are mindful of our nation’s current economic woes.  Sunday night dinners consist of a stick-to-the-ribs entrée, like stew or lasagna with homemade noodles. Or go on Monday night for Nate’s meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Your stomach will be full, but your wallet won’t be empty when you leave.

Though not cheap, one can find upscale food without a hefty price tag at City Tavern in the Freight House district. New chef Jason Czaja is off to a promising start with a warming French onion soup served in the ubiquitous crock, plump scallops, and roast Campo Lindo chicken with horseradish potatoes. The portions are not overwhelming, nor are the prices.

The Drop Bar first gained a reputation as having the best bruschetta platter in town. While still in first place on that score, the trendy restaurant is now reaching out to those diners who want more than just a snack or light meal. Besides adding small plates (and a half rack of lamb) to the menu, a prix fixe meal, including four courses and a bottle of wine for $50, is offered every Sunday night. including a bottle of wine for $50 per couple. The Happy Hour tradition continues with half- priced starters and $5 drinks from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on weekdays.

The lounge at bluestem in Westport is perfect for diners wanting to indulge without sacrificing an entire evening or a month’s paycheck. The exquisite labors of owners Megan and Colby Garrelts are on display here as well as in the main dining room. Sample a kobe burger, shrimp fricassee, cassoulet or short ribs, all of which are billed as large plates for under $20. Tuesdays to Thursdays from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. those same dishes are half-priced.

Taste in Old Overland Park is a curious cross between a bar and a restaurant. While twenty-somethings throw back a few drinks, fifty-somethings may choose to devour eclectic and well – executed small plates and more substantial entrees. Diners can construct their meal according to their hunger level, budget or palate.

Want to stay in for dinner? For some cost saving tips that every home cook will appreciate, go to www.kcindependent.com and click on the “I’ve got a Secret” tab. Included is a recipe that’s light on the wallet, yet serves dozens.

Though most people make the trek to Key West solely to engage in the daily (and nightly) merriment, there are other equally worthy endeavors to pursue and should be part of your itinerary.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

305-747-2709

www.fortzacharytaylor.com

Be sure to visit this unique state park. The gorgeous, but small stretch of beach, the brilliant blue hue of the water and the unique vegetation will make you want to stay forever.  Fortunately, chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, along with snorkels and kayaks. Keep your parking receipt: your entry fee allows access for the entire day and you’ll undoubtedly want to come back for a picnic and bottle of wine.

Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden

1 Free-School Lane

305-294-0015

www.nfsgarden.com

A tiny botanical garden in the heart of historic Key West. Exotic plants and orchids grow amidst gigantic palm trees in this lush and dense oasis. Another idyllic spot to sip some spirits.

Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum

907 Whitehead Street

305-294-1136

www.hemingwayhome.com

Located in Old Town. Hemingway was a Nobel Prize winner and one of the country’s most honored authors. This is an oft-visited attraction on the island, but if you’re allergic to cats, you may want to settle for a second hand account of the experience. Dozens of felines roam the property, many of which are descendants of the original six-toed cat given to Hemingway by a ship’s captain.

Little White House Museum

111 Front Street

305- 294-9911

www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com

President Harry S. Truman spent 11 vacations in this Key West “Little White House” during his term in office. It was also frequented by his successors until it converted in 1974 to its original use as the home of the Naval Station Base Commandant. In 1991 it opened as an historic site and museum.

The Southernmost Point in the United States

Corner of Whitehead and South Streets

This spot is marked by a monument in the shape of a buoy. From this point, it is only ninety miles to Cuba, although you can’t see anything from there but the vast and sparkling ocean.