My Recession Meal

[Beards Brews]

In college I worked at a pizza place just to have at least one meal a day. I also ate ramen so much that I hate ramen and I came close with black beans and yellow rice.

 

[milracing]

+1 for stew. or chili...

 

[Revvy]

SWMBO and I have been trying to scale back a bit, with.. well.. you know.

We had a nasty habit of taking fast food 3 or 4 weeknights... and on the weekends too....

Now, we're doing a lot of Hamburger Helper ($2-beef, $1-kit, feeds 3 plus one lunch in the fridge for take-along) and Tuna Helper ($.89-tuna, $1.50-kit, again, feeds 3 comfortably).... For lunches, I've been taking Hot Pockets, as they were on sale again... $2 for 2 hot pockets (e.g. a day's lunch) is better than a $4.75 sub sandwich from the high-priced campus quick shop.

Dude, the problem is that those products are the budweiser of food...they are so laden with multi syllabic adjuncts that they are not healthy, and eating those are pretty much as unhealthy as the fast food you are replacing them with.

For about the same price point as the single box of that stuff you can make up your own versions of all that stuff in large enough batches to take for lunch the next. The only difference is that your versions wont have a ton of chemicals and preservatives in it...


If you buy your spices/dry goods at a bulk foods store the price for all that stuff drop significantly.

Here's a bunch of "Not Quite Hamburger Helper" recipes, that also has a scalable batch calculator built in.

Almost Hamburger Helper Recipe @ CDKitchen.com :: it's what's cooking online!

I try to avoind buying/eating pre-made processed food like tv-dinners, pocket foods, or ingredient kits" in and making things up myself.

The only things "pre-made" that I buy are frozen raviolis, and spagetti sauce, everything else tends to be "ingredients" and staples instead...

Usually I cook up a bunch of food on saturday and sunday that becomes my dinners and lunches for the week...A crock pot is awesome for that.

I also try to limit what I cook on weeknights to what I can do in under 30 minutes ...And while cooking them I imagining banging Rachel Ray on the kitchen counter.

 

[Melana]

Good website Revvy. I'm with you on buying the ingredients and making up my own meals.

 

[Yooper]

Good website Revvy. I'm with you on buying the ingredients and making up my own meals.

Yeah, I agree too, Revvy. But not about banging Rachel Ray. I'm more of a Giada Delaurentis fan.

I don't buy much out of a box any more. It's all high fructose corn syrup, and sodium. (To scare yourself, read "The Omnivore's Dilemma"). I do buy whole wheat pasta on sale (watching the ingredients) and sometimes canned tomatoes. No convenience foods at all- they might be ok once in a while, but we've made them part of the US diet and they are very unhealthy.

For lunch, you can buy some whole wheat tortillas, and add some inexpensive cheese, fresh greens, and leftover chicken and make a great wrap that is better for you than a hot pocket, and tastes great. One package of tortillas and a package of salad greens can feed you lunch for a whole week. That's way cheaper than hot pockets, too.

There are many things we can do to cut back on expensive take out food- it's just a matter of rethinking our habits. Most meals take less than 30 minutes to make, so being prepared with the right ingredients is key.

 

[Revvy]

Yeah, I agree too, Revvy. But not about banging Rachel Ray. I'm more of a Giada Delaurentis fan.

Hmmm...the thoughts whipping around my head right now (Even though Giada is a little too skinny and vegetarian for my tastes...)

I heard a 3 part series on Canadian Public Radio about the Omnivore's Dilemma...I have to dig it up.

I posted this info on another forum about quick and easy and not too expensive meals...

I can whip up a pretty decent full dinner in a half hour or so, but that usually means there's a mess to clean up after, and it also has to mean I have everything at home or know what I need and can run into the store quickly.

But I guess the closest thing that comes to mind is sort of s "pseudo sushi." It's like shushi, except the fish is cooked and it's not rolled. The longest part is cooking the rice. But you can walk in the door, put that on the stove, then go change or shower and come back in 20 minutes.

Basically you cook up some sticky rice, and while the rice is cooking take a piece of frozen salmon and place it in a bowl, pour over some soysauce, garlic and white wine, and if you have some, some garlic black been paste. (Or you can skip the marinade and just use the salmon as is, or get some smoked salmon.)

When the rice is done, pull it off the stove and set it in the sink with some cold water in it to cool it off a bit.

Stick the salmon in the microwave for about 2 to 3 minutes 'til it looks cooked through.

Then I take a couple of Nori sheets and cut them in quarters, and make a little stack.

I then take and put the rice in a small bowl, put some soysauce in another and flake the cooked salmon into somewhat large chunks. I grab some pickled ginger and a little squeeze tube of wasabi, and make little seaweed "tacos" with the wasabi, rice, ginger and salmon.

The longest part of the process is cooking the rice. You can be eating this in 30 minutes.
But if you have some already cooked, and in the fridge, then all you need is to cook the salmon.

I like to have a few ingredients like the stuff for the fake sushi, that can be done simply and quickly, and still be healthier than pre-packaged stuff. Having frozen salmon, and boneless skinless chicken breasts in the freezer are a couple staples. Plus having various condiments and salsa's, that can be used to whip up some sort of marinate or sauces. Things like jamaican or New Orleans, or mexican sauces, and that Asian Garlic Black bean dip I mentioned. (If you take a couple teaspoons of that and dilute it with some soy sauce, and either lemon juice, white wine, or chicken broth or all three, it makes for a great marinade.)

(You can "quick marinate" any frozen protein at the same time you thaw it in the mocrowave, btw. Just put the meat, chicken, or fish in a container and pour the marinade on it...as you use the thaw setting, it will draw some of the liquid into it. It's not as good as a real, long, marinade, but it works in a pinch.)

One of the things that I have gotten into lately is making mexican/asian fusion springrolls. I picked up some of those springroll wafers, that are the size of burrito wraps, and you soak them in warm water and they turn trasparent.

You put a couple thawed chicken breasts in your food processor, then add whatever spices turn you on...I like corn and black been salsa. You pulse the chicken breasts for a couple seconds to grind them, the add half a jar of salsa and a fistfull of shreaded cheese, and fold it once or twice to mix (if it seems to wet, add more cheese, or even an egg. Then soak a couple of those wraps in warm water. Lay one out and drop a few spoonfuls of the chicken goop in the center, and roll it like a burrito, but sealed on all sides.

Then steam them for 20 minutes, and they are tasty,filling, and healthy. (you can also do it with those little wonton squares, but for quick and big, using the large communion wafer sheets works best.

Again, all that entails in dumping and pulsing and rolling, and can be done in 1/2 hour.
(The TV show 30 minute meals is a must see, for inspiration.

Other good things to have are frozen stir fry veggie, and any kind of mixed frozen veggies, they can be used in so many ways...as a side, or in a main dish like a stir fry.

 

[MikeRLynch]

Can of Goya beans and a lighter. Sometimes not even the lighter.

 

[mmb]

It's getting hard to cut back on food to save money but still get ingredients that are not loaded in salt, fat, or chemicals.

Next spring the back yard is turning into a garden and the mason jars are coming out come harvest.

 

[zoebisch01]

It's getting hard to cut back on food to save money but still get ingredients that are not loaded in salt, fat, or chemicals.

Next spring the back yard is turning into a garden and the mason jars are coming out come harvest.

That's the one really bad thing about 'coupon shopping'. Most of the time, sure people can 'eat' a lot on the cheap after using coupons that cuts the grocery bill way down, but oftentimes those foods are terribly unhealthy. I prefer a bag of dried beans, rice, root veggies, etc.

Speaking of legumes. Split Pea Soup. 1 ham bone, 1 bag of split green peas, water, onion (optional) and salt to taste. Cook until the peas mush and the remnants of meat fall off the bone. It has to be one of the easiest recipes that is so tasty and cheap. Carrots are another good addition, but I like to keep it really simple.

 

[cd2448]

when i was in college my buddy who did all of our cooking used to get bones from the butcher that were intended for dogs and make stews and soups out of them.

 

[jfrizzell]

Yeah, I agree too, Revvy. But not about banging Rachel Ray. I'm more of a Giada Delaurentis fan.

Damn Yoop, I think that's the second comment like that I've seen from you today. Is there something you're trying to tell us? Or maybe something you'll be posting photos of later?

 

[goodbyebluesky82]

Dude, I am the king of cheap, feed-a-family-of-four under 3 bucks meals ever.

I make oatmeal from scratch for my sons. $2 of oats and $0.98 of brown sugar go a looong way. Like for weeks.
I make this wicked cheesy enchilada rice with cheap white rice, a small amount of hamburger or chicken, the cheese packet from a box of generic mac and cheese, and several spices including chili powder, cumin, and then some packs of hot sauce that I bogart from Taco Bell every time I am there. A HUGE pot for under 3 bucks. Goes great with some flour tortillas. I eat the leftovers at work at least once.
Here in the south we make "pintos and cornbread" which really WAS a great depression food. You can seriously feed four people under $1 if you use dried beans. I don't mind eating it every couple weeks.
Spaghetti is dirt cheap if you make your sauce from tomato paste and a can of diced tomatoes, and buy your pasta in bulk from somewhere like Sam's or Costco like I do.

and of course:

Hamburger helper bought on sale, meat bought in bulk at Sam's (3 bucks or less)
Two cans of black beans, a packet of vigo yellow rice + some Mexi hot sauce = yum (for $1.75)

I don't subject my family to this all the time, just here and there to leave room to go out on the weekend. But my income is cut 25% at work right now so I will be eating everything I just listed, along with some mac and cheese and bologna sandwiches at work. I can't wait for this election to be over and things go back to semi-normal so people will buy furniture again......

 

[BigKahuna]

Hamburger helper bought on sale, meat bought in bulk at Sam's (3 bucks or less)

You know Clark...I don't know why they call it HAMBURGER helper...it's just fine by itself!

OF WHICH.

I have the remains of a pork roast...maybe...8 oz in the crock pot with 1/2 onion, a fire roasted chili, 1/4 cup Pearled Barley (AKA NON MALTED 2 ROW!), 1/2 pack of Pintos, and 1/4 pack of lentils...this is in the crock with some frozen chicken broth that I rendered out of the bones from a chicken SWMBO used a month or so ago...and some curry spice.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

I used to eat this back in the college apartment days:

1 Pkg Ramen
1 Egg
2 tbsp Frozen Peas

Crack the egg in the ramen when boiling and then whip with a fork. Add peas after the egg is cooked through. Actually, pretty damn good!

Ramen: $0.10
Egg: $0.20
Peas: <$0.10

That and PB&J sandwiches for weeks on end (shudders).

 

[Malticulous]

I haven't had lamb chops in months.

 

[Jaybird]

I used to eat alot of tuna and rice in college.

I used to drink tuna shakes when I was broke and working out a lot.

1 can of tuna
6 eggs
1 cup of wheat germ
4 scoops of protein mix and fill blender w/ whole milk
add a grapefruit if I was feeling wiggy

Oh it was fkn nasty!!! But it got the job done

Oh ya and then well you know... a steak (cheep POS whatever was on sale for like .99 a #)

My step dad taught me you could eat like a king on $5

I spent $6

I showed him LOL

 

[olllllo]

Speaking of legumes. Split Pea Soup. 1 ham bone, 1 bag of split green peas, water, onion (optional) and salt to taste. Cook until the peas mush and the remnants of meat fall off the bone. It has to be one of the easiest recipes that is so tasty and cheap. Carrots are another good addition, but I like to keep it really simple.

Made this on Sunday with Carrots and the butt end of some Turkey Ham (SWMBO thing). It was outstanding.

Thanks!

 

[zoebisch01]

Made this on Sunday with Carrots and the butt end of some Turkey Ham (SWMBO thing). It was outstanding.

Thanks!

yw! There is something about the simplicity that makes it great. If you want a different texture, you can do half split peas and half lentils. The lentils retain most of their shape.

 

[lustreking]

Speaking of legumes. Split Pea Soup. 1 ham bone, 1 bag of split green peas, water, onion (optional) and salt to taste. Cook until the peas mush and the remnants of meat fall off the bone. It has to be one of the easiest recipes that is so tasty and cheap. Carrots are another good addition, but I like to keep it really simple.

Hmmm... What do you think replacing some of the water with beer would do?

 

[Donasay]

You have to be careful eating so much rice and ramen without any fresh fruit or veggies, there was a guy in my dorm freshman year of college who didn't get the meal plan and ate nothing but 10 cent packages of ramen that he made in his room.

He eventually got really sick, and had to go to the hospital, in the end they diagnosed him with SCURVY! You know scurvy the good old vitamine dificency disease sailors used to get in the 17th century...

Eating cheaply is all well and good, just make sure you are having a balanced diet.

 

[Chriso]

Yarrr! Does fruit count if it's been fermented already?

(Seriously, though, I wish fruits and veggies were actually tasty.. I hate the buggers.)

 

[gratus fermentatio]

For about $3 (the price for a box of .22 ammo) and some time spent walking in the field, I can bag a couple of bunnies every day for nearly a month. That works out to a cost of about 1 penny per pound for the meat portion of a meal, which leaves some money left over for things like potatoes, onions, salt & pepper, and a can of frozen orange juice concentrate (to ward off scurvy). Regards, GF.

 

[toasted]

SPam eggs and rice

SLice up some spam real thin and fry it until crispy, then add to a fresh bowl of hot rice and add an egg over-Ez, then put in some soy sauce or chili-garlic sauce--mix up with a spoon and enjoy.
Breakfast of champions

 

[zoebisch01]

For about $3 (the price for a box of .22 ammo) and some time spent walking in the field, I can bag a couple of bunnies every day for nearly a month. That works out to a cost of about 1 penny per pound for the meat portion of a meal, which leaves some money left over for things like potatoes, onions, salt & pepper, and a can of frozen orange juice concentrate (to ward off scurvy). Regards, GF.

Keep in mind though you need lipids if you go strictly on rabbit

Rabbit Starvation

Or so they say. I'd imagine you'd need to eat it for quite a bit.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Keep in mind though you need lipids if you go strictly on rabbit

Rabbit Starvation

Or so they say. I'd imagine you'd need to eat it for quite a bit.

Guess I'd have to splurge & buy some butter. LOL

 

[EdWort]

As everyone cuts back, we create a self fulfilling prophecy of a recession. Less demand, less products are sold, less products are needed, less are built, produced, or grown and those jobs disappear along with the supply line jobs needed to make products that folks are cutting back on for whatever reason.

I guess it would be a good time to go on a diet.

 

[zoebisch01]

As everyone cuts back, we create a self fulfilling prophecy of a recession. Less demand, less products are sold, less products are needed, less are built, produced, or grown and those jobs disappear along with the supply line jobs needed to make products that folks are cutting back on for whatever reason.

I guess it would be a good time to go on a diet.

The really funny thing is, here in State College, PA the housing market is pretty much 'same as it ever was' (no foreclosures other than what is normal, and no plummeting sales prices). I don't see any doors closing and the stores are all packed. Now here's the screwed up part. Housing sales have slowed and people are getting the mentality that house prices should be going down simply because people are listening to what is going on with the nation as a whole, not the hometown economy. I understand there are some areas that are doing really bad, but it is not the case everywhere.

 

[mmb]

The really funny thing is, here in State College, PA the housing market is pretty much 'same as it ever was' (no foreclosures other than what is normal, and no plummeting sales prices). I don't see any doors closing and the stores are all packed. Now here's the screwed up part. Housing sales have slowed and people are getting the mentality that house prices should be going down simply because people are listening to what is going on with the nation as a whole, not the hometown economy. I understand there are some areas that are doing really bad, but it is not the case everywhere.

Michigan, on the other hand, sucks. But our economy has been in the tank for the past two years or so. The last 6 months have just sucked worse than before.