Comments on: 20 Favorite Dirt Cheap Meals

By: Lenore

Lenore — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:06:13 +0000

Lately blended cinnamon & sugar (C&S) has been my BFF in the kitchen:

Nuked sweet potatoes are awesome. Poke with a fork, microwave for about 7 minutes, split open and sprinkle with C&S. At restaurants they give you butter, but I can live without it.

On the other hand, butter is essential for quick baked apples. I core an apple, fillthe hole with butter and C&S then microwave for a minute or two. Mash it up and enjoy.

For a cheap and easy carb-laden treat, make a hot bowl of rice, sprinkle it with C&S then douse with milk. My mom used to make that, so it makes me feel like a kid again.

By: Renae

Renae — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:16:18 +0000

My kids loved it when Dad was in charge and they got to construct their own “pizza” with bread, sauce, cheese and toppings when I was on call overnight.
One of my cheap meals are pigs in the blanket that my elementary school made. Melt butter on a cookie sheet. Take bread with a slice of cheese and a hotdog turned sideways. Take 2 corners of the bread and fold up. Secure with a toothpick and bake. I sent leftovers in school lunches and all the kids wanted them.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:47:43 +0000

@8sml, Systemizer: Happy to help. :)

By: Steve in W MA

Steve in W MA — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:37:59 +0000

Tip for pizza makers when using 2 week old dough: It loses a lot of its strength so in order to shape and transport it to the pizza pan, I 1) coat the dough in cornmeal after I’ve cut the chunk I’m using for the pizza off the main dough 2) shape it 3) if it’s breaking once it’s been thinned out, coat it again with cornmeal, then fold it in quarters to transport it, then unfold it onto the pizza pan. Put your olive oil on the crust, sauce it, add the cheeses and toppings, then put the pizza pan right over your top stove burner on high for long enough to parbake the bottom of the pizza. Now you pan is good and hot and the bottom of the pizza is on its way so put it in the oven at 425 F or whatever for maybe 15 minutes. Easy and great!

By: Steve in W MA

Steve in W MA — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:33:34 +0000

One quick snack is just a microwaved potato. Nuke it for like 8 minutes, then let it cool down, then just grab it and eat it. It comes in its own wrapper. I have eaten these for lunch (microwaved in the office microwave) on days when I didn’t have anything more elaborate to bring.

By: Steve in W MA

Steve in W MA — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:30:48 +0000

I like to make actual pizza. It’s tastier than the “pizza” you make with bread slices and it only takes 20 minutes if you’ve already got some pizza sauce and dough in the fridge. I always keep a plastic container of dough in the fridge and I replenish it about every 2 weeks. Pizza with a fresh baked crust is only 20 minutes away with dough, sauce, and some veggies and cheese at the ready in the fridge.

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:09:46 +0000

My favorite fast and cheap “go to” meal is Mahatma Saffron Yellow Rice with bits of leftover chicken, with veggies on the side.
The rice is often on sale and we take it with us when we travel and know that we will be cooking.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 04:57:54 +0000

Chicken Noodle Goop: A can of chicken (tuna sized), pasta, a can of veggies, chicken stock, and thickened with Wondra or cornstarch.

By: Systemizer

Systemizer — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:38:41 +0000

@#27 8sml: I’ve been overstuffing my face with tofu for the past month as a result of a comment by Johanna. Tonight it was rice noodles, thai peanut sauce and tofu. Previously I’d never felt inspired to use the stuff. I’ve been using her tofu method #2: bake.

By: 8sml

8sml — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:47:01 +0000

@ #18 Johanna: Thanks for the mention of red lentil soup–you were the inspiration for the wonderful-smelling concoction I’ve got boiling on the stove right now. I’ll have to try your recipe some time; it sounds delicious.

By: Des

Des — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:01:39 +0000

@wisnjc – I haven’t checked asian markets, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen one around here, I’ve just never been. Thanks!!

By: Luke G.

Luke G. — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:58:23 +0000

@Carole (#22)

If you are using FireFox, you can add the extension “Nuke Anything Enhanced”. Then, you highlight the stuff you want to remove, right-click, and select “remove selection”. Then, you can print as normal. Or, highlight what you *want*, right-click, and select “remove everything else”.

I use it often. HTH!

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:48:17 +0000

Hint on the black beans and rice: Up the excitement level by going Cuban Style. Cook beans as normal (or use canned), and add a couple tablespoons orange juice concentrate, a quarter cup of lemon or lime juice, and a ridiculous amount of garlic. Increiblemente delicioso.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:09:05 +0000

To Adam, actually many “cheap” low cost meals are actually very healthy and complete meals. Most of the world eats things like beans and rice for meals every day. No, over processed boxed meals aren’t good for you in the long run, but occasionally they can be a treat. None of the meals Trent mentioned are overly unhealthy, and most can be made with little to no meat and small amts of added fats. Throw in some seasonal veggies and fruit or frozen and you get very cheap meals that are good for you too.

By: Carole

Carole — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:07:42 +0000

Would someone tell me how to print this without all the superfluous stuff on the side bars? I can’t find a “print” anywhere. Excuse my ignorance.

By: Interested Reader

Interested Reader — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:01:37 +0000

Roberta, yeah it caused confusion at the time too. But Trent rarely responds in comments (and right now he’s probably still sick) so we may not know what the reasoning is.

By: Roberta

Roberta — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:53:35 +0000

#19 Interested Reader OK. Thanks. I didn’t see the original post. This combination of drinks is difficult to view and makes the food look unappealing, even though I’m sure the spaghetti itself is fine.

By: Interested Reader

Interested Reader — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:26:09 +0000

The milk and wine caused questions when the picture originally showed up (in Trent’s post about making spaghetti sauce) I don’t think he ever answered.

The only thing I can think of is…he’s showing what the kids drank and the adults?

Or maybe milk with wine is a Midwestern thing.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:22:36 +0000

One of my favorites is red lentil soup. I haven’t made it for a while, but I think this is how it goes:

Simmer some red lentils in water or stock until they’re soft. Add a sauteed onion, some lemon juice, dried apricots, ground coriander, cardamom, turmeric, and salt. Puree to smoothness with a hand blender. Serve with some form of bread.

By: wisnjc

wisnjc — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:12:51 +0000

@Des
Have you tried an Asian market? Even in my small Midwestern city we have a few Asian markets/bodegas. I haven’t gotten coconut milk at Kate’s 69c deal, but it’s usally 99 cents where I shop. The Asian market also has the best price in town on tofu.