Two By Two Ranch
Ineffective? Are you a starving student? Or maybe you're saving for that next tank of gas!
Whatever the case, sometimes we all have to cut corners until the next paycheck rolls in.
These foods will fill you up without emptying your wallet. It should feed four hungry mouths.
Although prices vary widely depending on the part of the country and your grocery store, you will find these dinners will stretch your food dollar the maximum.
- Lentil stew. A package of lentils, a couple of carrots, a couple of potatoes, water. Place the lentils in package a large pot and add the appropriate amount of water (1-1/2 cups water to one cup of lentils that works best). Peel the potatoes and carrots, and cut into bite size slices. Add to soup pot. Season to taste. If you have it: Add a ham bone, some leftover meat, chopped bacon, bay leaf or favorite herbs.
- Baked potatoes. Nothing complicated here. Buy large baking potatoes or just a bag of potatoes for sale. If small, bake more of them per serving. Choose your favorite ingredients: just butter, salt and pepper, cheese, broccoli, sour cream, bacon bits, or what is at hand.
- Cheese quesadillas. Doing this with flour tortillas. Heat two tortillas in a pan and remove one to a plate. Top remaining tortilla with grated cheese. When melted, about 1-2 minutes, instead of the other tortilla on top. Let simmer for a minute or so, flip the whole thing over and cook other side for another minute. Dump onto a plate, cut with a pizza cutter. If you have it: Add the cooked chicken to the cheese. Serve with sauce.
- Scrambled eggs. Get a dozen less than a dollar. Crack eggs into a bowl and beat. Add milk, salt and pepper. Cook eggs in a saucepan. If you have it: Add your choice of mushrooms, cheese, pepper or green onions.
- Spaghetti and sauce. Again, not too creative, but you can pick up a package of noodles and a can of sauce less than two dollars. Add the Parmesan cheese on top.
- Tuna sandwiches. Frequency for sale, tuna provides a meat dinner this week. During four sandwich filling, use four of the smaller cans. Dump all the cans in a bowl, add mayonnaise or salad dressing, along willingly, if you have it. Stir, spread over bread. I like to use ranch dressing.
- Sandwiches grilled cheese. Butter bread on both sides and place over medium-grill. Add a slice of cheese. Splurge on an extra slice of cheese per sandwich!
Garnish:
- Watch for sales on frozen vegetables. You can often pick up a book bag for less than a dollar.
- Slice fresh tomatoes or chopped cucumber slices to go with a sandwich. Any fresh vegetables will.
- Cut a piece of fruit for dessert healthy.
- Spend at Walgreen's and see what is available in its food hall. They often have good deals on canned mandarins who make a tasty dessert. Add a little coconut or a few marshmallows, if any.
- Walgreen's often leads to the sale of canned mushrooms, too.
- What about food for a room? Time Walgreen's for ramen noodles.
- Cake mixes and canned frosting are often priced under a dollar, especially the store brands. His additions only will be a little oil (or applesauce, if you're counting calories) and a couple of eggs (except the food above). For a few dollars, you can eat dessert for a couple of nights or snacks for a few days.
Even if you are on a tight budget, you can create a tasty meal. It's not gourmet food but not hungry!
Looking for diet and weight loss tips? Kathy Ferneau has created an excellent resource for information on diets, healthy eating, and exercise. Click here: http://www.lose-weight-diets.com
Yonder Mountain String Band w/ Jon Fishman – Two Hits & the Joint Turned Brown
