There've been threads on 'student food' and other cheap meals, but I
wonder... I made Freedom Toast the other day from a couple of large
slices ($2/loaf) of WalMart sourdough bread, 1 egg, and a little milk.
Ate one with jam; froze the other and m'waved for another breakfast
several days later. How much could that have cost? Why do cheap eats
involve ramen noodles (can't argue with the cheapness, f'r sure) or
hamburger extended to the limit with pasta?

Surely this group can come up with inexpensive dishes that aren't
Welfare Porridge. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices,
and kitchen equipment beyond a m'wave and hotplate, can rfc'rs come up
with things better than hot dog casserole and chicken wing soup? I
have a feeling that many here could produce more than Keep-'em-Alive
Mash with modest ingredients.

Maybe I'm wrong and one needs fresh veg (green peppers were 99 cents
each the last time I checked!) and specialty meats to make really
delicious food. Just a thought.

Frogleg wrote:
There've been threads on 'student food' and other cheap meals, but I
wonder... I made Freedom Toast the other day from a couple of large
slices ($2/loaf) of WalMart sourdough bread, 1 egg, and a little milk.
(snip)
Why do cheap eats
involve ramen noodles (can't argue with the cheapness, f'r sure) or
hamburger extended to the limit with pasta?

Surely this group can come up with inexpensive dishes that aren't
Welfare Porridge. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices,

There's your problem. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices.
It's hardly fair to assume in a college dorm one would have anything aside
from salt, pepper and some packets of ketchup from McDonalds. Maybe some
hot sauce from Taco Bell or packets of Duck Sauce from the local Chinese
takeout place.

You have to get in the student groove. That hot plate can only do one
thing... and they have only one pan. It's a skillet but doubles as a soup
pan. Ramen works. So does Hamburger Helper (in its various incarnations)
after you brown the burger and dump the grease down the unsuspecting
dormitory drain. Likewise Kraft Mac & Cheese (with said hotdogs sliced into
it). Hmmm, never heard of chicken wing soup, might have to try that.

Now ask me why they don't steam some veggies or figure out how to stir-fry
in that one-meal-wonder skillet. And I'll say I have no idea

Jill (light years away from a college dorm but recalls the feeling)

Frogleg wrote:

Surely this group can come up with inexpensive dishes that aren't
Welfare Porridge.

Not that I have a clue about what tuna costs these days, but creamed
tuna of toast was probably me and my sibs favourite lunch. I still
remember mum putting a slice of whole wheat toast down, ladeling over
the sauce (we called it Tuna Barf) and then cutting the bread into
perfect little squares for me while it snowed like mad outside. I must
have been four.
blacksalt

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 18:12:34 -0600, "jmcquown"
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:
There've been threads on 'student food' and other cheap meals, but I
wonder... I made Freedom Toast the other day from a couple of large
slices ($2/loaf) of WalMart sourdough bread, 1 egg, and a little milk.
(snip)
Why do cheap eats
involve ramen noodles (can't argue with the cheapness, f'r sure) or
hamburger extended to the limit with pasta?

Surely this group can come up with inexpensive dishes that aren't
Welfare Porridge. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices,

There's your problem. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices.
It's hardly fair to assume in a college dorm one would have anything aside
from salt, pepper and some packets of ketchup from McDonalds. Maybe some
hot sauce from Taco Bell or packets of Duck Sauce from the local Chinese
takeout place.

You have to get in the student groove. That hot plate can only do one
thing... and they have only one pan. It's a skillet but doubles as a soup
pan. Ramen works. So does Hamburger Helper (in its various incarnations)
after you brown the burger and dump the grease down the unsuspecting
dormitory drain. Likewise Kraft Mac & Cheese (with said hotdogs sliced into
it). Hmmm, never heard of chicken wing soup, might have to try that.

Now ask me why they don't steam some veggies or figure out how to stir-fry
in that one-meal-wonder skillet. And I'll say I have no idea

Jill (light years away from a college dorm but recalls the feeling)

Years from dorm life myself, but I normally cook lunch for myself on
weekdays, and it is often soup of some sort. I often only use one
burner.

Leek and potato soup can be very satisfying, and also makes a start
for a soup with another ingredient, veggie or animal. If you aren't
trying to be fancy, it needn't be white. You can use most of the green
parts if you cut them up finely, or stick a wand blender in when
cooked.

While I have no objection to offal per se, I would never put hot dogs
in. I would rather see the tripe, lips, or whatever and put them in
knowingly. Hot dogs are an expensive way of eating what many on the
list claim they would never eat.

The same argument applies to Kraft mac & Cheese. If you want to
adulterate cheese sauce with junk, there are cheaper ways to do it if
you actually want cheese.( I associate Kraft Dinners with lean times
during WW2.)

What is wrong with chicken wings for soup? Brown them first, then wilt
a chopped onion, throw in some pasta, cous-cous, stale bread, or some
other starch and some water, and simmer as long as the starch takes.
Quick cous-cous is almost instant, and doesn't need a refrigerator.

You do need salt and pepper, and I would keep a bottle of Tabasco as
well.

All this assumes a sink and running water, but not refrigeration, if
chicken wings and such are bought for immediate use.




Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the
simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry.
- Richard Dawkins, "Viruses of the Mind"

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 18:12:34 -0600, "jmcquown"
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:
There've been threads on 'student food' and other cheap meals, but I
wonder... I made Freedom Toast the other day from a couple of large
slices ($2/loaf) of WalMart sourdough bread, 1 egg, and a little milk.
(snip)
Why do cheap eats
involve ramen noodles (can't argue with the cheapness, f'r sure) or
hamburger extended to the limit with pasta?

Surely this group can come up with inexpensive dishes that aren't
Welfare Porridge. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices,

There's your problem. Assuming a normal range of condiments and spices.
It's hardly fair to assume in a college dorm one would have anything aside
from salt, pepper and some packets of ketchup from McDonalds.

I have explained this qestion badly. I'm *wasn't* asking about student
food, just using that as an example of how cheap eats are often
discussed here. What I'm after is inexpensive gour-may ideas. Not
rock-bottom poverty fuel, but also ideas that don't require goat
cheese and prosciutto or a bucket of fresh raspberries to taste
'right.' Also wasn't thinking of "how to feed 20 people for $10"
dishes. Just inexpensive but *good* food. Ex: potatoes and onions can
be had quite cheaply. Cabbage and carrots. Celery and eggs keep going
up and up, but butter is pretty cheap right now. Frozen veg are
cheaper than fresh, mostly. Chicken, whole or cut up, is relatively
inexpensive. It's easy to make something delicious that starts with a
pound of large shrimp or sushi-grade tuna; what about something that
starts with frozen whiting?

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 21:52:40 -0600, Steve Wertz
wrote:

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:02:01 GMT, Frogleg
wrote:

Surely this group can come up with inexpensive dishes that aren't
Welfare Porridge.

Refried bean toastadas.

snip recipe/method

Thanks, Steve. Yes, Mexican dishes of many sorts fit into my
definition of both good and inexpensive. Heaven knows what's in them
to 'retard spoilage', but I get tortillas at the supermarket in
packages of 18 or 36 that seem to last forever and are on hand nearly
all the time in my 'fridge. What would you think about a batch of
beans cooked up with chunks/slices of pepper-jowls? Too un-Mexican?

Frogleg wrote:
On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 18:12:34 -0600, "jmcquown"
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:
There've been threads on 'student food' and other cheap meals, but I
wonder... I made Freedom Toast the other day

There's your problem. Assuming a normal range of condiments and
spices. It's hardly fair to assume in a college dorm one would have
anything aside from salt, pepper and some packets of ketchup from
McDonalds.
(snipped)
inexpensive. It's easy to make something delicious that starts with a
pound of large shrimp or sushi-grade tuna; what about something that
starts with frozen whiting?

Ah, there you go! Fish & chips! I happen to adore pan-fried whiting (we're
talking pan dressed; heads removed, bone-in). That's easy *and*
inexpensive. You've got your whiting. You 've got some potatoes. You've
got a meal!

One pan (a skillet). Oil of choice; I like canola. Cook the sliced
potatoes/fries first - and if you want them really nice and crisp cook them
once, let them cool, then fry them again. Remove to a brown paper bag
(we're talking *cheap* here!) to drain. Dose with salt & pepper.

Dredge the thawed whiting in a mixture of cornmeal/flour/salt/pepper. Brown
about 3 fish at a time (depends on the size of that skillet) on medium hot
heat, about 10 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove with a wide
flat slotted thingey (technical cooking term heheh) and place on another
brown paper bag (again, cheap) to absorb any excess oil.

The fish is absolutely wonderful, tender and tasty; flakes off the bones
with a fork. Dang, now you're going to make me go look for whiting again at
the store! IIRC the last time I bought it, it was about $1.50 a pound for a
5 lb. box.

If you absolutely must have something green to go with this I'd suggest er,
salad.

Jill (hates salads)

Frogleg wrote:
There've been threads on 'student food' and other cheap meals, but I
wonder... I made Freedom Toast the other day from a couple of large
slices ($2/loaf) of WalMart sourdough bread, 1 egg, and a little milk.
Ate one with jam; froze the other and m'waved for another breakfast
several days later. How much could that have cost? Why do cheap eats
involve ramen noodles (can't argue with the cheapness, f'r sure) or
hamburger extended to the limit with pasta?

Then you have not been reading closely. I have seen lots of postings
in the cheap foods threads about interesting dishes that can be made
inexpensively that do not involve raman noodles, or other manufactured
food extenders.

For example, I have posted several times that one of my favorite
cheap dishes is to make chicken legs, which are full of flavor
and very inexpensive. Two or three chicken legs (depending on size)
makes a filling and flavorful meal and they're easy to cook in
numerous different ways without any hamburger helper type ingredients,
nor any raman noodles, and no dried beans or pasta.

I like to take chicken legs, sear them all over in a hot
non-stick pan in a bit of olive oil or regular vegetable
oil. Add in a can of pureed tomatoes, some herbs and spices.
some sliced mushrooms (optional), and serve over plain white
steamed rice. Very low cost and loaded with flavor.

What I think many people are forgetting is that in a college dorm (at least
in the college I went to 20 years ago) there was no running water in the
room, no counter, no real knives, no spices, etc. If I wanted to cook
anything, I had my hotplate and a pot and a pan. The room was too small for
food storage past a few cans or boxes. Ultimately, I lived on Mac & Cheese,
cereal, soups, ramen, pizza delivery and sub sandwich delivery - same things
people are saying that they're living on today. There just wasn't room or
facilties to try anything remotely *fancy*.

Maybe dorm life is different these days, but back then the rooms were just
not condusive to cooking when you couldn't even rinse a pot without lugging
a whole mess to the community bathroom way at the end of the hall.

kilikini

On 2004-02-01, kalanamak wrote:

Not that I have a clue about what tuna costs these days, but creamed
tuna of toast was probably me and my sibs favourite lunch....

I was raised on the stuff. Still fix a batch now 'n then.
If you catch the supermarket sales, you can still get a can of mushroom soup
for $.50 and a can of good tuna for $1. It's the damn milk that's insanely
priced!

Creamed Tuna on Toast

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tuna
7-8oz milk
toast

This ain't rocket science. Make soup, add tuna, pour on toast.

Open window shades so you can view the dismal rain/snow outside and
appreciate how good you've got it.

nb

"notbob" wrote in message
news:5t9Tb.204055$na.334992@attbi_s04...
On 2004-02-01, kalanamak wrote:

Not that I have a clue about what tuna costs these days, but creamed
tuna of toast was probably me and my sibs favourite lunch....

I was raised on the stuff. Still fix a batch now 'n then.
If you catch the supermarket sales, you can still get a can of mushroom
soup
for $.50 and a can of good tuna for $1. It's the damn milk that's
insanely
priced!

Creamed Tuna on Toast

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tuna
7-8oz milk
toast

This ain't rocket science. Make soup, add tuna, pour on toast.

Open window shades so you can view the dismal rain/snow outside and
appreciate how good you've got it.

nb

Jeez, sometimes I wouldn't mind going back to the mainland! A can of cheap
tuna here is $1.29, but you can occasionally buy it on sale for $.99.
Mushroom soup is $1.89 a can - on sale for $1.49, milk is $6.49 a gallon and
a loaf of cheap bread is $2.99. Fresh broccoli is $2.99 a pound, iceberg
lettuce is $1.59 a pound, and baking 'taters are $.99 a pound.

One package of shrimp ramen $.49. Jack in the Box jumbo Jack $.99. McD's
double-pounder $.99.

If you don't have much money, it seems almost impossible to eat healthy.

kilikini

when I was in college I lived in a room that of course had no
kitchen....soooooo what I used was a crock pot and an electric frying
pan...two indispensible appliances for those without kitchens.....

one staple was rice with cream of whatever on it and some sort of
vegetable...one frozen box of veggies of your choice...whatever i cooked
always lasted me for dinner and lunch the next day.....it didn;t go bad
overnight even when I used a piece of meat like a pork blade steak or
chicken...maybe i was skirting death at every meal...but I ate fairly well
even if it was pretty boring..
LG

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:04:27 GMT, kilikini wrote:
What I think many people are forgetting is that in a college dorm (at least
in the college I went to 20 years ago) there was no running water in the
room, no counter, no real knives, no spices, etc. If I wanted to cook
anything, I had my hotplate and a pot and a pan. The room was too small for
food storage past a few cans or boxes. Ultimately, I lived on Mac & Cheese,
cereal, soups, ramen, pizza delivery and sub sandwich delivery - same things
people are saying that they're living on today. There just wasn't room or
facilties to try anything remotely *fancy*.

Maybe dorm life is different these days, but back then the rooms were just
not condusive to cooking when you couldn't even rinse a pot without lugging
a whole mess to the community bathroom way at the end of the hall.

I don't think things have changed much. Dorms do vary, but mine
didn't have running water in the room, and you weren't supposed to
have hot plates. I had a microwave, a rice cooker and a small
fridge. NO pots and pans, NO spice rack of any kind. There was a
tiny communal kitchen with a crappy erratic stove/oven, you supply
your own utensils and cookware. I ate a lot of pasta (cooked in rice
cooker!), tuna salad, PB&J, sandwiches, canned soups, jello, etc.
Didn't like boxed mac and cheese, so I didn't have any. Ramen was a
staple, though. And DH (then boyfriend) visited a lot, so we went out
for replenishing meals of real food on weekends. ;D

I realize this is a bit of thread drift from the original
idea of inexpensive good food, sorry. It's sometimes hard to think of
what a person can do minus the extensive spice cabinet, which is why I
think a small investment in spices can be so useful in expanding one's
repetoire of dishes. One cheap thing I like to do is take chicken leg
quarters, usually on sale at .39-.49/lb, poach them, and use the meat
in soups and chicken salad. A nice recipe from Jeff Smith's _Frugal
Gourmet_ describes sprinkling the bits of cooked chicken with
julienned scallions, a bit of soy sauce and sesame oil, then drizzling
a bit of hot oil over the top to make it sizzle. Toss, and the
flavors blend nicely and it goes great with rice.

Ariane

Frogleg wrote:
On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:04:27 GMT, "kilikini"
wrote:

What I think many people are forgetting is that in a college dorm...

Not, not, not asking about student food! Sorry I even mentioned it as
a peripheral example of what I *wasn't* interested in.

Want ideas of economical *real* food. What would dear Julia do if
restricted to a common or garden supermarket and no budget for a $50
roast and $2.50/ea artichokes? I have a feeling she'd be able to
dazzle with a packet of frozen spinach and some chicken thighs.


*REAL* barbecue where you take a tough, cheap cut of meat and make it into a
heavenly food, fit for the Gods.
Mexican/ Cuban/Island type foods.
Use the cheaper spices.
Think "breads" (freshly baked)
Home made pizza (without the expensive toppings)
Grilled fresh vegetables


BOB

Frogleg wrote:

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:04:27 GMT, "kilikini"
wrote:

What I think many people are forgetting is that in a college dorm...

Not, not, not asking about student food! Sorry I even mentioned it as
a peripheral example of what I *wasn't* interested in.

Want ideas of economical *real* food. What would dear Julia do if
restricted to a common or garden supermarket and no budget for a $50
roast and $2.50/ea artichokes? I have a feeling she'd be able to
dazzle with a packet of frozen spinach and some chicken thighs.

We're all (mostly) supposed to be inventive and talented cooks who can
make the most of whatever ingredients are available. Not Iron Chef
weird stuff, but plain ol' supermarket food. If it takes a specialty
butcher and ground macadamia nuts and goat cheese and baby zucchini to
make anything worth eating, then we deserve to pay $45 for a
restaurant hamburger.

Can't anybody come up with a few main dishes, sides, soups or salads
that are a delight and don't include some particularly expensive brand
of chestnut puree? Is the only food worth eating the product of
free-range pheasants and out-of-season endiive?

No one suggested souffles and quiches. or simple fruit tarts for
dessert. Soups and stews are often economical, but I'd like to see
some more individual main dishes and crafty use of meat. A new thread
on 'elegant salmon loaf' has possibilities, 'though I wasn't thinking
of 'open a can of this and a can of that.' Not excluding it, either.

Come ON people. I'm a fan of white chicken meat, but whole fryers were
on sale last week for $0.48/lb. Wouldn't a roasted chicken surrounded
by potatoes, carrots, and onions be cheap and good eats with dark- &
light-meat eaters around? *This* is the kind of thing I was looking
for.


Here is a chicken recipe you may like
* Exported from MasterCook *

Yellow Rice and Chicken, Tampa Style

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Main Dishes Poultry


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 chicken, whole -- cut in quarters
4 ounces olive oil
1 medium onion -- sliced thin
2 cloves garlic
6 ounces tomatoes -- drained
1 1/2 scoops water
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons salt
1 pound rice
1 Pinch saffron
1 green pepper -- chopped
2 pimentos
1 can peas *

Cut chicken in quarters and fry in oil with onion and garlic.
When done, add tomatoes and water. Boil for 5 minutes. Add bay leaf,
salt, rice, saffron and green pepper. Stir thoroughly and place in
moderate oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Place on heated platter, garnish
with peas and pimentos.


(Can cut chicken in serving pieces. Bake for 30 minutes for
drier rice.)

NOTES : petit peas

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -






--
Susan N.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who do not.