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Cheap eats
By Julie
E. Houston • Bankrate.com
Dining on a budget doesn't mean you have to eat Ramen
Noodles.
I love to cook. Ever since I can remember, I have
been whipping up concoctions for snacks or dinner. It must have
come from my father who, throughout my childhood, was infamous for
making omelets with anything he could get his hands on -- including
peanut butter and jelly (um, gross). Instead of Saturday morning
cartoons, I would watch The Frugal Gourmet.
Now Emeril Lagasse is part of the family.
Then I went to college. My counter space was gone
and I was forced to do all of my cooking on a hot plate, in a crock-pot,
or in a toaster oven (all of which were against the rules I might
add). They may take my counter space, but they can never take my
creativity. So I learned to make due with what I had, which was
little money and even less space.
Black beans and rice
A can of black beans are 50 cents and rice is 89 cents a pound.
Sure you can just serve the beans straight from the can, but try
this instead. Drain most of the juice from the can of beans. Add
diced onion, celery, garlic and hot sauce. Let the beans simmer
and serve over rice. It's cheap -- about $1.50 -- it's low fat,
high protein and filling.
Potato Soup
This was a staple meal for my college years. I learned how to make
it from my mom, and I have since varied the cooking to fit my schedule.
Get about 4-5 baking potatoes -- about $1.50. Bake the potatoes
in the microwave by punching holes in them with a fork and wrapping
them in wet paper towels. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until the
are soft. You can also put them in aluminum foil and cook on low
in the crock-pot for eight hours.
Once cooked, start mashing away (you can skin them
first, but I like the skins and Mom always said that's where the
vitamins are). Sautee the onions and garlic in butter or margarine,
and add them to the potatoes. Pour in milk, add butter, and pepper
to taste (I like a lot). You don't have to measure the ingredients,
just keep pouring until you get the consistency and flavor you like.
I consider this comfort food. It's great for a cold winter day.
HINT: Spend the $2 on a potato masher. It will make your life so
much easier.
Chili
This is so easy; it only takes one pot. Get ground beef, beans,
stewed tomatoes and a chili mix and you are ready to get cooking.
Follow the directions on the package and within an hour you have
added some spice to your life. I loved to make this and serve it
to my friends. It goes a long way on a little budget, about $5 a
pot.
Quesadillas
These are quick, yummy, and fun. Buy the large flour tortillas,
about $1.50, in the refrigerated section of the store. I suggest
freezing half of them unless you plan on eating a ton within a week.
Fill with just cheese or add veggies, chicken, whatever you want.
You can make these just like a grilled cheese sandwich or pop it
in the toaster oven. If you have a good Teflon pan, they you don't
even have to use oil or margarine. Serve with salsa, sour cream
or guacamole. No more than $5, depending on what you stuff inside.
Spaghetti
If you don't know how to make this, then you don't belong in college.
Here's a thought: instead of making the pasta in one pot and sauce
in another (like mom always did) just add the sauce to the drained
pasta in the pot and let it heat. You've saved yourself a little
cleaning time and if you have a hot plate, you've made this meal
even easier. Only $2.50 for this treat.
In addition to these cheap and easy recipes, remember
to keep the following ingredients on hand.
Parmalat
milk in the aseptic boxes (think juice
boxes for cows): It's great to keep on hand if you don't drink a
lot of milk. Each box (8oz) is about enough for one meal and the
shelf life is a lot longer than the milk you've had in the back
of the fridge for a month. A three-pack is $1.49.
Popcorn:
My dad told me that even if you are dying of starvation and can't
afford a meal, popcorn is cheap. Eat enough and drink some water
and it expands in your stomach. Plus it's great study food. It's
$1.29.
Pasta, pasta,
pasta: There is so much you can do
with pasta, besides adding tomato sauce. Try butter and garlic.
Or one of my favorites (I got this from my dad and I know it sounds
really strange, but I assure you it is a hit) fried spaghetti. Cook
it as usual drain it. Put it in a pan with a bit of oil and just
enough soy sauce to give it the flavor. I lived off of this stuff
for a summer. A box of spaghetti is 69 cents.
Egg beaters:
You'll find these in the freezer section. If you don't use eggs
often, keep them in the freezer. They are there for you when you
need them. Two boxes is $1.99.
Biscuits:
The kind in the can. You can put these in the toaster oven and sprinkle
sugar on them if you want something sweet. Only 99 cents per can.
Good Ol'
Mac and Cheese: They are so cheap
and easy, how can you live without it? The store brand is 45 cents
a box.
Jane's Crazy
Mixed Up Salt:
Trust me on this. It adds flavor to anything. And if you sprinkle
some on pita bread with a bit of butter and toast, it makes great
chips. $1.29 and it will last forever.
Of course the proper kitchen tools always help:
Toaster
ovens sure beat the Easy Bake oven
from the old school and they only cost $40 at Service Merchandise..
One thing I never realized is that they work just like a real oven.
You can make cookies, cakes, anything in them. Just trust me, the
box of taco shells isn't kidding when they say not to put them in
there. Take my word on it. Be sure to watch the toaster oven closely,
because it can be a fire hazard especially in such small places
as a dorm room.
Crock-Pots
are the greatest invention for someone
on the go. The cook slowly and can be left home alone all day. You
can get one as cheap as $20 on sale at Service Merchandise and they
come with a cookbook full of ideas.
A good knife
is a must have according to Carole
Raymond, of Portland, Ore., author of Student's
Vegetarian Cookbook: Quick, Easy, Economical and Great Tasting.
She also suggests getting cheap non-stick cookware. When it wears
out, you can just replace it.
Don't be afraid to try something new. Cooking is a
"learn by doing" trade. What's the worst that can happen ... you
burn down the dorm? Well, you can say you gave it the old college
try, but don't blame me when the roof is on fire.
-- Updated: Feb. 17, 2004
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