Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Cheap "Meals"

So, I have been googling "cheap meals" to try to get some ideas of cheap, easy things I can eat for lunch and dinner.

The problem is my definition of a meal is different from most people's. I mean, don't get me wrong. Those recipes sound great. And I have my go-to cheap recipes like Keri's taco soup and frittatas. I would say those count as real. I can throw a baked potato in the microwave and find some fixins in the fridge. A can of tomato soup with grilled cheese is great on a rainy day.

But listen. I am single. I am cheap. I am lazy. No one depends on me to cook for them. And sometimes, I just want something in my stomach. So where are the websites with suggestions like these:

Dinner: Half a can of pinto beans, a slice of cheddar cheese, and a quarter of an avocado (and the avocado is a splurge). Use stale chips that you have been meaning to throw away to dip in the beans. Put the other half of the can in a tupperware container with cheese and another quarter of avocado to have for lunch tomorrow.

Dinner: Pancakes (made with just add water mix) topped with jam, jelly, honey, spray butter or whatever you happen to have in the fridge. Make sure you are too impatient to wait until they are all done, eating them with your hands as they come off the pan. (The bonus here is that you lose track of how many you eat and can claim it was only a few.)

Breakfast: Peanut Butter and Jelly on slightly stale bread. But toast the bread and you can't tell it's stale as easily. Especially if you slather on the PB&J. This one I actually stand by. It's delicious. It just means I have to be ready with time left over to toast the bread in the morning, which does not always happen.

Dinner: Sliced tomato with garlic salt. Wait fifteen minutes. Bag of instant popcorn (snack sized). Wait fifteen minutes. Last three potstickers in the freezer. Wait fifteen minutes. Pudding cup. Wait fifteen minutes. If you're still hungry, just go to bed.

8 comments:

  1. here's one of my favorites...if you have a crock pot. the leftovers are FANTASTIC!

    5-6 frozen chicken breasts
    can of corn
    can of salsa
    can of black beans

    let it cook 4-5 hours on high. add 8 oz of cream cheese for the last 30 minutes.

    serve over rice, chips, or put it in a tortilla. easy, yummy, fast and good over and over! :)

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  2. I am so trying that! And the cream cheese...yum!

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  3. you speak my mind, fletch. hmmm... i'm inspired to blog about my ridiculous meals now! haha! AND pull out the crockpot. YUM!

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  4. Ha ha! I love the last one. That is so me!

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  5. i forgot...when you put the cream cheese in, you should chop or shred the chicken. and plop it back in. :)

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  6. What's with all the use of stale food??

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  7. They use stale ingredients because that's what I usually have on hand...obviously fresh would be better.

    Natalie-Your recipe is in my crock pot right now! I substituted chicken thigh cutlets because they were cheaper. I am so looking forward to it!

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  8. Sounds like somebody needs to start her own website...

    I just made crockpot enchilada casserole by layering "aged" cheese, random available meat, canned tomato sauce and STALE chips. Tastes great every time!

    Also, you may appreciate the cookbook, "A Man, A Can, and A Plan."

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