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The Kitchen Recessionista

So, here we are, in a recession. Let's eat!

Cuban Sandwiches With Rice.

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In keeping with the Cuban theme from last night, tonight we served one of LeeLee’s specialties — Cuban sandwiches! Rice was served alongside the Cubans, but it really wasn’t necessary; with three kinds of “meat,” not to mention cheese and pickles and mustard, these sandwiches are a meal in themselves!

Another great thing about this dish is the copious amount of leftovers it makes. I for one am looking VERY forward to dining on these for the rest of the week!

Today’s photo was taken by LeeLee. Enjoy! :)

Sub rolls: $2.69/six ($0.45/person)
Pepperoni: $4.29 ($2.15/person)
“Turkey” slices: $3.49 ($1.75/person)
“Steak” slices: $2.79 ($1.40/person)
Swiss cheese: $2.99 ($1.50/person)
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice: $1.75 ($0.88/person)

GRAND TOTAL: $18.00 … or $8.13 per person.

BUT WAIT! This meal makes at least two additional servings for leftovers. So the cost goes down further.

:)

Black Beans and Rice With Chik’n Patty.

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There are some certainties in life, some tangibles that, at the end of the day, you know you can rely on.

Black beans and rice? One of those certainties. Throw in a Boca chik’n patty for good measure (and additional protein), and you’re good to go.

Black beans and rice has been a go-to staple in our household for as long as I can remember. I can’t speak for LeeLee, but I know it was also a staple in my home growing up. Whenever we’re short on time or energy — tonight, LeeLee had to be at a meeting in 25 minutes, so we were definitely short on time — I am comforted to know that I can serve a healthy meal very, very quickly. In seven minutes, to be exact.

It’s all a matter of timing. On very rushed nights, like tonight, I don’t even cook the chik’n patties in the oven; I microwave them for a few minutes while the black beans are cooking. And when they’re done, I put old Uncle Ben into the microwave (“I’m feeling sorry for our rice cooker,” LeeLee lamented recently, but one must do what one must do when the clock is a’ticking!) while I chop an onion and some cherry tomatoes for garnish. By the time the microwave dings its final ding, dinner is served!

The stats:
Black beans: $1.00 ($0.50/person)
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice: $1.75 ($0.88/person)
Boca Original Chik’n Patty: $3.50/four ($0.88/person)

GRAND TOTAL: $6.25 … or $2.26 per person.

:)

Ramen With Tofu and Green Onions.

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I can hear your chiding already:

“Three meals in, and you’ve already resorted to ramen?”

But let’s not get all judgmental so early in this blog’s little life! I stand proudly by my ramen roots – so much so that I feel like I have a very strong case for the lowly noodle.

The great thing about ramen is that it can be so easily dressed-up, contouring to a multitude of meals in a multitude of genres. Combined with tofu, as it was in today’s dinner, it’s got infinite possibilities. Think about it: Ramen and tofu are like the Barbie and Ken of the food world. You can dress them up and send them out on the town in a plethora of clothing, from a day at the beach to eveningwear.

And, on top of its masquerade quality, let’s face it: Ramen is cheap. Ain’t nothing wrong with cheap, people.

Today, our Barbie and Ken visited Asia. I paired the sautéed tofu and noodles with some green onions and soy sauce to create an Asian flair, topping the meal off with a vegetable egg roll on the side. Add a little duck sauce, and you’re good to go!

The stats:
Oriental ramen noodles: $0.29 ($0.15/person)
Firm tofu: $1.50 ($0.75/person)
Green onions: $0.79 ($0.40/person)
Egg rolls: $3.00/four ($0.75/person)

GRAND TOTAL: $5.58 … or $2.05 per person.

:)

Pizza With Salad.

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I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve been looking forward to this meal all weekend long. There’s just something about homemade pizza that is so comforting to me, probably because it reminds me of all the weekends when my mother would whip out some Pillsbury crust, throw some toppings atop the cheese, and put the pizza in the oven, pulling it back out only when the cheese was bubbly and the crust was golden brown. That’s what I strive for with my own pizza, and I think today’s concoction fit the bill!

We topped our crust with Ragu sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Lightlife vegetarian pepperoni, and I must say, it was fantastic! We also have enough left over for LeeLee to take for lunch tomorrow, which is always a bonus.

The stats:
Pizza crust: $3.19
Tomato sauce: $1.89
Mozzarella cheese: $2.50
Vegetarian pepperoni: $4.29
Butter lettuce: $3.49 ($0.89 per person)
Cherry tomatoes: $2.49/package ($0.62 per person)
Garbanzo beans: $0.89 ($0.45 per person)
Croutons: $1.50 ($0.30 per person)

GRAND TOTAL: $20.24 … or $8.24 per person. (And, given our leftovers, this per-person total actually goes down a little bit!)

:)

Also, Hello, By the Way.

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As you might’ve gathered by the last post, there’s a new blog on the block.

Like a lot of Americans, I’m doing my best to live on a tighter budget given the current economy.  And the easiest and most effective way for our family to cut back right now is through cooking at home more — and doing so more cheaply than we used to.
Now, I’ve never been a high-roller, so it’s not like I’m making a major migration from caviar to lentils or something.  But I’ve found that just a few adjustments here and there make a world of difference to the ol’ bottom line, and that’s what I’d like to document here.  From fancier weekend dinners to quick fixes on a Wednesday night, there are many ways to save on your food costs without feeling like you’re going hungry.
But, that said, if you’re looking for amazing, flashy, three-course meals on a $5 grocery bill, you’ve probably come to the wrong place.  Don’t get me wrong; I love to cook, and to make things that are beautiful as well as nutritious.  But some of what you’re going to find here is going to be just the result of the ins and outs of daily life.  My husband and I both work long hours, and when we come home, we don’t always want to hop straight into the kitchen for two hours’ worth of cooking.  Sometimes, we just want a plate of rice and beans.  And you know what?  That’s OK.  (And certainly affordable!)
But I do hope you’ll stick around through both the Castillian chicken AND the rice and beans of our daily and weekly menus.  And if you’ve got questions, comments, complaints, or existential crises, bring ’em and we’ll hash it out in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by.  See you soon!
:)

Castillian Chicken With Rice and Peas.

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Tonight it was LeeLee’s turn in the kitchen, and as a result we feasted on Castillian chicken* with rice and peas.  (I think you’ll find LeeLee to be a more comprehensive cook than yours truly, and certainly his dishes have more flair than mine.  This is something I’ve learned to live with.)
The chicken was, as usual, fantastic, and peas and rice are perfect complements to the entree.  I love the blend of the fresh red bell pepper, soy sauce, garlic, and spices that serve as the marinade.  It’s rustic, comforting, and tangy all at once.  Paired with a cool glass of white wine, this Castillian chicken dish is a wonderful way to kick off a Friday night!
* as we are vegetarian, please read “Fake” in front of every meatish-type food item. :)
The stats:
Boca Original Chik’n Patties: $3.50/four ($0.88/patty)
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice, Garden Vegetable: $1.75 ($0.88/serving)
LeSeur peas: $1.99 ($1.00/serving)
Red bell pepper: $2.50 ($0.63/serving)
Olive oil: Pennies
Espiral Vinho Verde wine: $3.99/bottle ($2.00 for two glasses)
GRAND TOTAL: $13.73 … or $6.87 per person.
While I have you on the line: I mentioned earlier that LeeLee has better presentation skills than yours truly.  See for yourself — here’s his version, below!
:)