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Cooking When You're Broke (Part 1)

© Shawn Price

It's Sunday night and payday's five days away. How are you going to feed your family? Or maybe you'd like to get caught up on some bills. For less than fifteen dollars total, you can feed your family of four ten different meals.

I have not included basic seasonings in the grocery list. Hopefully you already have salt, pepper, mustard, ketchup, and a little oil. You'll notice that soda, chips, and pre-sweetened cereal are not included. If you're looking to save money, stop buying these products, even for just one week. Try drinking ice tea, clear water, and cooking quick, healthy breakfasts instead.

When your cash flow is flowing a bit more freely, consider buying some of these items in bulk. You'll really start saving then.

This isn't fancy food. This is country food, and plenty of it.

Grocery List (All items were puchased in New Mexico. No items were on sale)

1# onions $.30 5# potatoes .99 5# white rice 2.69 4# white sugar 1.79 4 sticks margarine .78 1 gal. milk 3.00 1 doz. lg. eggs 1.13 1 head cabbage .89 l lb carrots .49 8 pk. ramen .96 1 pk Jiffy Baking Mix (Bisquick) 1.29

Total $14.31

Meals

Breakfast: 1. Pancakes (serve with syrup, honey, or heated jam thinned with water) 2. Rice Pudding 3. Eggs and biscuits (eggs served any style your family likes) 4. Potato Pancakes 5. Egg Custard

Lunch/Dinner 1. Vegetable Hash (this is filling!) 2. Hearty Chinese Soup 3. Dumpling Stew (sticks to your ribs) 4. Rice Pilaf 5. Stir Fry

Recipes

Pancakes: Mix 2 c. Jiffy baking mix with 1 1/4 c. milk. Pour the batter onto a hot, greased skillet. Turn when the top looks dry. Makes about 15 pancakes.

Rice Pudding: 2/3 c. uncooked rice 1 1/3 c. water 2 eggs 2 c. milk .5 t. vanilla Simmer rice and water for about 14 minutes in a covered saucepan. Stir together the eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla in a 1 1/2 ungreased casserole. Add the hot rice. Bake 50-60 minutes at 325 deg. Good hot or cold!

Biscuits: Mix 2 c. Jiffy Baking Mix with 2/3 c. milk. Drop batter by tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes at 450 deg. Makes 8-10 biscuits.

Potato Pancakes: Grate 1-2 potatoes per person. Chop (peel if desired) into large pieces and boil until very soft. Mash with a potato masher (or large spoon) Stir in 1 T. of Jiffy Baking Mix for every potato that you cooked. Add milk until the batter is of pouring consistancy. Cook like pancakes. (see above recipe)

Custard: 3 eggs 1/3 c. sugar 1 t. vanilla 2 1/2 c. milk

Beat all ingrediants together. Pour into 6 custard cups or a large oven-proof glass dish. Set into a rectangular pan that has been filled with water. Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 deg.

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