RE: What can you knock up cheap? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid



Message

littlewonder -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 8:04:07 PM)

bot boi, which is a thick PA Dutch soup made with potatoes and thick handmade dumplings and either leftover chicken or ham.

It's cheap to make, extremely easy and can go a long way and it's very filling. My mom used to make this all the time when I was growing up and I still make it when I want comfort food.

When I was married and we didn't even have two pennies to scrape up we'd buy Ramen noodles by the dozens and we lived off of those for months sometimes. I learned how to use them in all sorts of ways....stir fries, soups, fried with leftover meat and veggies. But to this day I never will eat Ramen lol.

And when we lived near the Chesapeake Bay we'd stop at a local grocer and ask them for their chicken that was old and was going to be thrown out. We'd use it as bait to catch crabs. We'd then go home, spread the newspapers all over and had a steamed crab feast....a meal that cost us nothing but time sitting on the bay.




LillyBoPeep -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 8:09:24 PM)

Ahhh I miss the Chesapeake Bay...



tazzygirl -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 8:14:47 PM)

Fried rice. Toss in a few vegies and an egg with cooked rice ... a chicken breast will stretch to feed two... soy sauce if you have it while cooking... if not.. no big deal.

I also do a tuna casserole with rice

I cup rice, uncooked
1 can green peas
1 small onion
1 can corn if you like it
1 can tuna... just normal size
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups of water

microwave on high 15 minutes.. if rice is not quite done, cook for an additional few minutes.

add a small bag of grated cheese, or grate your own, you can even add sliced cheese... and mix well.



GimpinDenial -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 9:31:29 PM)

This might seem intricate, but it's actually pretty darn quick and easy:
A meal for two* for less than ten bucks.**

Gimpy's Chicken Teriyaki
One pound boneless chicken (whole, split, pieces or strips)
2 cups white rice
Oil (Olive, Veg, Corn, Canola)
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon garlic
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup of teriyaki sauce (or soy sauce, but marin adds that extra zing in the teriyaki)
10-12 inch Saute or frying pan with lid. (or large enough to hold all of the chicken without crowding)


(If using whole or split) Beat chicken until it is relatively even in thickness (if you don't have a meat tenderizing mallet, using the back of a knife)
Then slice into into strips or pieces (size is up to you, but "nugget" size is best)

In a bowl, blend flour, garlic, and black pepper as much as possible with a fork.
Next, toss chicken into bowl using fork. We just want a thin coat on all sides.
While tossing the chicken, you can warm your pan up.

When your pan is hot, add enough oil no more than half the thickness of your chicken.
Add butter, then lower the heat to medium and allow the butter to melt.
Then swish pan to allow the butter to blend with the oil

Place chicken in pan for one minute to give a slight golden color.
Flip each piece then turn heat to low.
Put the lid on and leave it (trust me) for ten minutes.

Don't take off the lid.
Once the first ten minutes are up, turn off the heat and allow another ten minutes to sit.

Do not take the lid off...seriously.

Depending on what type of rice you have, time it so it finishes up just before the 20 minutes of cooking the chicken.

Now, split the cooked rice in two and place evenly on two plates.
(We're adults, so I shouldn't have to say not to go over the edge of the plate but....well, I just did)
Add 1/4 cup of teriyaki to the middle of each plate allowing the rice to soak up the sauce.

Now lift the lid, check largest piece(s) for pinkness
(if you did this right, it will be fully cooked and sooooo juicy)
If any pieces are pink, bring heat back up to low and cover for one minute longer.

Drain oil then add the last 1/2 cup of teriyaki and stir.
Divide among plates on top of rice and enjoy.



When I was younger, this was a good "take to work in a tupperware bowl" meal that I could reheat in the microwave that would stretch for five lunches.
Nowadays....I seem to have a bottomless pit that can devour an entire large pizza and half a damn bottle of pop.........and half a gallon of ice cream.

<scrambles off wallowing in self pity>

**((Providing you had the spices, oil and butter and would only have to buy the chicken, rice and sauce.)
*(Some might be able to scarf this down in one sitting..... like me)



LafayetteLady -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 9:35:53 PM)

Besides the fact that I really want to try a few of these recipes, not because they are "cheap," but because they sound yummy....

Instead of struggling with the back of a knife to tenderize meat, cover it with plastic wrap and use a frying pan.



smartsub10 -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 9:59:04 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet

My mom used to make this!  It is pretty good.
quote:

ORIGINAL: Delilya

For company I use 8 pieces of chicken, bottle of Russian dressing, jar of apricot preserves and 1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup. Mix the ingredients, pour over the chicken and bake. Serve over rice. Cheap but makes a heck of an impression.






My version is a bottle of French dressing, a can of jellied cranberry sauce and a packet of Lipton Onion soup.  Whisk together and pour over boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a crockpot.  Cook on high for 4-5 hours.  Serve over rice.  Yum.



gungadin09 -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 10:54:58 PM)

leftovers on top of crostini
leftovers inside of crepes
bean salad, w/ onions, olives, lettuce, tuna, vinaigrette
bread salad w/ raisins, olives, lettuce, pomegranate, nuts
pasta w/ tomato, garlic, basil, parm
pasta puttanesca
make a big batch of bolognese and freeze it
quesadillas and salsa
minestrone w/ pesto, crusty bread
omelettes or fritattas as a main course
bread, cheese, and ham casserole
cheap cuts of meat braised and frozen in individual portions
buying primal cuts of meat, breaking them down yourself, and freezing them
grits or steel cut oatmeal prepared w/ canned stock, topped w/ cheese
onion soup
potato, bacon, and cabbage soup

pam



gungadin09 -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/1/2011 11:10:57 PM)

Cook w/ acid, spices, chile, herbs.  They make otherwise bland food more interesting.
Make use of unami foods like mushrooms, tomatoes, parm, anchovies.
Consider ethnic cuisines, especially those that stretch meat by cooking it w/ pasta or rice.

pam


ETA:  ooh, ooh.  You can usually find salmon collars for really cheap.





Muttling -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 5:45:46 AM)

I can feed 20 to 30 teenage boys for less than $25 with my home made spaghetti and they love it.

Salad stuff ($8)

2 fresh loaves of french bread ($4)

A large bag of pasta ($2)

Stuff for tomato sauce ($10):

1 lbs very lean ground beef browned and crumbled
64 oz spaghetti sauce
1 small onion (chopped)
8 table spoons Italian seasoning
8 cloves garlic
8 drops tobasco

Crumble and brown the ground beef.  As it's getting done, add onion and cook until onion is soft.

Drain and throw into a slow cooker with all other sauce ingredients.   Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours and serve over pasta.



ChatteParfaitt -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 6:47:46 AM)

The cheapest way to eat is to learn how to cook well and make everything that you can from scratch. The local library here is free and will have tons of info, I confess to being completely ignorant about the library system in the UK.

Stop buying premade and processed food and snacks, and make it yourself. Not only is it cheaper, it's better for you.

I make my own dressings, sauces, salsa, bread, soups and stews, etc.

I like the chicken breast recipe, it is probably very good, but to me it would be expensive to make. The things you have to put in, a jar of dressing, a can of (something, sorry don't remember) then the onion soups mix, all that adds up.Plus chicken breast themselves are fairly expensive.

Here's my recipe for "Dragon Wings"

Ingredients

3 pounds chicken wings (about a dozen) $3
1-2 tab oil, preferably good quality olive oil .25
1/2 sweet onion, finely chopped .25
2 large cloves garlic, chopped or pressed .10
2-3 (or to taste) hot peppers, such as jalapenos or serranos .15
1 large can (29-32 oz) tomato sauce $1

Spices (all to taste, but keep the sugar down to 2 tsp): salt, pepper, sugar, thyme, bay leaf, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper if needed to add hotness

Method:

Clean and rinse chicken wings well. In a large skillet or heavy dutch oven, add oil, then chopped vegetables. saute until onion is clear. Add tomato sauce and spices and simmer together for about 1/2 hour.

You can eat it now, or put them in the oven or on the grill to BBQ.

This will serve four people easily at a cost of about $5 for the protein portion of the meal. Add baked potatoes (or bread, like artisan, Italian, or French) and a fresh green salad, and you have a healthy, inexpensive meal.
















LillyBoPeep -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 6:58:56 AM)

Potato soup is one of my favorite budget meals. Especially when potatoes go on sale. :)
And spaghetti. You can load the sauce with veggies and have a really balanced meal.

Pictsweet has a big bag of frozen veggies called "vegetables for soup." It's like $2.23 at walmart, lasts FOREVER, and has so many applications. It's got potatoes, okra, corn, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, and lima beans. I like to keep it around for whenever I might need it. I use it as a side dish, to dress up Ramen, to make soups from scratch. It's an awesome buy. :D



xxblushesxx -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 7:11:21 AM)

omelettes
vegetable or vegetable beef soup (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it)
french onion soup (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it)
chicken caccitore (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it)
burgers and fries (add hot dogs for kiddies if you like)
frozen pizza with a salad



needlesandpins -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 7:55:43 AM)

1 pack of pasta, tin of tuna, 1 1/2 pints of milk, corn flower, salt, pepper, basil, garlic and strong cheese. bring milk to simmer with the garlic (1-2 cloves), thicken with cornflower, season to taste, add basil (dried is good), add tuna and cheese (if you've had a bottle of white wine, a splash goes well in it) and strong cheese to taste. mix in through the pasta. serves 4-5 people and costs less than £5. if you want to spash out, add prawns/salmon too.

i would be lost without my chest freezer. i but huge joints of meat when they are on sale and cut them up into joints. i also shop at the end of the day and pic up things that will freeze and are on sale. i'll also buy the value tomatoes and such. why pay nearly a £1 for a tin when you can get them for 20p. pasta is the same quality as the more expencive stuff so i buy that cheap too. i'll but high tasting things like chorizo, £2 for a stick that i will fry with onions, then add tommies (even better when the guys from the allotments give me them in exchange for horse muck along with other veggies) water, basil, some tommie puree and season. a cheap chunkie soup that feeds 3-4 people.

i have a 17yr old boy and he can eat me out of house and home so eating on a budget is something always on my mind. i buy whole turkeys and butterfly them myself. i'll boil up the bones, legs and wings for stock and put the meat in the freezer for pies or whatever.

needles



LafayetteLady -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 11:10:06 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: xxblushesxx

omelettes
vegetable or vegetable beef soup (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it)
french onion soup (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it)
chicken caccitore (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it)
burgers and fries (add hot dogs for kiddies if you like)
frozen pizza with a salad


Hell yes, I want recipes! I want LBP's potato soup recipe too, lol. Shit, who am I kidding? Someone who is tech savvy should compile all the great recipes of CM user's and just post the file.

My housemate and I are trying to eat healthier (we are doing pretty good with that) and to be very budget conscious of our grocery bill.

When it comes to "cooking on the cheap," grilled chesse and soup is always an option. And if you really are struggling there is always going to food pantries. Some have meat, produce, dairy products.



Fornica -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 11:13:04 AM)

I totally volunteer to compile a CM cookbook! I love trying new recipes :)



LadyConstanze -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 11:45:34 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

quote:

ORIGINAL: TreasureKY

Stella, "knock up" is generally vernacular for getting someone pregnant... at least in America. 



In Britain, it means to knock on someone's door, or to throw something together.

Stella, I survived college on beans and rice for years.  In other years, I would make a huge salad and a huge soup on a weekend, and simply eat some of each for every meal.



Steven, you will find up that to knock somebody up means exactly the same in Britain ;)



Hillwilliam -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 11:51:18 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

Besides the fact that I really want to try a few of these recipes, not because they are "cheap," but because they sound yummy....

Instead of struggling with the back of a knife to tenderize meat, cover it with plastic wrap and use a frying pan.

I hear that works on cheating husbands as well.



xxblushesxx -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 11:57:00 AM)

Chicken Caccitore

Ingredients (Makes 8 servings)


2[lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 onion (medium)
1 red bell pepper
1/4 cup red wine
28 oz whole tomatoes
15 oz tomato sauce
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fresh garlic (minced)
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 tbsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
12 oz angel hair pasta
Directions


1.Brown chicken with 2 tbsp olive oil in medium pot.
2.Remove chicken and brownings.
3.Add last tbsp of olive oil and cook onions and peppers. When tender, add garlic and wine.
4.Add in the rest of the ingredients (except pasta) and stir well.
5.Add in chicken and brownings.
6.Heat to boiling.
7.Boil for ten minutes.
8.Simmer for at least one hour. (the longer the better!)
9.Serve over cooked angel hair pasta.





Iamsemisweet -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 12:03:34 PM)

Cincinnati Chili 

1 large onion, chopped
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 (16-ounce) package uncooked dried spaghetti pasta
Toppings (see below)

Preparation:
In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, sauté onion, ground beef, garlic, and chili powder until ground beef is slightly cooked. Add allspice, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, unsweetened cocoa or chocolate, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and water. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Cook spaghetti according to package directions and transfer onto individual serving plates (small oval plates are traditional). Learn How To Cook Pasta Properly. Ladle Cincinnati Chili mixture over the cooked spaghetti and serve with toppings of your choice. Oyster crackers are served in a separate container on the side. Toppings:
Oyster Crackers
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Chopped Onion
Kidney Beans (16-ounce) can

NOTE:  This stuff also cures hangovers.



LadyHibiscus -> RE: What can you knock up cheap? (12/2/2011 12:05:25 PM)

Amazing stuff, Cincinnati chili! Which in my world should be served over elbow macaroni. Moroccan in flavor!



Page: <<   < prev  1 [2] 3 4 5   next >   >>

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
0.046875