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Cheap Food for Hard Times


In this day with the economy in the state it is, we are all suffering to make ends meet and put food on the table. Existence seems to be more a battle of basic survival for many families, living paycheck to paycheck. We have become a nation of experts at juggling the bills, you know the story, pay one or two and put the rest on the back burner till next payday. The bottom line is that really doesn't leave much money leftover for the food budget.

I've noticed a really interesting trend amongst your local food vendor for awhile now. Have you become aware of the fact that when you find some food item that you can buy for cheap and put together a real cheap meal that is healthy and nutritious that somehow the grocer gets wind of it and the next time you go shopping the price of that item has gone up. Its makes life a little harder and challenging to keep ahead of the price increases at the local market.

In order to survive, I've put together a few recipes that are delicious and nutritious and won't break your food budget, and the kids enjoy them as well. I figure also that if you might have a favorite recipe that you put together it would be great to have you share it with the rest of the world. Many times by combining very simple ingredients you have leftover in the cupboards you can come up with some real winners. Here is one of my favorite recipes that is both Nutritious and delicious: Delicious Dinner Idea | Brown Rice Roast Beef & Vegetables

This recipe sticks to  the ribs on a cold winters day. This is really tasty addition to anyones weekly menu lineup.

1. Some useful cooking supplies to have on hand, is a rice steamer with multiple steam trays.

2. A Large boiling pot, such as for boiling noodles.

3. Roast Beef Chuck Roast

4. 2 Stalks of celery

5. half a bag of your 1 lb bag of brown rice

6. 1 large Chinese bitter Melon

7. garlic powder

8. salt

9. pepper

10. celery salt

11. curry powder

12. oregano

13. Chinese lite soy sauce

14. 1 lb baby carrots

15. 1/2 diced onion

16. cilantro

17. small teaspoon of meat tenderizer

You start with a chuck roast, which you boil in the bottom of the rice steam pot and you boil it till done usually about 1.5 hours on medium heat. Next your going to dice up the celery and put in the bottom pan with the roast. In addition you want to slice the bitter melon in half and than slice into small pieces and place these bottom. Throw in the carrots and seasonings, to suit your palate.

Now meanwhile, at the same time that you put the Roast and vegetables to cook also in the larger  boiling pot you measure out half of the 2 lb bag into the pot. Taker your index finger and measure the depth of  the rice in the pan. Than by looking at how far your rice depth measures up finger, you want to put in 1 and a half times as much water in the rice pan.

You start the rice out on high heat and than once its reached the boiling point you turn the heat down to medium low heat.

Than once the rice is done and the Roast and vegetables are cooked, than you combine everything in the large already cooked rice pot with the rice in there as well. It is at this time that this time that you are going to start to season the soup, I usually season to my taste, and put soy sauce at least a few shakes for flavor. In addition, I add alot of garlic powder, salt , pepper, oregano , a little curry powder , and the celery salt and in this case a little meat tenderizer (no msg) for the roast. Once the meat is done don't forget to cut the meat up into small bite size chunks. One thing not to forget is after the roast is done you want to make sure to take the broth that is created with the boiled roast and it is added into the pot. This is your soup base.

Now the easy part kick back for about 20 minutes and allow the soup ingredients to blend and cook down, which intensifies the flavor. This makes enough to easily feed a family of 4, or if you like it gets better with each day as leftovers. I usually eat mine for about at least about 5 days for lunch and dinner. Enjoy and please let me know how you like it.

This recipe is by far one of my favorites. It is really gtood for warming you up on a cold winters day. I also find it gives you alot of strength to get things done during the week, such as work and enough energy to last.

1. Some useful cooking supplies to have on hand, is a rice steamer with multiple steam trays. 2. A Large boiling pot, such as for boiling noodles. 3. Three chicken breasts. 4. 2 Stalks of celery 5. half a bag of your 1 lb bag of brown rice 6. 1 large Chinese bitter Melon 7. garlic powder 8. salt 9. pepper 10. celery salt 11. curry powder 12. oregano 13. Chinese lite soy sauce

You start with three chicken breasts, which you put in the bottom of the rice steam pot and you boil them till done usually about 25 minutes at the most on high heat. Next your going to dice up the celery and cut the cauliflower into large chunks. and place these into the steamer trays. You put butter on the cauliflower along with some garlic powder, than cover the steamer lid and let it steam while the chicken is cooking.

Now meanwhile, at the same time that you put the chicken and vegetables to cook also in the larger  boiling pot you measure out half of the 2 lb bag into the pot. Taker your index finger and measure the depth of  the rice in the pan. Than by looking at how far your rice up on your finger, you want to put in 1 and a half times as much water in the rice pan. You start the rice out on high heat and than once its reached the boiling point you turn the heat down to medium low heat.

Than once the rice is done and the chicken and vegetables are cooked, than you combine everything in the large already cooked rice pot with the rice in there as well. It is at this time that this time that you are going to start to season the soup, I usually season to my taste, and put soy sauce at least a few shakes for flavor. In addition, I add a lot of garlic powder, salt , pepper, oregano , a little curry powder , and the celery salt.

For more great money saving and delicious recipes check out Cheap Food for Hard Times

Keanu217 (talk) 20:21, 19 January 2010 (UTC)