Eating on a Budget

Pesto Pizza

2011-04-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

· 1lb White or wheat pizza dough

· 3-4 oz pesto sauce

· 1 cup mozzarella cheese

· ½ cup broccoli

· Parmesean cheese

· Flour

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 350 then lightly flour the pizza pan and spread dough to the length of the pan.

2) Put the dough into the oven for 3-5 minutes until the dough is no longer “doughy”. While the dough is in the oven, take time to cook the broccoli and cut down into smaller pieces.

4) Take the crust and lift it off the pan to prevent the crust from sticking to the pan. Then spread a thin layer of pesto sauce. Now add the cheese and broccoli.

5) Cook the pizza for roughly 10 minutes, or until the crust slightly browns.

6) Add parmesan cheese for added flavor. Then nom nom your heart out.

Serves 2-3

Results

Price
Mozz Cheese: $1.12

Parmesan Cheese: $0.56

Pizza Dough: $1.49

Pesto Sauce: $4.24

Flour: $0.03

Total: $7.44
*Price is adjusted for portion used

Health Tip of the Week: Partying (The Aftermath)

2011-04-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

We've all been there, what are your thoughts?

Roadkill (Beef Teriyaki)

2011-04-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Cooks for 2 people
Ingredients

· 8 oz beef
· Lawry’s Teriyaki Sauce with Pineapple Juice

· ½ tbsp. olive oil

· 1 tbsp garlic powder

· ½ tbsp. minced garlic

Search Amazon.com for Lawry's 30-Minute Marinade, Teriyaki with Pineapple Juice

Directions

1) Start by marinating the beef by adding enough to cover the beef, and add garlic powder into the marinating sauce.

2) Let the beef marinate for at least 4 hours.

3) Heat up a frying pan with the minced garlic and olive oil. Once the garlic is browned add the beef.

4) Cook beef until finished, add Lawry’s if needed.

5) Nom Nom! and Enjoy

Results

Price
Beef:                  $3.60
Minced Garlic:  $0.13
Garlic Powder:  $0.11
Lawry’s:             $0.26
Olive Oil:            $0.15
                             Total: $4.25

Leigh-Maries's Floured Chicken

2011-04-07T18:01:00.000-07:00

Cooks for 2 people

Ingredients

· 8 oz boneless chicken breast

· 1 cup flour

· 1 egg

· 2 tbsp garlic powder

· Dash of milk

· 1 tsp paprika

· 1 ½ tsp italian seasoning

· Red cooking wine

· Mirin (sweet rice cooking wine)

· 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic

Directions

1) Begin by mixing the flour, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning into a small sized bowl.

2) Use another bowl and mix the egg and add a dash of milk.

3) Before flouring the chicken, pound chicken once on each side with a meat pounder.

4) Dip chicken into egg mixture, then dip into the flour mixture.

5) Before cooking the chicken, warm up a frying pan with the olive oil and minced garlic.

6) Frying, this is the part where you can get creative. First put about 1 tbsp of olive oil with the minced garlic in the pan and let it heat up. Then place the chicken in the pan. We added red cooking wine, mirin and lemon juice, along with continually adding more olive oil when it dries up. If you want more of a sweet taste, add a good amount of mirin, and if you want more of a tangy taste add more lemon juice. Only about a half teaspoon of lemon juice was added to ours.

7) Cook until golden brown. The nom nom away!

Results

Price

Chicken: $4.00 Olive Oil: $0.15

Corn: $0.86 Flour: $0.12

Rice: $0.35 Italian seas.: $0.30

Eggs: $0.14 Mirin: $0.23

Wine: $0.16 Garlic Powder: $0.70

Paprika $0.09 Minced Garlic: $0.03

Garlic Bread: $0.36

Total: $7.49

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Mexican Thanksgiving Dinner (Turkey Tacos)

2011-04-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

No inventing of the wheel today, just a cheap and convenient meal! Turkey tacos are a healthy alternative to beef tacos, and taste just as good!

Results

Price

Turkey: $4.49

Taco Shells: $0.28

Cheese: $0.56

Hot Sauce: $0.43

Total: $5.76

Is it Summer Yet?

2011-04-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

It's April 4th, spring may be around a few corners...nothing better than enjoying a day filled with flurries, sleet, and cold rain in Vermont. So why not make a cheap tropical drink and fantasize of a warm paradise?

Sea Breeze

1 2⁄3 fl oz vodka
1 2⁄3 fl oz grapefruit juice
1 2⁄3 fl oz cranberry juice
Ice cubes
1 wedge of lime to garnish

Fill glass halfway with ice

Add vodka, grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice (fill the glass with juice if desired)

Cut groove in lime wedge and place it on the side of the glass

Drink multiple if your in cold weather warm up and feel like your in paradise!

Results

Price

Vodka: $0.79

Grapefruit Juice: $0.08

Cranberry Juice: $0.05

Lime: $0.30

Total: $1.22

(Vodka based off cost of Smirnoff 750ml $15.00)

Health Tip of the Week: Omega 3

2011-04-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

What is Omega 3?

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid. Essential meaning that is necessary for bodily functions and your body cannot produce it. In the 1970's scientists were discovering that the Inuit people of Iceland were very healthy people. With a diet high in fat from seals, whales, and fish; scientists found that Inuit's had very healthy hearts, and attributed their healthy hearts to Omega-3 (particularly intake of DHA and EPA).

Search Amazon.com for Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements

What are some health benefits?

Reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease
Supports brain function

Increasing the production of the brain's communication molecules
Improving signaling processes
Spatial memory

Inflammation
Improved circulation of blood
Visual Function
Improve skin and complexion
Weight Management

What foods are high in Omega-3?

The best sources of Omega-3 are fish. Some fish contain more Omega-3 than others. Salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel are fish that have higher concentration of fatty acids. If you don't consume fish, soybeans, tofu, walnuts, and flax seed are also good sources. Also be on the lookout for foods that are fortified with Omega-3 such as eggs, bread, and yogurt. Supplements are also an alternative to fish, but make sure the supplements are purified and do not contain any mercury.

Splurge of the Week: Snappy Salmon Fillets

2011-04-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone deserves to indulge once in a while, so why not treat yourself to a nice meal as well? Again, we like to keep recipes simple so this is a quick and easy meal.

Ingredients

Snappy Salmon Fillets

· ¼ cup Kikkoman soy sauce

· 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar

· 1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon peel

· 1/8 cup lemon juice

· 1 tbsp. minced garlic

· 2 salmon fillets

· Lemon wedges

Directions

Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon peel and juice; pour over salmon in large plastic food storage bag. Press air out of bag, close top securely. Turn bag over several times to coat all pieces well. Marinate 30 to 40 minutes turning over once. Broil salmon 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes when tested with fork. Serve with lemon wedges.

*Serves 2

Results

Price

Salmon: $5.16 Lemon Juice: $0.97

Soy Sauce: $0.37 Garlic: $0.28

Brown Sugar: $0.03 Rice: $1.49

Lemon: $0.30 Peas: $1.79

Total: $10.39

Lemon Garlic Chicken

2011-04-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is enjoying their last few hours of April fools. I managed to get fooled by the folks at Google with their Gmail Motion Beta program and Woot's "Bag of Crap" promotion. What were some pranks you pulled or received? Hope you enjoy today's recipe, it's one of our favorite recipes.

Ingredients

· 10 oz boneless chicken breasts

· 1 cup Italian bread crumbs

· 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

· 2-3 tbsp garlic powder (depending on how much garlic flavor you want)

· 1 1/2 tbsp butter

· 2 tbsp lemon juice

· 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions

1) In a medium sized bowl mix in the bread crumbs, 2-3 tablespoons of garlic powder, and the parmesan cheese. Also preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2) Put butter, lemon juice, and a pinch of garlic powder in a cereal sized microwavable bowl. Then throw the bowl into the microwave (not literally it'll break) for 30-40 seconds or until the butter is melted.

4) Now comes the finger licking good part; breading the chicken. Soak each chicken breast into the butter mixture then thoroughly bread the chicken. For extra flavoring, this step can be repeated if desired.

5) Before placing the chicken into a baking pan, coat the pan with cooking spray to prevent the breading from sticking to the pan.

6) Cook each side for 8-10 minutes or until cooked. For extra flavor and texture, melt mozzarella cheese onto the chicken for about a minute.

7) Enjoy!

Serves 2

Results

Price

Chicken: $4.25 Garlic Powder: $0.46

Bread Crumbs: $1.07 Butter: $0.15

Mozz Cheese: $0.56 Lemon Juice: $0.09

Parmesan Cheese: $0.97 Corn: $0.73

Total: $8.28

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Egg and Cheese Express

2011-03-31T05:16:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Although this is a pretty straight forward recipe, you can never beat the classic egg and cheese. Whether you are rushing to work or class, or just too damn lazy to make that 3 egg gourmet omelet, this recipe is for you. Not only is it a fast make, it's cheap too!

Ingredients

· 1 whole wheat bun or whatever your little heart desires

· 1 large egg

· 1-2 slices of cheddar cheese

· Cooking spray

Directions

1) Start by toasting the bun in a toaster.

2) Line a microwave safe cereal sized bowl with cooking spray.

3) Crack egg into bowl and beat until thoroughly mixed.

4) Before cooking the egg throw a slice or two of cheese onto the bun so it melts and fuses with the bread.

5) Put the egg in the microwave for 1:00 minute or until cooked (Put it in for 10-20 more seconds if the center is still liquid).

6) Bada bing bada boom throw the egg onto the bun and there you go!

Results

Price

Egg: $0.27

Bun: $0.50

Cheese: $0.30

Total: $1.07

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Chicken Fried Rice

2011-03-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Cooks for 2-3 people

Ingredients

4 (2 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves

     1 cup short grain brown or white rice

     1 1/2 cups mixed veggies

     2 large eggs

     2 tablespoons soy sauce

     2 tablespoons canola oil

     1 teaspoon oyster sauce

     1 tablespoon rice cooking wine

     1 tablespoon Lawry's teriyaki w/ pineapple juice

     1 tablespoon minced garlic

Directions

1) Cook rice and store in the fridge overnight or for at least 4-5 hours before cooking.

2) Cut chicken into 1/4 inch pieces; place in a resealable plastic bag. Add 1 tablespoon of Lawry's Teriyaki with Pineapple Juice. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3) In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic until brown; stir-fry chicken until no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Add veggies cooking until brown.

4) While stir-frying the chicken and veggies add 1 tablespoon of canola oil to the rice in a large skillet or wok; shape the rice in the pan into a shape of a donut; crack one egg into the center of the hole and mix; repeat again for the 2nd egg.

5) Once the eggs are cooked mix the chicken and veggies with the rice; Add of rice cooking wine, oyster sauce, and of soy sauce. Mix in at medium heat until thoroughly mixed.

6) Enjoy!

Results

Price

Chicken: $4.00 Canola Oil: $0.03

Veggies: $0.86 Lawry's: $0.27

Rice: $0.35 Oyster: $0.07

Eggs: $0.27 Soy: $0.28

Wine: $0.16

Total: $5.29

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Eating on a Budget

2011-03-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

This blog was created as a way to showcase the way me and my girlfriend eat on a low budget. She is an engineering student, and I am a recent graduate working for the National Guard and some crap minimum wage job (I guess the market is bad). Although we don't make a ton of money, we are able to live happily and most importantly eat well. Anyways enjoy, and if you have any ideas, feel free to give us suggestions!

We are going to make a chicken stir fry for dinner tonight, more to come.

Mike