Cheap and Easy meals part two

Beans & rice

I’ve never cared for this combination. I know a lot of people who love it, though. When Taco Bell started putting rice in their taco salad I was NOT pleased, but learned to really enjoy it. Then they stopped making it altogether. Boo on them!

 

Tuna noodle casserole

Absolute basic childhood comfort food. ALWAYS at a church pot-luck. Don’t care for the croutons on top, never did that when I made it. Marv doesn’t like it, so haven’t made it in years.

 

Beans & wienies (beany-wieny)

This was a TREAT when I was little. Hot dog buns were expensive. If we had hotdogs, we used a slice of bread. But cutting up the hotdogs in little pieces and adding them to a pot of canned baked beans and you are good to go.

 

Baked potato

You can do a decent spud in the microwave, although I would usually cut it in fourths so it would cook evenly. Put enough extras on it and it’s a full meal. Open a can of chili, can of olives, add cheese. Yum! They’re also good with scrambled eggs and cheese wrapped up in a tortilla.

 

Corn on the cob

There have been many times that we’ve cooked an ear of corn in the microwave and just have several of those for a dinner. Plenty of butter and salt too, of course.

 

Shepherd’s pie/cottage pie

This is definitely the lazy person’s version of this dish. I was taught this recipe by Aunt LoLita. No crust. Just instant mashed potatoes with cooked and seasoned hamburger and a simple gravy make from a packet.

 

Grilled cheese w/tomato soup

Probably one of the easiest meals in the world, aside from the PB&J. Everyone can grill a cheese sandwich. Everyone can open a can of tomato soup. And if you’re too dang lazy to grill the sandwich, you can put the bread in the toaster, butter it and slap a slice of cheese on top and zap it in the microwave. We call that a “cheater” cheese sandwich.

 

Canned soup

And again, opening a can of soup is something that can be accomplished by all. And there are so many varieties now. Some you add water. Some you don’t. There is no excuse for going hungry if you have the basics in your pantry.