I have two main staples that I'm subsisting on lately. Hamburger, and Rice. Occasionally sausage if the price actually drops below what hamburger is by-the-pound.
Here are some of the things I've come up with.
Hot and Zesty Sausage Rice Combo Meal (Only Zesty because that's what the sausage said it was on the packaging. HOT AND ZESTY.)
Plain White Rice, although I'm sure other types can be substituted just fine.
Sausage, preferably something with some spicy-ness to begin with.
Egg(s)
Paprika
Salt
White Pepper
Cumin
Garlic Powder
Onion or Onion Powder
Basically, you make your rice according to how much meat you're going to be using. One cup of rice for every half pound of meat you're cooking up. I usually put a little bit of butter in the water as it's coming up to temp. Once the rice is done, pull it off the heat and start the sausage. Break it up into small chunks. If you're using real onion, throw the onion in there after the meat begins to lose it's pinkness.
Once browned, drop the heat down down to just below the halfway point between low and medium. Add the rice. crack the egg and pour it onto the rice and quickly add the spices. (I never actually measured the amounts. I just know that I used them kind of like Paprika > Cumin > Garlic > Pepper > Salt) mix it all up nice and good, wait for the egg to come up to safe temp then pull off the heat.
S'bout it for most of them except I change spices. I did one with plain sausage, oregano, basil, onion, and salt. The only beef one I've done is Ginger, Beef, Rice, profit. I've just had that one the most.
If anyone has other spice ideas for this sort of thing I'd greatly appreciate it. Anything to spice up having the same things over and over again because they're cheap.
Totally sounds like food
someday I will try that.
Try adding a can of diced tomatoes.
Try adding any kind of vegetable, in fact.
I'd avoid using the powders and try to go with mashing Garlic into a smooshy paste and using real Onions. Tomatoes, Capsicum and possibly Spinach would go great with this to.
Though, sounds tasty.
Any specific vegetables come to mind 000? This recipe is essentially a "I'm poor, I need to stretch the meat that I have into lasting as long as possible." recipe and is kind of convenient because the general template for it is Rice + Meat + ????? = Profit.
I'll try it with real garlic next time since it's like, sold by the pound here and I can get a garlic thing. Bulb? I can't remember what it's called for 39 cents. And it IS yummy with real onions. Well, fresh onions.
Check out my "Spanish Rice" entry in the Cooking With LMNO thread.
Also try leaving out the cumin and rice, adding basil and mushrooms, and eating it on French bread with a sprinkling of parmesan.
Now your talking!
Actually, I think there's quite a few cheap eats type threads layin around here somewhere if you just dig em out.
Quote from: Chief Uwachiquen on December 26, 2009, 12:15:33 PMAny specific vegetables come to mind 000? This recipe is essentially a "I'm poor, I need to stretch the meat that I have into lasting as long as possible." recipe and is kind of convenient because the general template for it is Rice + Meat + ????? = Profit.
No, any kind.
For me, a full proper meal must consist of 1) starches [rice/potato/pasta/couscous etc] 2) vegetables and 3) meat.
When I'm poor, the meat becomes optional, not the vegetables.
Quote from: Triple Zero on December 27, 2009, 03:59:32 PM
Quote from: Chief Uwachiquen on December 26, 2009, 12:15:33 PMAny specific vegetables come to mind 000? This recipe is essentially a "I'm poor, I need to stretch the meat that I have into lasting as long as possible." recipe and is kind of convenient because the general template for it is Rice + Meat + ????? = Profit.
No, any kind.
For me, a full proper meal must consist of 1) starches [rice/potato/pasta/couscous etc] 2) vegetables and 3) meat.
When I'm poor, the meat becomes optional, not the vegetables.
This is how I operate, too.
Quote from: Nasturtiums on December 28, 2009, 08:13:11 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on December 27, 2009, 03:59:32 PM
Quote from: Chief Uwachiquen on December 26, 2009, 12:15:33 PMAny specific vegetables come to mind 000? This recipe is essentially a "I'm poor, I need to stretch the meat that I have into lasting as long as possible." recipe and is kind of convenient because the general template for it is Rice + Meat + ????? = Profit.
No, any kind.
For me, a full proper meal must consist of 1) starches [rice/potato/pasta/couscous etc] 2) vegetables and 3) meat.
When I'm poor, the meat becomes optional, not the vegetables.
This is how I operate, too.
I toss the starches before anything else.
Hel, i often do that when i
do have money.
Chicken is cheaper than beef.....
Just sayin.....
Frozen veggies are good because you can add what you need and save the rest for another meal, plus, store brands are usually fairly inexpensive.
Boil a whole chicken. Shred off bone and freeze in portions. Freeze the broth. Eat brown rice it's better for you. Or try couscous or maybe barley.