Cheap Eats!

[Marilyn]

No doubt, we're in an economic slump! Unfortunately for me, I'm unemployed (but furiously job hunting) right now, so I'm feeling it big time. I'm optimistic that once I am officially moved back to Philly, I'll find something to get me by.

With that said, I am seriously conserving where I can. Of course I have to eat! But I certainly can't justify lavish dinners. My survival instinct has kicked in and I am in 100% frugality mode. The cheaper the eats, the better! I have been enjoying lots and lots of pasta and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! I haven't resorted to ramen just yet, though. Trying to avoid that at all costs. ;)

What are some of your favorite cheap eats in frugal times?

[Infytur]

Eggs. They are the cheapest protein you will find. Egg salad - expand it with chopped pepper, celery, olives and spring onions. They make a great pasta sauce - sunny-side up on a pasta that has been tossed with some veggies and very little grated cheese. Frittatas can be expanded with sliced boiled potatoes or left over pasta. Drop a scrambled up egg into simmering broth to make an egg-drop soup.

[Infytur]

Shop at the end of the day and look for the day-old or "damaged" goods. Prices sometimes drop at the last half hour of a Farmer's Market (they don't want to haul it back to the farm). Supermarkets usually have an area where they sell dented cans or veggies & fruits with bruises. Bakeries usually sell yesterday's bread real cheap.

[Sherry]

Well, when I was supporting 2 children and a husband in college I found my best option was to shop at Pathmark on the sale circular. There is one right across the bridge in Deptford. Can not beat their prices.

[Infytur]

Condiments - They can turn cheap starches into really great meals. Add some sesame oil and chili sauce to ramen with some spring onion and fresh cilantro and you have a really great soup. Olive oil, garlic and parsley on pasta with just a sprinkle of parmesan. Tart up some baked beans with spicy mustard and serve with the immortal hot dog. Capers add a great punch to egg salads. In fact, pasta puntenesca is really just pantry raid, isn't it?

[Scoats]

I saw some cans of a Mexican style soup at Dollar Tree that seemed to be a good nutritional balance. I can't attest for whether it's good or not. Dollar Tree didn't have what I wanted, cinnamon spice, so I decided not to stand in a long line to buy something I didn't come in for.

Canned baby shrimp is about $2 to $3 from Food Basics. Toss in some lite mayo and cut up some celery or scallions and you have a nice quick meal.

Rather than filing up on starches, I saw something on tv about slicing eggplant and squash into pasta length slices, boiling them lightly, and then topping with pasta sauce. It's pasta without all the empty carbs.

[Gretchen Britton]

The artichoke and tomato sandwich at the Soy Cafe in Northern Liberties is something like five dollars, comes with a small salad, and is delicious! If you're cooking at home, beans and rice is cheap. I hear Produce Junction is a good place to get cheap produce in bulk but you may need to split it with a friend.