Day 7 - Desperate Times Lead to Innovation
I invented a new meal tonight. Here's what you do:
Boil up some rice in too much water. About 5 minutes before the rice is done, toss in a handful of frozen vegetables. Once it's all done cooking, mix in some dry potato flakes until they suck up all the excess water.
What you're left with is basically Elmers Paste. You could spakle a wall with it. But it's filling. Really filling. And really really cheap.
Boil up some rice in too much water. About 5 minutes before the rice is done, toss in a handful of frozen vegetables. Once it's all done cooking, mix in some dry potato flakes until they suck up all the excess water.
What you're left with is basically Elmers Paste. You could spakle a wall with it. But it's filling. Really filling. And really really cheap.
posted by Evan at 6:56 PM
11 Comments:
this one made me laugh out loud. i've had to cook like that before. quesadillas are a good cheap thing to make with leftovers. all you really need are tortillas and butter (or margerine, which is cheaper)
There's a pan-asian meal that's roughly analogous to oatmeal called "konji," which is basically rice with too much water. It's cheap to make, you can mix cheap things like "assorted chicken parts" in with it, or celeri, and it's filling.
That sounds like juk/congee/konji.
Yup, like previous posters said, it's eaten across Asia and called 'zhou' in China. The actual recipe calls for day-old rice (or really any rice that's already cooked). Then you boil about 2-3 cups of water per cup of cooked rice and add any veggies or meat you can find. Those frozen peas/carrots/corn packages work well.
Another recipe for day-old rice. Fried rice! With soy sauce (free!), frozen veggies, and an egg or two, you have yourself a tasty and semi-filling meal.
I've done the rice-veggie thing but I don't think I'd go so far as to add the potato past :-)
it's called 'rice porridge' in English. It's... Filling, yes. Good? My girlfriend (chinese-american) loves the stuff. I can't stand it. Reminds me of a big bowl of sperm.
I've done that. Rice, some frozen mixed veggies, a little butter, salt and pepper. Even better if you make the rice with chicken stock.
Great minds think alike.
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www.tawny-kitaen.com
This is priceless. I may have to try it.
I've lived for weeks on textured vegetable protein. and then again on corn mush. you can flavor it with sugar in the morning and then with salty things and oniony things for dinner - polenta.
too bad i just encountered your blog now! it would have been great to read through your entry as your experimenting days passed by. anyway, i'm asian and living on a $30 budget per month is realistic from where i came from. though with the food available here in the US as well as limited options for cheap and fresh fruits and vegies, it is a challenge. Rice is one of the most versatile food available. You could create a filling dessert with it by just adding a brown sugar and coconut cream. A satisfying entre by drowning it in water (as you have done) and adding ginger, toasted garlic and chicken powder. You would be suprised at how RICE could satisfy you, if you are open to the idea. It's really great you've decided to donate your savings to the food bank. Most americans I think are too egocentric and they forget that most people around the globe go through a standard of living very different from what they are accustomed to - and they are happy.
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