Last week, within 48 hours, I received my federal and state tax income returns as well as my stimulus check. Like any sensible person, I promptly ran out and blew an obscene amount of money on shampoo and cosmetics; it’s costly to create the illusion of being so pretty. As I kept on spending the money, the deposits kept coming, which caused my bank account to creep up as I made a valiant effort to deplete it. I wish I could apply this crazy magic to other parts of my life.
Of course, after all this frivolity, I was slapped right back in to reality with a trip to the grocery store. A small basket full of basics set me back $50, and this was not even enough food for a week. A lot has been mentioned in the past weeks about the staggering rise in food costs, but like any good American, none of this really matters to me unless I am directly effected by it. I will pay $30 for a lipgloss, but more than $3 for a half gallon of milk is just crazy talk. I need to save my money for all my drunk purchases on iTunes. (And hello Donna Summer! It was so nice to see you when I woke up Sunday morning…)
Due to my miserly ways, I’ve decided to make this week a theme week of sorts…cooking on a budget. Now this is not nearly as fun as School Spirit Week (raise your hand if “Pajama Day” was your favorite…you are in good company…), but it is a zillion times more practical. Recipes this week will be made with pantry staples and cost effective ingredients from the grocery store.
First out of the gate is this chicken with spicy black bean sauce. Made from canned beans, which cost pennies and staples most home cooks have at home, this was shockingly good and a great change of pace. Also, this is pretty open to adaptation; the only essentials are the beans, sesame oil and soy sauce. Other than that, I think you can get fairly creative with whatever you have in your pantry (I have included some suggestions in the recipe). We adorned chicken with this black bean sauce, but it would be great with tilapia, which is also very cost effective.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, which was a nice surprise? Who said being cheap has to be bad?
Chicken with Spicy Asian Black Bean Sauce
Adapted from 28 Cooks
4 breasts fillets, pounded out
1 to 2 tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil)
salt/pepper
1/2 c black beans, drained, rinsed, and coarsely mashed
2 tbsp onion, finely chopped (Note: I made this with Irish and she doesn’t like whole onion so we used a few good shakes of onion powder)
2 tsp minced ginger (or a healthy pinch of powdered ginger)
2 tsp chili garlic sauce (a squirt of Sirracha and a clove of garlic would work if you have that on hand or some garlic powder and red chili flakes)
1/4 c sesame oil
1/4 c seasoned rice wine vinegar (unseasoned would be fine as well, though it may need more salt)
1/4 c soy sauce
Preheat broiler. Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and cook until done in a pan on the stovetop. Meanwhile, in a small pan, saute onion for 1 minute. Add all remaining ingredients, and over high heat, bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes, until sauce thickens up. Serve chicken topped with a generous portion of sauce.
9:02 am on May 5th, 2008
Spicy and cheap….my kind of girl. In solidarity with you, I will go spend money on costly shampoos for my buzz cut and then eat with frugality.
I never said my priorities were in order!
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11:09 am on May 5th, 2008
Ahhh Pajama Day. When one could get away with quite literally rolling out of bed and going to school.
Er… or so I was told.
Yes, so I was told as well. The thought horrifies me now. Someday I will tell the story of how old Lemmonex used to dress (especially freshman year of college). I shudder to think it…
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12:04 pm on May 5th, 2008
You are a lucky duck. I’m not scheduled to receive my stimulus payment until the end of the month. Damn those last two digits of my SSN!
I love getting the refunds…for those few moments every year, when the checks hit, I convert to Republicanism.
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12:15 pm on May 5th, 2008
Three cheers for cooking on a budget week! I clearly need to pay more attention to that. Yesterday I went grocery shopping at Duruma, the Japanese market in Bethesda, where I stocked up on frozen foods in exotic packages. The experience set me back 40 bucks and I’m not sure if I’ll even like half of what I bought. It was more an adventure than anything else. Did you know there’s such a thing as brown sushi rice?
Tono in Woodley Park has brown rice sushi–and awesome sushi in general for a good price.
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2:45 pm on May 5th, 2008
I, too, am concerned about the emerging food price crisis. I’m trying to do something about it and help empower consumers. You can read more about my idea at http://www.monalulu.com.
Thanks!
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2:55 pm on May 5th, 2008
And don’t forget that you could also cut costs substantially by buying your beans dry, in bulk. I think you’ll find that canned beans are actually hugely expensive for what they are when you can get a higher quality product in bulk. And soaking is REALLY not a big deal.
I 100% agree. In general, I just run out of time or don’t plan enough…but you are so right.
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6:28 pm on May 5th, 2008
I’d rather indulge on food spending than prettying myself up, but then I’m a guy. $30 for lip gloss — can I ask what makes it different from the regular kind? Honest question from the clueless…
Haha, I loved Pajama Day, although I never participated.
We want pictures about what you wore freshman year! Or better yet, dig up some pictures from the early-mid ’90s when grunge was big (oh lord). I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
The lipgloss is Chanel..totally indulgent but it is the best. Smooth, shimmery perfection.
Those pictures will never see the light of day, ever. I will say this: I wore flannel on flannel and safety pins on my shoes.
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12:51 am on May 6th, 2008
I had a truly disturbing moment, before looking under the beans, when I saw the unadorned bread and thought you were actually serving canned chicken loaf. Cheap is cheap, but yeesh. Flashbacks to military cuisine.
I totally vote for a Pajama Day HH. Although riding up on the bike might be a smidge unpleasant.
I have no idea what chicken loaf is, but I am fairly sure I do not want to eat it. And I think a Pajama Day HH is genius. For real. I somehow suspect the guys would not be happy if the girls showed up in flannel, though.
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11:16 am on May 6th, 2008
While we were in Mexico recently we bought food for six at the local grocery store. We went all out buying what we considered to be “expensive” items back in the states, like avocados and mangos. We filled up two carts with great food that lasted us about three days, and our bill came to about $160 American. For six! So, I think the answer to this predicament involves moving to Mexico.
As long as I can have a margarita everyday, I am there.
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