oops... accidentally hit submit...

anyway on the freecycle Yahoo site someone today posted a crock pot and I think someone else posted a hot plate (maybe griddle? don't rmember). it would be a great resource to save yourself some cash my stocking up on appliances.

I didn't read through the whole thread but I had two ideas for you ( apologies if one or both have been mentioned):

Cantor packeted tuna fish is always a great "go to" - it's healthy and very inexpensive. tuna is also very versatile... put cheese on it for tuna melt mixing with pasta and spaghetti sauce, lots of really inexpensive options. I lived off of that stuff in grad school

also rather than buying appliances try looking on your local freecycle list. you can either post "wanted" for what you are looking for, or just see if anyone offers anything you might need. for example on the Silver Spring yahoo freecycle site

Anonymous wrote:OP, this link has some good frugal menu ideas. The recipies are for 4-6 servings so that's more than you need.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm

If I were you I would get an electric skillet so you can make scrambled eggs and pancakes. Someone suggested sterno -- I think they are really expensive but more than that, they just don't get hot enough to be worth it. Sterno is good for keeping things warm but not for cooking.

As pp pointed out sterno is also used by caterers to keep food hot for a few hours.

Its primary purpose however is that its used as a cooking fuel.

We camped a lot when I was younger and we used sterno for everything from cooking beans to making soup and cooking/boiling hot dogs.

Here's a demonstration showing how to cook with sterno:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T74EZ11KEfw

OP, this link has some good frugal menu ideas. The recipies are for 4-6 servings so that's more than you need.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm

If I were you I would get an electric skillet so you can make scrambled eggs and pancakes. Someone suggested sterno -- I think they are really expensive but more than that, they just don't get hot enough to be worth it. Sterno is good for keeping things warm but not for cooking.

Op I posted earlier. I just came back to check out the thread bc I see that its still active. Im really excited for you. Theres so much good info and recipes that pps have posted. I just might try a few of them myself

OP, congrats on getting your own place!!!!

Bean soups, add a bit of chicken or beef for flavor.

Frittatas or omelets on electric stove burner.

Tuna casseroles with cheese.

Get staples at international/ethnic markets cheap, especially spices.

Baked sweet potatoes, skin on.




Recipes under $1 a serving.
http://www.allyou.com/food/supercheap-meals/cheap-recipes-00411000070180/

Good luck OP! sounds great to have your own place!

If you get a toaster over, you can cook en papillote (google that plus the word recipe) - its basically parchment paper wrapped around a protein, some veggies and some moisture (olive oil, tablespoon of wine, chicken broth - can be anything).

Its easy and no mess - all you need is a roll of parchment paper.

OP you can slow cook steelcut oatmeal. You can get at Aldi. To the poster who said there aren't necessarily Aldi's close in, not so. There is one in NE DC now -- outer Capitol Hill. The one I go to is in Hyattsville. There's also one on NH.

You can eat well for $50, going to Aldi, for sure. Don't forget about salads. You can use oil and vinegar for dressing.

Good luck!

So much respect for the poster who grew up homeless. I too wish there was a way to find out if OP lives in my area because we have an extra microwave.

Here are some ideas OP for sides, lunches, etc...

-Hummus made with Ninja-chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, garlic and fresh lemon juice-all whooshed together with the ninja, put on bread with some cucumber or apples

-Gazpacho-buy ingredients and make in ninja

-Lentil spreads-make in ninja, loaded with fiber and nutrients and very filling. You can invent all sorts of things with lentil, onion, garlic as your base and various spices like say a curry mix

-Breakfast smoothie-use ninja-carrot, apple-juice, beets or some other mix. Carrots are usually very reasonable priced.

-Dessert: put frozen banana in Ninja and whirl around on own or with strawberries, some ice or cocoa or whatever and make healthy "icecream"

-Good ol fashioned PB and J sandwiches or try almond butter or sunbutter

-Dessert-Look up some of the raw chocolate concoctions people make in blenders with nuts, cocoa, sweetner of choice etc


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Pp, Here. cut off by my phone which wouldn't let me edit our scroll. Wanted to ask of you could make several days of something on Sunday and take it to work/daycare on Monday to eat for the week at lunch to save fridge space?

I live in a similar set up and I have a hot plate, toaster oven and cockpot. Those three things serve all my needs. Caveat, I have a full sized fridge. I do roasts in the crockpot, and yesterday I used some frozen roast to make beef barley soup which is really good. Added two carrots and trip small potatoes. I make my own yogurt which costs the price of milk. I eat a lot of salads with black beans Andee cashews as the protein, and flavored white balsamic vinegar with oil. You might do well with a lot of beans and tortillas since you don't have a ton of fridge space. (can you make a biggish amount of something Andee take out to and take it to work

i went ahead and bought a few frozen meals which health wise im not okay with longterm but itll buy me this week to watch craigslist and my local freecycle.

thanks for some great ideas and positive suggestions.


im excited as this is a huge step up for us. it is a much safer and healthier place for us to live and the first time we have had our own spacr. we have always rented rooms.

OP post an email address so people can contact you. I just gave away a grill and a bunch of other things as I'm preparing for a move. I know there are others here who have things they can give you.

I wish this was not an anonymous board, because I would LOVE to give my Vitamix to someone like you. You can do tons of things with this mean machine, including hot soup!

A friend just gave me a new one for my birthday, and you really don't need two of these.

You have received great advice. I wish you well, as it sounds as if you are in a transition. Get creative. Like one of the other PP's, we were poor growing up, and I learned to do a lot with a little.