Eating Well on $50 a Week

Three writers. Three cities. One culinary experiment.

Posts Tagged peas

Depression Cooking with Clara

Jul 27

Posted by emily in Uncategorized, event

When then-91-year old Clara began her Great Depression Cooking web series in 2007, she probably had no idea we were on the verge of another great financial crisis (or did she?). Her meals may not fall into the category of eating “well” by today’s fancy foodie standards (read: yuppie assholes like us), but Clara is—literally—the grandmother of eating well on the cheap.

While I might make a few substitutions to her potato-heavy meals today (chorizo for hot dogs, frozen Cascadian Farm sweet peas for canned), Clara is living proof that even when times get tough, we can still be fat and happy. In fact, Clara says she was a fat kid because of all of those potatoes!

Clara made three episodes two years ago and after a hiatus is back with her popular web show, and it’s now available on DVD. We’ve even heard rumors of a book deal.

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My First Time: Quinoa

Jul 22

Posted by emily in Uncategorized

quinoa

Do you ever stop and look at something you’re eating or cooking and think, “My ten-year-old self would never have eaten this?” Are you then a little proud of yourself for eating it, and even liking it?

That is exactly how I felt about this sort-of “curried” quinoa soup-type thing I accidentally made last night when trying to cook with the “super grain” for the first time.

Like first-time sex, my first-time quinoa was a little sloppy and I didn’t quite know when it was done. And like sex, my ten-year-old self probably would have said “Gag me with a spoon!” when thinking about it while my adult self really wants some more.

Here’s how it all went down: Read the rest of this entry »

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Rice, Rice Baby

Jul 17

Posted by emily in Uncategorized

Whatever Rice: Rice and Whatever Else I Have in the Fridge

Whatever Rice: Rice and Whatever Else I Have in the Fridge

I am a woman of very little willpower, so it is a testament to how important this project is to me that when I was craving chicken fried rice I did not go to the Chinese restaurant around the corner, but made do with what I had in my kitchen—even though what I had in my kitchen did not include soy sauce or chicken. Or instant rice (hey, I was really hungry).

A quick inventory of my pantry and fridge let me know I had, at the very least, the basics: Basmati rice (the kind that took forever to cook), onion, garlic, frozen sweet peas (Cascadian Farm!) and cooking oil. I also had a little bit of sausage left from my CSA and some CSA cabbage I’d roasted earlier. Still, I was lacking that “Chinese flavor.” At this point, I was almost ready to go around the corner. Fifty minutes for the rice? No soy sauce? I considered just grabbing a few packets from the Peking House—that wouldn’t cost me anything. But I thought better of it after remembering that the woman at this particular restaurant snips at everyone, even paying customers. Plus, what kind of cook would I be if I couldn’t throw together some simple fried rice without soy sauce? So, I decided to stick to my plan of making my own, only using ingredients I already had on hand.

While the rice boiled I scoured my cabinets for anything even remotely “Asian.” Not much. I decided on chili powder, cumin and crushed red pepper. I went through the motions, doing exactly what I would have done if I’d had the proper ingredients. Substitution! Innovation! Desperation? Whatever it was, it worked. Sure, it was no PF Chang’s but it was—for the most part—free. Even better, it was surprisingly delicious.

“Recipe” for Whatever Rice after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

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A Few Dozen of My Favorite Green

Jun 23

Posted by emily in Uncategorized, recipe

brussels_sprouts_fresh

Recently after a friend had three servings of a Basmati rice and sweet pea dish I’d made for a vegetarian potluck she said, “You really are the queen of simple food!” She then quickly apologized. She was worried she’d offended me. But I was not at all offended; she was right. I do simple food and I do it damn well.

While Adam and Cari’s ideas of eating well might be a tad more elaborate (and sophisticated) than mine—and to be honest, I’d rather be having dinner at either of their places—I pride myself in my ability to get the most flavor out of as few ingredients as possible. This is especially important when trying to eat on $50 a week. And believe it or not, of my favorite one-ingredient, one-dish dinners is roasted Brussels sprouts… not that I always liked them so much. Read the rest of this entry »

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