Cider Braised Cabbage
A two-ingredient, ten-minute vegetable preparation that's mysteriously great. In a blind-tasting you probably wouldn't guess what it is. It's such a perfect flavor combination you'd think it was just one thing.
Mock Turtle Soup: Wonder of the Week
A beef broth with root vegetables like turnips and carrots. A rich beef stock spiked with sherry vinegar and allspice. Very light and very satisfying. Less than 50 cents per bowlful. Two days worth of Vitamin A and a day's worth of Vitamin C.
Bacon Cornbread
A persuasive case for eating less meat and enjoying it more. A little meat as the flavor kick for a mainly meatless dish. Whole-grain cornbread with a thin, crackling bacon-flavored crust around a soft, light, crumbly interior. Full of tiny, crunchy flecks of bacon.
Shrimp & Grits
Do your mouth a favor and make this. Or part of it. Sweet, creamy corn. Deeply, darkly rich sauce. Succulent, barely crisped shrimp. About four bucks per person for a thoroughly satisfying and spectacularly tasty meal.
Cinnamon Pizza Puffs
A completely new addiction. The answer to doughnut holes, if you think of them as questionable. Light, airy, warm. Not fried. Five minutes in a very hot oven. Real easy. Real Cheap. About a penny a puff. Hard to eat them Slower. But you can always work on that.
Spring Watch, Part 2: Time and Space
Grow a vertical garden. A living wall. Woolly Pockets hang on the wall. Easily. Indoor versions and outdoor versions. I grew a salsa garden in one: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, coriander. String beans and nasturtiums in others.
Cheap Date Balsamic Caviar and Strawberries
Balsamic "Caviar". Glistening, pearl-like spheres of flavor. On strawberry slices. Sounds romantic. Looks cool. Tastes great. Definitely a conversation piece. Perfect for Valentine's Day. A Cheaper Way to achieve a Better Slower ... experience.
Juicy Fruit
Rich, juicy papaya and tart, spicy lime juice. An amazing two-ingredient fruit ceviche. Three days' worth of Vitamin C and a day's of Vitamin A. Near-zero glycemic load. 110 calories. C'mon, that's ten minutes of touch football.
Black-eyed peas at halftime
Just three grocery shopping days left to Game Day. So I'm here right now to help you munch Better and Cheaper during halftime. Heavy on flavor. Light on calories. Super light on fat. Ultra light on salt. No sugar. Minimal preparation.
Jasmine Rice for the Lunar Year
This is a great way to make a meal. You do next to nothing. Cook the vegetables right in the pan with the grains. It's all in the timing. $2 per person. Fragrant, delicious, satisfying. Satisfies more than your daily need for Vitamin C.