anybody have recommendations for me? i've been eating a lot of dried beans lately, its a bit of a pain to prepare them (soaking overnight and such, have to plan ahead) right now i'm eating blackeyed peas...unfortunately i don't have any meat or onions to go with them, but its ok...still, a little bacon in there would be good...not too healthy, but it goes good in them.... i'm particularly interested in finding out what kinds of veggies are generally affordable....i've found that green beans and fresh spinach are pretty cheap, but a lot of things just cost too much..... any suggestions? i'm talking about low-cost stuff....something where 2 or 3 dollars will provide several meals' worth of food. simple stuff that can be dressed up well with just a bit of seasoning.... also, does anybody have a good recipe for cornbread or corn pone? my parents dont make very good cornbread usually, so i'd rather not ask for their recipe i like it a little sweet and moist....theirs is usually either dry or undercooked and bland....and while its not very healthy, corn pone is just fucking delicious, but i lost my recipe for it.
A bag of TVP is about four bucks and will last for anywhere in between five and ten meals. You can use it as a meat substitute in just about anything. I usually use it in chili. A pack of chili paste only cost a couple of bucks, and will also last a long time. I'd guess that one meal of TVP chili really only costs about 50 cents or less. Most veggies are relatively cheap, too. A pack of mushrooms is a dollar or two and will last you about three meals. Mushrooms are also a decent source of protein, which is a plus. Smart brand "hotdogs" are three dollars for eight servings. They are super healthy too. Besides that, as you know, beans and rice is an extremely cheap meal. If you're bored of it try spicing it up a little. Add a few tablespoons of salsa, vegan sour cream, or vegan cheese. Most of all, just start getting creative. Buy some cheap ingredients and see what you can make with them. Odds are you'll end up finding a new favorite.
The Hillbilly Housewife has some excellent ideas... some of the stuff isn't the most nutritious... but there is a lot that is....
