Since David and I have moved here, we have severely decreased the amount of times we eat out each week. In fact, I think we have only eaten out three times in the four weeks we have been here, which is drastically different than our life in Cleveland.
There are at least three practical reasons for this– one is that we want to be healthier, another is that we now have a functional and pleasant kitchen, and the third is that there are fewer fast-food restaurants here and we don’t have a car to get to them anyway.
But perhaps the biggest perk? Cooking at home saves money, a concern for almost everyone recently, and especially for we unemployed.
But the mere cost-savings of cooking at home is not enough for me- I have become, well, more than interested but less than obsessed, with finding recipes that require low-cost ingredients but yield high-level results… cheap but good food.
I’ve begun plowing through cookbooks I only used as references before, taking notes, and scouring websites dedicated to cheap eats. Some leave something to be desired, such as one “grilled cheese and Ramen noodle” post. But others have creative and helpful suggestions.
We’ve been having lots of bean and rice burritos, sure. But we also made a soup on Halloween that consisted of vegetable broth, a can of pumpkin, black beans and corn, salsa, and spices (sounds gross but tastes great, especially with shredded cheese).
Cut back on meat, that’s a dietary money-saver for sure. And others? Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. Don’t buy prepackaged items if you can reasonably make it yourself. Do buy items you will enjoy preparing and eating so you are not tempted to order in because you feel deprived.
Everybody knows this, but it’s become such a fun challenge for me, learning how others make decisions about what food they buy for themselves and their families.
So please, tell me. Tell me what your special tricks are, your favorite meal to prepare just for yourself, or the one you whip out when friends come over. How you’ve learned to pare down your grocery bill. Send that info my way, because bad housekeepers can always use a few friendly domestic tips.
