February 2011
1 post
2 tags
Deviled Eggs - $4.11
Superbowl Sunday; the day when those of us who don’t like football gather around the table instead of the television. I decided that I would make deviled eggs to take over to my friends house for the big game (or whatever you call it). They’re fast, easy and always a hit. This was my first time trying this recipe, and little did I know I was going to make and consume the best deviled...
September 2010
5 posts
4 tags
Shrimp Scampi with Thin Spaghetti - $4.02
Santa Monica has been a bit gloomy this past week, which has left me feeling uninspired when it comes to food. I peeked into my cupboard and found some pasta noodles, but the thought of making yet another red sauce left me feeling even more dismal. This was my solution:
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup White Wine (The cheaper the better as long as it’s dry and tart.) - $2.69
Jumbo Shrimp (6 pieces)...
4 tags
Baked Lemon Chicken with White Rice and Green...
I have the very best cookbook on planet earth. If you don’t have this, buy one…now! With that out of the way, I searched through the poultry section to discover a tart but crunchy baked lemon chicken recipe and decided to pair it with white rice and green beans.
Ingredients you will need:
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs - $2.39
1 Garlic Clove from the head - $.50
White Rice - $3.49
Green...
4 tags
Baked Wild Rice & Chicken Casserole - $10.47
I’ve been a little bit homesick this past week, so I wanted to make some comfort food. With a box of Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice in the cabinet, a large piece of chicken in the freezer, and a limited budget in my pocket, I googled ‘casserole.’ The Internet bestowed upon me this recipe.
Ingredients you will need:
Wild Rice - $3.09
Chicken (I buy in bulk so I always have a...
2 tags
Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food, Wine &...
The Los Angeles Times really knows how to throw a party. For the publication’s first annual Food & Wine Celebration, the Paramount backlot was littered with everything from cooking demonstrations by master chefs to an eclectic selection of LA based food trucks. Through it all, the wine and laughter kept flowing. The event’s final moment of triumph was a sunset performance by...
2 tags
LA Times Food & Wine Event Wants to Hear From You!
Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food and Wine Event takes place this Sunday, September 5 on the Paramount Studios Backlot. The Cheap Dish is lucky enough to be covering the event, which will feature chef demonstrations, wine tastings, food trucks, book signings, and a performance by She & Him.
For those of you not able to make it, the LA Times wants to give you a chance to participate in...
August 2010
1 post
3 tags
Thin Spaghetti with Pink Sauce - $8.26
My roomie and I stumbled upon an amazing little Italian hideaway, Fritto Misto, located on Colorado Avenue and 6th Street in Santa Monica. Because the meal was so amazing (and cheap!) we tried to recreate it at home.
For this recipe you will need:
Thin Spaghetti Pasta (or pasta of your choice) - $.99
Plain Marinara Sauce (8oz.) - $.79
Tomato Paste (6oz.) - $.50
Heavy Cream (pint) - $2.99 ...
July 2010
1 post
4 tags
Filet Mignon, Baked Potatoes & Green Beans -...
For this recipe you will need:
Filet Mignon (or 8oz. steak of your choice) - $7.79
Baked Potatoes ($.99 per lb.) - $1.81
Green Beans - $.79
The spices you will need to season your steak:
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Granulated Garlic
Onion Powder
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your potatoes by washing them, stick them with a fork about 6 times all over the potato and place them...
3 tags
Mango Smoothies - $1.99
My roomie and I have been re-watching LOST from the beginning, and they seem to eat a lot of Mangoes on that creepy island. So, Liz got it in her head to make a Mango smoothie, but quickly ran into issues. How the heck do you cut a mango? It proved much harder than was first expected, but, with a little help from the Internetz and only a little frustration, she got it done. You will need:
Mango -...
3 tags
Coconut Cream Pie - $9.47
Let me start this out with telling you that I am not a baker. When I was little, my mom let me make my own cookies to share at family dinner. After one loud bite, my dad called them golf balls, we all laughed and they were quickly thrown into the garbage. My cream pie didn’t fair much better.
I know it’s not the recipe, because I found the perfect one by Emeril. I know exactly what I...
June 2010
14 posts
7 tags
Liz's Weekend Brunch Special - $19.06
My roomie, Liz, is the breakfast queen. She makes perfect eggs, bacon and has even mastered chocolate chip pancakes. So, in honor of the 11:30AM World Cup matches, she made brunch this weekend.
The staple ingredients you will need:
4 Eggs
Butter
Bread
You will also need:
Bacon (12oz.) - $3.99
Cook bacon according to package directions (you can slice off 1/4 of the bacon package with a...
4 tags
Father's Day Buffalo Wings & Beer - $19.18
In honor of my father, who lives in Western New York, I wanted to make Anchor Bar Buffalo Wings at home and wash it down with a cool Pabst Blue Ribbon, the working man’s beer. So, even though we live 3000 miles apart, this meal will make it seem like he’s just around the corner. You will need:
Chicken Wings (Run between $4.50 - $6.00 a pack) - $4.71
Blue Cheese (I like Marie...
4 tags
Rotisserie Chicken Salad - Leftovers
Remember that Rotisserie Chicken you had in the fridge? Hungry for lunch? Grab some mayonnaise and head to the spice rack. You will need:
Poultry Seasoning
Paprika
Dill
Salt & Pepper
Granulated Garlic
Onion Powder
Before you start pulling off the meat of your chicken, wash your kitchen scissors and grab a small mixing bowl. Then go to work. I like white meat so I only pull apart the...
4 tags
Penne Pasta with Ground Turkey & Tomato Sauce -...
I don’t usually like to eat pasta sauce that comes in a jar. My mom taught me how to make my own, but it’s very time involved. So, when you’re hungry (ahem, at 8pm) and you want to eat something filling fast. Try this! You will need:
Pasta Sauce (8oz.) - $1.88
Penne Noodles (12oz.) - $1.59
Mozzarella Cheese - $2.99
Ground Turkey (1.25lb.) - $5.49
I used to eat a lot of red...
5 tags
Rotisserie Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Green...
I love buying a Rotisserie Chicken from the grocery store. They are slow roasted, tender and juicy. Not to mention, you can eat on it all week. But what should you eat with it when you buy it fresh? Here’s my suggestion.
Rotisserie Chicken - $5.49
1 Can of Green Beans - $.79
2 Ears of Corn - $1.38
2 Russet Potatoes - $1.76
You will also need to head to your spice rack and fridge for...
2 tags
Grown-Up Soda - $2.25
95 Calories, 24 Carbs and no fat. So much better for you than real soda and it tastes great. My favorites include Grape Black Currant (which I’m currently enjoying), Pomegranate and Cola Nut. It’s “not too sweet” and is 100% all natural deliciousness. And let me tell you, it tastes a lot sweeter when the boss treats.
2 tags
Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls - $3.19
I barely ever give myself enough time in the morning to shower, dress and eat breakfast before work. So, I normally bring something to eat like pop tarts or instant grits. I’m not a fan of frozen egg, but, in honor of Jimmy Dean, I bought one of his breakfast bowls to try.
It surprised me with how good it was. There was enough cheese, the scrambled egg was light and fluffy, the...
3 tags
Mozzarella Cheesy Bread & Tomato Soup - $8.47
Great for dipping in your favorite tomato soup. If you live near a Vons, I highly recommend the store brand, Tuscan Tomato and Basil Bisque ($3.99 for 24 oz.). But if you’re not that lucky and you need to cut down on costs, you can buy two cans of Campbell’s Tomato Soup for only $.95 each.
To make the bread you will need:
French Bread - $1.49
8 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese -...
2 tags
A Foodie Tweets! →
2 tags
2 tags
Staples in the Kitchen
Spices are necessary for cooking, but they are also very expensive. I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve gotten most of the basic ones from my local 99 Cent store. I also don’t buy them all at once. If I find a recipe I want to try, with a spice I don’t have, then I will buy it. And sometimes I enjoy splurging at Penzey’s every now and then. They have a great online...
2 tags
Eating Fresh, Eating Cheap, Eating Well
I’m broke. Chances are you’re broke too. Like many Americans, I spent a lot of time eating in fast food and chain restaurants growing up. But, all of that changed when I moved to Brooklyn, NY and became something of a foodie. After you’ve eaten in New York City, you can’t really go back to The Olive Garden with the same taste buds. Don’t get me wrong, there will...