Showerthought: My cheapest meal week was also my tastiest

Last Tuesday I had exactly $12 left for groceries until payday Friday. I made a giant pot of lentil soup with a $1 bag of lentils, some old carrots, and a half onion from the back of the fridge. Turned out amazing and fed me Monday through Wednesday night. Anybody else find their best meals happen when they're really scraping by?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sandra4d ago

Yeah, that "giant pot of lentil soup" thing is real. I've been there with a half-empty pantry and ended up with something way better than my average Tuesday dinner. The trick is using whatever's wilted or about to go bad, plus a good spice combo. I keep a bag of cheap bulk spices like cumin and smoked paprika around specifically for those weeks. Also, a splash of vinegar or lemon juice at the end wakes up anything that's been simmering too long. Makes a $2 meal taste like you actually planned it.

nathan1934d ago

I saw a budget cooking blog once where the person said they keep a jar of "soup starter" mix - equal parts cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder - in their pantry for exactly this kind of meal. @the_sandra you're spot on about the acid at the end, that little trick makes lentil soup go from blah to banging in seconds. I've also started adding a diced apple when I have one that's getting soft, it adds a subtle sweetness that plays nice with the smoky spices.