1. Posted by Taurus 1971 on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 4:11 pm PDT
Prepare the pasta or rice -- opt for whole wheat pastas or brown rices for best nutritional value -- with low-sodium chicken broth and water, cook a couple minutes shy of done, drain and set back into warm pot. Cover. Quick saute' in a large skillet some fresh (or frozen) veggies and your choice of beans (white works great) in the garlic and olive oil. Add the drained pasta or rice in with the veggies and saute' for a couple extra minutes. Add some rotisserie chicken, if you want, and a whole grain loaf of crusty bread for a quick, nutritional meal loaded with protein, good fats, fiber, and vitamins/minerals. A mixed salad with lower fat dressings adds even more color and nutritional value.
3. Posted by jimbo_in_vegas on Mon, Sep 29, 2008, 10:56 am PDT
Instead of pasta sauce, I prefer tomato paste. Much more versatile! Use it to make spaghetti sauce, chili, or tomato soup.
Also, instead of Bisquick I prefer flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Corn meal for those muffins! Yes, I guess I am old fashioned, but flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder are, again, more versatile than Bisquick. Try making corn muffins or a pot pie with Bisquick!
7. Posted by Morgaine on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:08 am PDT
Skip the bisquick! Flour, baking soda, baking powder are the basics of bisquick - to which is added a fat. That can be as cheap as good old Crisco, butter, or a good oil. Just had fabulous pancakes made from the above list of ingredients. Haven't had bisquick in ages! don't miss the stuff they add in to give it shelf life!
8. Posted by gwynedd_gal on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:08 am PDT
We always have those items on the shelf, but we don't use bisquick (wheat allergy) and we do use rice pasta instead. I'd add a good quality dry mashed potato like Idaho Spuds and mushroom soup, sardines and a cheese like 4C's Romano. If you keep your bread (nonwheat or wheat) ends ground up and frozen, you will always have breadcrumbs.
9. Posted by Ronald P on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:09 am PDT
I love garlic and olive oil and everything on this list. There are a few extra's that should go on the list and make it 15
Most have been mentioned already so I won't list them again.
11. Posted by vicimzmail on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:12 am PDT
I so have to agree with your number one choice of pasta. No matter how broke I am or how empty my kitchen is, I always have lots of pasta in my cabinet. And I have another thing I use pasta sauce for. I use it for toasted ravioli dipping. Much cheaper than buying the meat sauce thats in the the freezer section at the store next to the frozen ravioli. And tastes better too.
1 can of corn, 1 cup of noodles, medium can of tuna, ranch dressing to taste.
Boil noodles till tender, mix with ingredients. chill overnight in the fridge. A great lunch for 4.
13. Posted by R G on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:15 am PDT
Raisins are a nice way to ruin almost any dish ... leave them out! Although good for trail mix and some cereals.
Also, it's "economical" ... not economic - I noticed that twice. And veggies, not vegiges (which was probably just a typo.)
15. Posted by psgfla on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:22 am PDT
All whole grains such as oats, millet, barley, etc. can be used and cooked like brownrice and enjoyed. Do not forget the versatility of eggs.
Nor the potatos.
Personally I like rice the best. Some folks can not tolerate wheat products well.
17. Posted by next_guess on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:35 am PDT
I remember seeing and using all of these from my mother's pantry growing up! But now, my lifestyle is different. How about the top ten pantry needs for diabetics? #1 of course would be the beans and legumes. #2 is garlic and olive oil, the best combination on the face of this earth. What next?
18. Posted by Vegan Vindicator on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:40 am PDT
Bisquick? Bisquick is something out of a bad science fiction movie. Bisquick should not be taken internally.
Whole wheat pasta is great and a good protein source too. You don't have to kill things to eat well, Mr. SteakFullHappy. Nothing uglier than killing.
20. Posted by thebooper08854 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 11:13 am PDT
Try cut up cabbage, saute' onions and garlic. Add with large can of tomato sauce/water. Use cut carrots or baby carrots with Italian beans or regular string beans, caulflower. Add turkey meat balls or chicken. Season as desired. Serve with brown rice or basamati. Economical and comforting foor for a cold fall dinner.
21. Posted by cookie1cook on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 1:33 pm PDT
I understand that any box mixed items such as cake mix, corn meal mix and BISQUICK, etc. could be harmful to your health if not used soon after purchase. if kept too long it becomes toxic. Something serious to think about.
22. Posted by bluepearlmorpho on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 12:16 pm PDT
Thank you, Vegan Vindicator - you said it all, except that the animal food industry is horrific in so many ways, not least of which is the devastating effect upon the environment - in particular (but not limited to) raising cattle for beef. If the steak and burger lovers could watch the entirety of what cows go through in order for their flesh to be on a person's plate (or in their hands), they might think twice. I would hope so. To paraphrase Vegan Vindicator, NOTHING is uglier (or more brutal) than what goes on in a slaughterhouse or stockyard.
Let's all have some compassion for life forms other than our own, please. This world was NOT created for the existence of human beings alone!
25. Posted by bradq1015 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 3:30 pm PDT
Pretty much any pasta, basil, oregano, and lots of parmesan cheese makes for a really great (and exceptionally cheap) meal. A splash of olive oil might help if it's a little dry. This was a great meal in college. Pasta, certainly, is number one!
27. Posted by yp_carla_knoxville_0 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 3:35 pm PDT
We should not stop eating meat. We should stop the cruelty done to get the meat. Meat is very healthy, don't discount it. Focus on the root of the problem, not eliminate why these animals exist for in the first place. Eating them gives them purpose.
28. Posted by Athymia on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 3:55 pm PDT
Cheap. Easy. Tasty.
Boil chicken broth, add enough small shell pasta til just covered, let cook til pasta is tender and most of the broth is soaked up. Add can mushroom soup, can of corn, velveeta, and garlic. Tasty and affordable.
30. Posted by Meg on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 4:02 pm PDT
Survival of the fittest. We are more intelligent than cows, therefore we get to eat them. This article wasn't created to vent about animal cruelty, it's about cooking.
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