Main Meals

With famous cousins tomato, potato, and pepper, the eggplant takes its rightful seat as a member of the deadly nightshade family. Deadly because other cousins in this important food crop family are belladonna, mandrake and tobacco. Fear not, I have eaten eggplant for years and it is absolutely safe. Botanically classified a fruit, it grows from a berry, contains flower and seeds, this purple beauty is considered a vegetable in culinary circles. I would not add it to my fruit

Frikadeller, Frikadellen, or just plain meatballs are a cherished food across Europe with roots tracing back to the 1600s starting out as a meatball eaten in soups and stews. According to food historian Nina Bauer, no single country can lay claim to having invented meatballs. In Denmark, the meatballs are on the rough, crispy, pan-fried side, in Sweden meatballs are smaller and smooth in comparison and Norwegian meatballs tend to be bigger, flatter and topped with gravy. In G

"Pepe" (the king prawn from the muppets) is high in protein and low in fat. Shrimp seems like the perfect food, however, for cholesterol awareness, consume "Jacque" (from Nemo) only in moderation. We like the little scavenging crustaceans broiled, fried, and grilled but today they will be served saut é ed with veggies and rice. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-shrimp-healthy INGREDIENTS: 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 cup of white or brown rice (cooked with 2 cups

Harissa is a seasoning made with chili pepper paste. After salt, garlic and coriander are added, the paste is stored in jars. Harissa paste is part of the daily culinary food tradition in Tunisian society. Unesco placed it on the intangible, cultural heritage of humanity list (2022). https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/harissa-knowledge-skills-and-culinary-and-social-practices-01710 If you are fond of a little spice, like eating vegetarian, harissa tofu might be for you. Ingredien

A cold weather stew with vegetables and couscous. Most couscous is made from durum wheat, the same grain used to make semolina pasta, it is grain-based but considered a pasta and used in many North African dishes. Couscous has been around since the 13th century when Arabic cookbooks mentioned it in recipes. https://www.bobsredmill.com/articles/where-is-couscous-from#:~:text=Couscous%20is%20a%20grain%2Dbased,all%20types%20of%20taste%20buds . Ingredients: 3 large carrots, peele

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, home fries are a classic staple. I like to make enough to enjoy as a hearty breakfast the next morning. Ingredients: 1 pound potatoes, peeled and sliced (my preference is yellow or red) 1/2 onion sliced 1 jalapeño sliced (or any chili pepper) 1/2 orange or yellow bell pepper 3-4 TBSP olive oil (depending on skillet size, the amount might vary) salt, pepper, garlic to your liking water Steps: Heat oil on high, add potato, onion, j

Nothing beats a warm, crispy schnitzel dinner after a long day—each golden cutlet perfectly breaded and fried to crunchy perfection. Paired with a generous serving of homemade home fries, crispy on the outside and soft inside, this meal wraps you in comforting, hearty flavors that feel like a cozy hug on a plate. If it was only that simple. In the past, lots of my schnitzel ended stuck to the bottom of the pan, make sure you use enough oil and heat on high, then when the schn

How we get from corn to hominy is the process of nixtamalization. The short version is to let dried corn kernels soak in an alkaline solution (lime or wood ash). This will remove the tough outer hull, making niacin (Vitamin B3) and calcium bioavailable. Nixtamal is the product obtained from this century old process which later is ground to produce soft masa dough. (See citation page for resource.) Ingredients: 30 oz can hominy 1 pound chicken breast (I used cooked) 2 tablespo

Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi and Brussel sprouts are all members of the mustard family commonly known as "cruciferous" vegetables. You do not have to eat it fermented as kimchi or sauerkraut, it makes for a delicious stovetop cooked vegetable. Packed with vitamins, minerals, rich in fiber and antioxidants it is considered a super food. In my family, we cook cabbage as part of a New Year's tradition. Ingredients: 1/2 head of cabbage cut and diced 1/4 onion,

"Gratin" is the French word for crust. In cooking language "au gratin" translates to a dish that is topped with either breadcrumbs or cheese and browned under a grill. Roux and béchamel are integral parts of this dish. In food terminology, according to the Michelin Guide, a roux is a smooth paste made from flour that is fried in fat and added to sauces. It was invented in the 17th century at King Louise XIV th court and revolutionized French cooking (see citation page). Béch

This quick and easy potato salad recipe has a different twist. Instead of mayo, it is made with a standard Italian dressing.

A new recipe from a lovely, lively lady living in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I have known her for a long time and am excited she has shared her recipe for "Maultaschen," which are large, meat-filled pasta dumplings considered the "national dish"of the Swabian region in Germany. Per anecdote, Maultaschen were invented by lay brother Jakob on a Maudy Thursday as a way to disguise meat in dough. The strict lenten fasting did not allow the Cistercensian monks at the Maulbronn

All the way from the 'Golden State' or the 'Golden Bear State,' where the (sadly extinct bear) California grizzly, the golden trout, and lovely poppies are state symbols, comes a shrimp pasta recipe. Thank you to culinary chef Ha for providing us with this amazing meal for a gathering of eight. I would hop right over to sample but at the time, can only do a virtual California visit. INGREDIENTS 2 pounds of peeled and deveined shrimp 1 bag of penne pasta - or your favorite kin

Yesterday, I had a chance to cook a delicious stuffed green pepper recipe and finally write down the ingredients and the steps after having prepared this meal for decades. It can be for two or four people depending on appetites. Dish pares well with either potatoes, noodles, or rice. INGREDIENTS 2 green bell peppers (on the smaller side) 1/2 pound of ground turkey 1-2 heels of bread (depends on thickness) 1 egg 1/3 small onion, diced 1/2 tsp of salt 1/4 tsp of red pepper 1 TB

An easy and quick three-ingredient solution for breakfast or brunch. INGREDIENTS 1. 1/2 avocado 2. 1 slice of toast or sour dough bread 3. 1 egg Additional: avocado cooking spray or a few drops of oil, salt, pepper. STEPS Toast bread, heat skillet with a bit of oil or spray and cook egg sunny side up, while egg is cooking, scoop avocado and spread on the bread, COST egg $0.50, avocado $0.80, bread $0.20 Total = $1.50 (Cost of ingredients depends on type of avocao and bread u

We are not only about 'Cooking on the Cheap,' and sharing recipes, we are also about traveling the path less taken and finding uniqueness at the turn ahead. Welcome to our special edition; Thanksgiving Newsletter. We'd love to hear about your favorite Thanksgiving moment whether sad or glad. Go to the website cheapcuisine.com and share your thoughts (or tips and recipes) on our "Get in Touch to Chirp" page. Explore my Cornish hen and cornbread dressing recipe with cost break

INGREDIENTS 2 TBS of tomato paste 1 jalapeno (sliced and chopped) 1 small onion (chopped) 1/2 lbs. pre-cooked chunked chicken 2 sausage links (I used apple gouda chicken sausage) 2 bolillos (for the bolillos only; 1/2 tsp oil) 1 cup of rice 3 cloves of garlic, chopped 1/2 tsp of salt 1-2 bay leaves 1/2 tsp of oregano 1/2 tsp pepper 1 TBS of paprika (smoked if available) 2 tsp of chicken broth mix 1 TBS of oil STEPS Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add rice and reduce hea

Does it seem like a strange combination? Keep reading! Ingredients for Crepes: 2/3 cups of unbleached flour or regular flour 1 1/4 cup of almond milk or regular milk 2 eggs 1 1/2 TBS of olive/canola oil or avocado oil Steps: Mix flour, milk and eggs with a hand whisk. Heat a 10 inch skillet with 1/2 TBS of oil. (The amount of oil determines how crispy the crepes. Add 2 x 1/4 cup of crepe mix to heated skillet. Using handle, slant skillet to spread mix evenly. When crepe appe

Autumn is a wonderful season when leaves transform, temperatures cool, and we gather the abundance offered. Visiting the Farmer's Market is essential to experience the difference. Recipe Results : due to differences in ingredients, regional pricing, cooking equipment, individual skills, and other factores, I can not guarantee that your results will be the same as mine. You use my recipes at your own risk. Chicken Stew with Fresh Vegetables (4). Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds of

Cooking on a budget doesn’t have to mean cooking bland or unhealthy meals. With smart planning and a pinch of creativity, you can create delicious, nutritious dishes that keep your taste buds satisfied and your wallet happy. This post offers practical tips and strategies to help you prepare budget-friendly meals without compromising on flavor or nutrition. Plan Your Meals Meal planning can save you both time and money. By taking just a few minutes at the beginning of the week