By Courteny Algeo
Normally I write a monthly column for The Alley about great places to eat in the Phillips Neighborhood. While many of the restaurants are affordable, there are times that going out to eat just isn”'t in the budget, as is the case for me this month. So, instead of going out to get a delicious prepared snack, I thought I might write a little bit about some ways to treat yourself during the leaner times in life.
When my grandfather was still just a father, he and my grandmother (still just a mother) would skimp on their meals all week just so that every Friday they could have steak for dinner. Eating good foods is something that we all deserve, and should do every now and then to let ourselves know how proud we are of how hard we work. While I”'m not promoting eating a cake every day or something because you “deserve it,” treating yourself to a delicious snack can be one of the best ways to make a hard day worthwhile. But, how do you do this when there isn”'t a lot of money to go around frivolously buying succulent snacks and tasty treats all willy-nilly?
Here are some simple ideas:
You”'re craving steak? Have a baked potato. Drizzle olive oil on it, a dash of salt and pepper, poke some holes in it, wrap it in aluminum foil and bake it in the oven till it”'s perfect. When it”'s done, cut it open and slather it in butter, sour cream, and some A1 sauce (which will actually cost you more than the potato, salt, pepper, butter and sour cream combined, so just try to have some around at all times), and then chow down. The A1 sauce combined with the heartiness of the potato will (almost) make you forget about that steak. It will also fill you up, and make your mouth happy.
You”'re craving a milkshake? Go buy some bananas, milk and peanut butter. Mix it all up in a blender with some ice. It”'s cold, good for you, and won”'t cost you much, as long as you mind your portions.
Hungry for just about anything? Make rice. Rice can be mixed with a almost anything in your cupboard, be it expensive or cheap as all get out, and the resulting concoction will fill you up, and most likely be delicious. And if it”'s not? Throw some soy sauce on it, or coconut milk and cinnamon. There are almost no mistakes when it comes to rice.
Canned tomatoes, onions, garlic and lime juice? You”'ve got a whole mess of salsa! Refry your canned beans, mix it with that rice and BOOM! you”'ve got yourself a nekkid burrito.
Want some sushi? Well, there”'s really no substitute for that, and it”'s pretty expensive, so I”'d suggest just waiting until payday. After all, we can”'t have EVERYTHING we want, but we can sure as heck try.
Check out Courtney’ Taco blog online, it’s pretty great!
