Freelance Ghostwriter Writing Sample – Cooking on a Budget ~ Save Time, Save Money, Eat at Home

Everyone wants to save money on their grocery bill, especially in a struggling economy when budgets are tight. There are ways to save when it comes to eating, and one of these is most definitely eating at home in lieu of dining out. With a little planning and some basic culinary skills, it is not difficult to eat well on a tight budget.

Here are a few tips and ideas:

* Dried Beans – beans are very inexpensive, yet very delicious if you throw in a little cooking know-how. They contain fiber and protein, and there are many different varieties. One favorite is red beans and rice, and it is a dish that is incredibly easy to make.

1. Rinse beans and pick out any rocks or debris. Place dried beans in a pot and cover with 4″ of water. Do not season. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and simmer for 2-3 hours. Check throughout cooking for the need to add water.

2. When beans can be mashed easily with a fork, stop adding water so you can cook liquid down to a “gravy.” Beans absorb most of their water in the first hour of cooking anyway.

3. Take out 1/4-1/2 cup of beans and mash with spoon, return to pot.

4. Dice Hillshire Farms beef hot links into small pieces, add to pot. Diced cooked ham may also be added.

5. Salt and pepper beans and add 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil. Add garlic powder and Louisiana hot sauce if desired.

6. Serve beans over cooked rice, being sure to include the delicious “gravy.” Add a slice of Italian or white bread to sop up juices.

* Sandwiches – sandwiches need not be boring. A sandwich coupled with soup, chips, and a dill pickle is a satisfying meal any time of the day. Here are some sandwich ideas:

1. Cream cheese and olive
2. Peanut butter and banana (excellent with a tall glass of cold milk)
3. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato
4. Thinly sliced cucumbers, mayo, bean sprouts, tomato, and purple onion slice
5. Ham, pastrami, bologna with lettuce, mayo, mustard, onion slice, and tomato
6. Hillshire Farms beef hot links sliced lengthwise and skilled fried; serve on sandwich slices with plenty of mustard and mayonnaise

* Have Crock Pot Will Travel – a crock pot is an inexpensive appliance; no kitchen or cook should be without one. If you are on the road, a crock pot can deliver dinner in a hotel room, travel home, or wherever you are at the time. Every dormitory room at college should have a crock pot if policies allow. Crock pot ideas are endless, but here are a few proven standbys:

1. Place the following into the crock pot: cooked ground beef*, a can of kidney beans, a can of chili beans, a can of tomato sauce, and a can of tomatoes. Add some salt, pepper, chili powder, and Louisiana hot sauce. Heat until thoroughly warmed; serve with saltines.

* Note: If you are on the road and you have no way to cook ground beef, substitute kielbasa for the meat, or just eat vegetarian chili by tossing in a can of “Ranch Beans” made by Conagra Foods.

2. Heat canned soup in the crock pot until warmed through. Serve with saltines or oyster crackers. Add a side salad; slice or tear lettuce into a bowl; salt, pepper, add cheese, diced tomato, and Thousand Island dressing (ketchup, mayo, sweet pickle cubes mixed together).

Additional Budget Minded Food Tips

Use these strategies when doing your meal planning:

* Have a plan. Set a designated meal for each day of the week, stick to it, and don’t give in to the temptation to eat out.

* Use coupons at the grocery store. A coupon sorter is very inexpensive. Don’t save coupons for products you don’t normally use or need. Be a sensible coupon clipper.

* Buy what’s on sale. Most larger grocery stores offer their weekly sale ads online for browsing. If not, take time at the store before you shop to look for sale items in the store’s printed ads paper.

* Don’t waste food. Eat your leftovers. Many leftovers, such as cooked chicken or beef, can be used in other dishes, such as chili, stew, soup, tacos, enchiladas, etc.

* Don’t shop hungry. This is a proven strategy for saving money at the grocery store.

* If you MUST eat out, take advantage of “the DOLLAR menu.” You’ll be amazed what you’ll find on these menus at restaurants such as Wendy’s, Burger King, and McDonald’s. You can get, for instance, a sandwich, fries, and a Frosty at Wendy’s for around three bucks (subject to change).

* Use your head. Shop, plan, and eat sensibly.