For a long time, I didn’t really care about cooking. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I hated it, but it wasn’t high on my list of things to spend my time doing. I was just as happy to have blue box mac & cheese for dinner as anything else, even if I did spend an awful lot of time watching cooking shows on television.
Then Chris signed me up for a course at a local culinary college. One night a week, for four weeks, I took the bus up there and learned a bit more about cooking. I learned how to hold a knife properly (thumb and forefinger pinch the base of the blade, three fingers wrapped around the hilt), how to make pasta (and chocolate pasta), and discovered an unexpected passion for cooking.
For this $10 dinner topic, any spices/oils/condiments that would normally be in your cupboards or pantry aren’t included in the money you’d spend — so salt, pepper, olive oil, mayo, whatever, they’re freebies. I figure that’s the kind of stuff you stock up on anyhow, and include in far more than one meal.
When it comes to $10 dinners, there are a thousand and one options. I guess it depends on the number of people you’re feeding, too — I’m cooking for two adults and one toddler, so that’s not a ton of food. So to start:
- Pasta. Topped with tomato sauce, or a butter sauce, or tossed with veggies, whatever, you can personalize your pasta with basically anything other than truffles and lobster for $10.
- Chili. Ground beef is $2 a lb, canned tomatoes/beans are $0.99 apiece, the spices are freebies, and you could even squeeze in some fun toppings or sides like sour cream, tortilla chips, or cornbread with the extra cash.
- Breakfast for dinner. Pancakes = YUM. Eggs & bacon & toast.
- Quesadillas.
- Or, you know, a $5 frozen pizza (which you could totally pimp out with fresh toppings, btw), because really, have you TRIED the Delissio garlic bread crust pizza? OMG.
So, you’ve got $10. Dinner needs to get on the table. What’re you going to serve?
[...] hostess over at Girl Talk Thursday this week, where I’m sharing some of my favourite $10 dinners. Come join [...]
Mmmm…chili is such a good call. I was thinking about that, but you got to talk about it first!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..GTT: $10 to spend. Put Dinner on the Table. DO IT. =-.
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Tatiana Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Did you ever end up making that white chicken chili? how did it turn out?
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I love making chili on a thin money week. It’s versatile enough to serve on its own, to serve over lettuce as taco salad, and so forth.
I could have also included my dad’s burrito mix. Ground beef, onion, pepper, barbeque sauce, mustard, ketchup and that’s it. It’s not really Mexican, but it’s yummy.
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Tatiana Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Faux-Mexican is awesome. And burritos are one of those things I just don’t make enough!
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Beth Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
It is awesome. Even if my son will only eat a “burrito” with only cheese.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..GTT: $10 Dinner Twofer (plus 1) =-.
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hehe, so everyone posted this awesome looking meals
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Tatiana Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I know, I feel like my stuff is a total letdown in comparison. I should’ve put up an actual recipe!
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‘you can totally pimp out with fresh topping’ = *giggle-snort* !!!
Also? Now i’m hungry.
.-= The Ranting Mommy´s last blog ..Girl Talk Thursday – $10 dinner? =-.
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Tatiana Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I am forever buying cheese pizzas & throwing spinach, mushroom, bacon, and red onion on them. Seriously!
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I’ve got to make some Chili now! Yum!
.-= Mary Jo´s last blog ..Health… {Part 1} =-.
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Tatiana Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
I could eat chili every single day, seriously. I LOVE the stuff. I limit myself to once a week.
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The slacker in me was going to post a blog that simply said “Delisio,” but that was calling it in a little too much even for me…
Breakfast for dinner is the best!
.-= Chibi Jeebs´s last blog ..GTT: It’s What’s For Dinner =-.
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Hey y’all!
If you took down my 11 cent soup recipe, please note I forgot the danged clove of garlic. You don’t have to have it, but it’s good with it, too. I’ve fixed the recipe now. I blame the fact that I’m running a fever and not cooking on the fact that I forgot it.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..GTT: $10 Dinner Twofer (plus 1) =-.
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Now I want pizza! Damn it!
.-= pamela´s last blog ..So You Have $10… =-.
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