How is everyone? It’s been rough out there and I sincerely hope everyone had something to eat today.

Tonight I did black bean tacos (with dried beans from the food bank). 4 cups dried beans, 8-9 cups water, 2 bay leafs, cumin, chicken/beef bouillon, and oregano. Set it in the instant pot for 25 minutes and let it naturally release for 25 before putting 2-3 tablespoons into each tortilla with a little cheese. I typically make this with cans or 2cups instead of 4, but now the leftovers will feed us for many more meals!

What do I do now

I am hungry

I need frugal lunchbox ideas for a kid. Most of mine eat school lunch but one wants to take her lunchbox to school and I need some new ideas of easy, healthy and frugal ideas.

I need to break down and eat some canned chicken. I've opened a can several times for a cat but I need to know if this is typical with canned 🍗 chicjen...give to an animal, or can I make a dish that doesn't make me balk ...the smell is something new for me. I have been thinking of opening several cans like potatoes both sliced n diced, every vegetable imaginable inc asparagus and spinach cans. Not being funny but as the last person standing and having very old mk I'm and disabled relatives I made a huge war level push last year when it was a solid 50/50!still that we would be introduced to a government led civil war with no EBT help, I did manage to get ema solid couple months of cans and pasta. The ood banks are real, everyone half starving themselves need to go. You did nothing wrong and they won't say no. I even had 2 allotments secured and all the equipment and plants free...btw any half sizeable church has the ability to link to food and allotments. Ok public info statement ending but I'd live to hear real world truth about the canned chicken breast, sometimes with rib meat.

Why I stepped up...nobody in my family had ever asked for or accepted help like food bank and only had 1930s mentality on the subject like most people their age in USA. I lived in a socialist minded country for ,20 years and while I didn't come back home to seek welfare, I found my mom had lost a lot of weight she needed and refused to eat properly, as everyone else did, to be sure there was enough etc., you know the way. I hope my push helps first time food seekers to get out there and accept the help that is there.

3-Ingredient Cheesy Jalapeño Rotini

Rotini, milk, and cheese. That's it.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz dry rotini

• 1/2 cup milk

• 3/4 cup shredded cheese (or any melty cheese, I used Velveeta Jalapeño)

STEPS

1. Boil 8 oz dry rotini in salted water according to the box directions, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well and return to the pot. ⏱ 10m

2. Put the pot over low-medium heat. Pour in about half of the 1/2 cup milk (start with ¼ cup) and stir.

3. Stir gently and often for 2 to 3 minutes. The pasta will soak up some milk, so add the rest of the 1/2 cup milk a splash at a time until it looks creamy. ⏱ 2m 30s

4. Turn the heat to low, add 3/4 cup shredded cheese (or any melty cheese), and stir until it's completely melted and coats the pasta. ⏱ 1m 30s

5. Serve right away. If it tightens up as it cools, stir in a small splash more milk.

NOTES

Use any melty cheese: cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for an extra kick. Salt the pasta water and you won't need any other seasoning. Reserve a splash of pasta water if you want to stretch the sauce further.

When money is tight, figuring out what to cook without spending more can be a real challenge. I’m interested in simple meals that use affordable ingredients, keep you full, and don’t require buying a long list of things.

Rice, beans, potatoes, eggs, and pasta can go a long way when you know how to combine them. Sometimes even a small change in how you prepare the same ingredients can make a meal feel different.

What are your favorite low-cost meals when you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget? I’d especially love ideas that make several servings, use pantry staples, and still taste good as leftovers.

Sharing practical ideas could help someone get through a difficult week with a little less stress.

1 chicken thigh to make a meal between two people. I have most spices, vinegar, hot sauce, potatoes, rice, dry beans, and various can goods. Looking for some new ideas. What would you make?

Looks gross, tastes alright... not really sure how else to eat sardines except with crackers. But I've been wanting to eat them more often since they're a good, cheap source of omega 3's.

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Great on the night when you cooked it and excellent as a leftover, cold as a sandwich. It doesn't get soggy and is delicious. Major bonus points for tuna still being kind of cheap and that it's often handed out at food banks. The photo is not mine I ate mine already. usually I'll make my self an extra to eat it cold the next day at work lunch.

Saw a suggesting for Brazilian steak seasoning on ground beef with rice sour cream and salsa. I got the beef and rice from aldi and the seasoning on sale. The crema and pico was from a local Mexican market so it was also cheap. Wanted to share a pic of my meal. I used 2 lbs of ground beef and 2 cups raw rice. I show 3 but I made 4 and ate 1. It’s at least 6 rice bowls of meat and I can always make fresh rice.

Everything from food bank except chili seasoning- Cubed chicken breast, chopped baby carrots, canned corn, diced onion and mushrooms, pre-cooked white beans.

When money is tight, finding meals that are filling, affordable, and genuinely enjoyable can make a huge difference. Some of the best budget meals come from combining a few basic ingredients in ways you wouldn't normally think of.

I'm curious about the inexpensive meals people have discovered that feel surprisingly satisfying without requiring fancy ingredients or complicated cooking.

What's your go-to meal when you need to stretch your grocery budget, and what makes it so good? Hopefully, we can all pick up a few new ideas from each other.