Feast on the Cheap

A quick divergence towards cooking again. I am a full time student with a full time job so eating well without frivolously spending money can be difficult. However, I have mastered certain basic principles which can be applied over and over which will keep your belly full, lips smackin, and wallet a little heavier so you can spend your money on true items of value..... like alcohol.

Lets be honest meat is rather delicious, and especially in America we have come to expect it to be a central component of every meal. This is a big one which you will have to strike from your prejudices about food if you truly desire to eat in a less expensive and healthier way, but still with plenty of taste. The trick is to find substitutes for protein which are more affordable. I'm not saying meat is bad, theirs nothing I love more than a good steak, or meaty pork ribs, but I don't usually have the time, funds, or energy to make such a culinary endeavor work.
This first recipe post will give some ideas for meatless, tasty substitutes low in cost and time to prepare:

I came up with this the other night after a day full of lifting weights and hiking/running up a mountain which left me famished and nearly passing out behind the wheel on the drive home.

For 2 people

4 medium sized red potatoes
1 can of sweet corn or substitute fresh corn if available
1/4 an onion
1/2 jalepeno pepper
3-6 pieces of okra or any other quick cooking vegetable to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of milk

Boil potatoes till soft, drain and remove from heat.
Chop onion, jalapeno, and okra and add to heated skillet with olive oil.
Once veggies begin to get soft add corn and salt and pepper. When all ingredients are acclimated to each other add the milk, stir till combined. On medium to low heat allow corn mixture to cook down till practically all the milk is gone creating a cream corn like consistency. Now while the corn is finishing take your finished potatoes drain, skin if you desire, and taking a spoon or potato masher quickly turn them into yummy lumps. Feel free to add a little milk or butter, salt and pepper to the mix to taste. When the corn is finished pour over your mashed potatoes and now you have potatoes with cream corn gravy!

Would you look at that, no meat, little fat, rather filling and you probably spent less 5-6 buck on the ingredients with leftovers for lunch. YO to the LO.