Lazy Day & Frugal Cooking

I had the day off today but it's so cold out I had no desire to venture out, plus when I leave the house I spend money. I was more than happy to sit in front of my space heater and surf the internet while sipping on coffee sitting on the couch.

After a few hours of being rather sedentary, I ventured out to the kitchen to test out one of my frugal recipes that I invented for my upcoming zine. I have been writing an article with recipes about casseroles. Especially in the winter months, we all want comfort food that's quick, cheap and easy right? So I tested my casserole and made a few adjustments but here it is! Costs about $2 to make and feeds about 6 -8people! I couldn't believe how much food this made which means I'll have lunches for awhile!

Lazy Lentil Pasta Casserole

1 cup red lentils

3 cups uncooked pasta (I used macaroni)

1 700ml jar of pasta sauce

6 cups veggie broth or water

Put all ingredients in a large casserole and stir. Preheat oven to 400F and place casserole in for 45 mins, Take out and stir then cover with foil for 15mins. All water should be absorbed and lentils & Pasta cooked!

Then I decided to make some cheap rice pudding to go with my lunches. I packaged this in 8 small containers ready to eat:

Frugal Rice Pudding

1 cup rice

4 cups milk (to be frugal use powdered soy or skim milk).  I used vanilla soymilk

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup raisins (optional)

Bring to boil, then simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed but still creamy :) Let cool and store in fridge.

After all my cooking, my friend came over and gave me my Yule present which was a candle kit! I have candle making stuff but never had the proper melting pot! I made 8 votives with chunks, as well as a sand candle. These will make great birthday gifts as all my friends have march birthdays!

After my candle making which took me the remainder of the day, my friend came over again and we went grocery shopping. He likes taking me because I save him money, though this time he was spending like mad because he got $100 worth of gift cards for the grocery store. He lives by himself and spend $110! I just told him that next time he takes me, he'll have to listen to me. haha. I bought him a book called Vegan Cooking for One which gives you a frugal grocery list. he said he didn't have time to cook because of exams this week and bought tons of premade food even though I did give him lots of chili to freeze so he could eat. LOL.

Maybe I should write a zine for starving students who have no time. He could probably use it. I know for $110 i would have bought TONS of stuff, he came out with 4 small bags. I couldn't believe it! He was dead set on those Brita Filters and gigantic $8 candle. Of course he didn't buy the gigantic jar candles for $3....he's picky. I tried!!

I spent $30 myself, which $8 was spent on beautiful dark purple  tulips. I do splurge on flowers when they are cheap and for 10 tulips, at least where I live, that was a deal. I paid $2 for a box of  individually wrapped mini turtles which i will put in gift bags for Valentines day along with other discounted chocolates I purchased this week.

Tomorrow I am back at work. I'm looking forward to packing my lunch with the frugal food I made: Casserole, rice pudding and an apple. If I calculate the cost of my entire lunch, it's under $1 for ALL of it! :) YAY!

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