Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Working Poor

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

27. Yes. A ham is the most amazing budget stretcher there is.

Reply to kath (Reply #7)

Tue Nov 10, 2015, 02:30 AM

Nov 2015

It can seem expensive up front, but you get am amazing amount of meals out of one, especially if you keep going back to make things like scalloped potatoes with ham (one of my absolute favorites) and finish up the ham bone as soup. I make it a bean with ham soup, and add onion and carrot. You could go with beans and potatoes as mentioned.

For those who find the up-front cost of the ham daunting, see if you can set aside maybe two dollars a week from the food budget until you have enough to buy the ham. I do that.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

29 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Simple recipes I use. [View all] ladyVet Nov 2015 OP

You forgot the ramen noodles packman Nov 2015 #1

in my leaner days I ate a fair share of ramen noodles Skittles Nov 2015 #11

We sometimes have Ramen for lunch. ladyVet Nov 2015 #12

I'm not sure this fits your theme, but I've been itching to share it NV Whino Nov 2015 #2

Hm. Never thought about spicing it up like that. ladyVet Nov 2015 #13

The pepper I used was called Garden Sunshine NV Whino Nov 2015 #25

You're making me hungry. historylovr Nov 2015 #3

Sometimes I'll fry up some bell pepper strips with it, too. Yum. ladyVet Nov 2015 #14

Hi ladyVet... haikugal Nov 2015 #4

That looks good, haikugal. Probably not with a spicy sausage for us, ladyVet Nov 2015 #15

Use the not spicy sausage...would be just fine! haikugal Nov 2015 #19

Red beans and rice is an extremely hearty budget stretcher. Snarkoleptic Nov 2015 #5

Oh, yeah. That's a good one we haven't had in a while. ladyVet Nov 2015 #16

Here is a delicious, cheap and easy lentil soup recipe. femmedem Nov 2015 #6

Oh, haven't done lentils in a while! Need to pick some up next trip to the store. nt ladyVet Nov 2015 #17

you can get a LOT of meals out of a ham. kath Nov 2015 #7

I need to look for a good price on a ham. ladyVet Nov 2015 #18

Yes. A ham is the most amazing budget stretcher there is. SheilaT Nov 2015 #27

Love most of those left-of-center2012 Nov 2015 #8

Yes, it's elbow macaroni noodles as a base. ladyVet Nov 2015 #20

Mexican casserole left-of-center2012 Nov 2015 #29

Here's a "basic" dish 2naSalit Nov 2015 #9

Oh, that sounds good! ladyVet Nov 2015 #21

Indeed 2naSalit Nov 2015 #23

VERY inexpensive spices can be found at Indian and other ethnic groceries LiberalEsto Nov 2015 #10

I need to look around for what kinds of markets we have like this. ladyVet Nov 2015 #22

A delicious and inexpensive beef stew variation. ColesCountyDem Nov 2015 #24

Adding more dried beans and legumes would be a cheap source procon Nov 2015 #26

Generally speaking, cooking from scratch can be remarkably inexpensive. SheilaT Nov 2015 #28