So Cheap It's Making Me Hot

Talk about EASY, and Cheap to the Max.

Bulgur Salad with Feta & Mint

• 1.5 cups bulgur (.60)
  
• 1/2 tsp. salt (.05)
  
• 1/2 pepper (.05)
  
• 1/2 mint leaves, thinly sliced (1.00)
• 3 tspn lemon juice (.30)
• 1/2 Feta cheese (.50)

Bring 1.5 cups of water and the 1/2 tsp salt to a boil on stove. Stir in the bulgur, turn off the heat, and cover for 15 minutes. Scrape up with a fork and dump into serving platter. Add olive oil, pepper, and lemon juice, mix to coat.

Add feta cheese and chopped mint, mix thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste. Hello EASY!

Makes Six Servings. Total Cost $2.40. Hot damn!

Fifteen Minute Chili

Smokin' hot, smokin' fast. Seriously, I think on my gas stove this takes even less than 15 minutes.

• 1 can corn, drained (.60)
• 1 can tomato sauce (.60)
  
• 1 can stewed tomatoes (.60)
  
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (.60)
  
• 1/4 cup dried onion pieces (.20)
  
• 1/2 tsp crushed chili peppers (.05)
  
• 1 tsp canola oil (.05)
  
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper (.05)
  
• 1/2 tsp oregano (.05)
  
• 1 piece of garlic, finely chopped (.05)
  
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, topping (.30)
  
• 1/2 sour cream, for topping (.30)
  

Basically heat the oil and the garlic for 2 minutes on medium heat. Literally put the remainder of the ingredients in the pot and heat through for about five minutes. Serve in shallow bowls topped with sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Total Cost: $3.45 Makes 4 Servings.

Nice and spicy, I served it with toasted buttered bread.

Chile Rellenos

This is an easy and moderately cheap dinner.

Ingredients:

1 cup sour cream (.30)
1 cup fat-free egg product (1.00)
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped (.50)
1 onion (.30)
1 6oz can chopped green chiles (.70)
2 Tbspn chopped red chiles in addobo (.70)
3 oz shredded cheddar cheese (.50)
3 oz shredded mont. jack cheese (.50)

Total Cost: $5.50

Baked at 350 for 35 minutes. Let rest for five minutes before slicing and serving. Makes four servings.

Spicy and yummy! Serve with a dollop of sour cream to cool it down.

Black Bean Soup

Hmmm...who wants to open up their sinuses? This one is spicy!

• 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained. (1.25)
• 1 tsp olive oil (.10)
  
• 1 onion, chopped. (.30)
  
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped. (.50)
  
• 1 cup frozen corn. (.50)
  
• 2 tsp chili powder (.10)
  
• 1.5 tsp cumin (.10)
  
• 2 cups vegetable broth (.10--made with vegetable cube disolved in boiling water)
  
• 1 cup water (0)
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (1.00)
  

Total Cost: $3.95. Makes four servings.