Cheap & Easy Dinner Ideas

 Whether you're strapped for time or just get tired of cooking, here are some cheap and easy ideas to help you get dinner ready in a snap!

1. Let the spices do the work

No need for complicated recipes and forget that energy sucker known as your stove! With the right seasonings, you can turn simple lunch staples into delicious main courses.

What you'll need:

2-3 tsp  low-sodium taco seasoning -or- 2 tsp hot sauce

2 cans of tuna 

Mayo -or- ripe avocado

½ cup Bell pepper and onion, diced

Tostadas

Salsa for serving

Mix up your tuna like you would for tuna salad sandwiches. Stir in the bell pepper, onion, and taco seasoning or hot sauce. Spread some on the tostada, plop some salsa on top and enjoy!

If you're vegetarian or vegan, you can make the same thing using refried beans. Skip the mayo, and mix the taco seasoning, pepper, and onion into a can of vegetarian refried beans. Heat it up on the stove, then serve it up like you would the tuna or eat it with tortilla chips!

If you have a little extra time, make your own pico de gallo! It's delicious and a great way to get your raw fruit and veg. I add chopped cabbage to mine for more roughage.

2. Get your Omega-3s without spending a fortune

I know that fish is best for you, if you're gonna eat animals, but it's sooo expensive and sooo gross to handle, that I almost always use canned fish. Sardines are your best choice. They are more sustainable than other canned fish, have high levels of Omega-3s and low levels of mercury. Here's a an easy pasta dish featuring sardines and just 5 other ingredients!

3. Eggs aren't just for breakfast!

I will eat a poached egg on top of just about anything. They're delicious on rice, noodles, beans, sandwiches and even sauteed vegetables! They add a satisfying kick of protein and are a cinch to cook. Not to mention they're cheap! Even if you buy the organic dozen, one egg will cost you less than 45¢ (on average). If you've never poached an egg, here are some simple directions.

4. Ok, maybe eggs are just for breakfast

If you're not into eggs over beans, then why not just have breakfast for dinner? It's one of the simplest, most satisfying meals of the day, so why dismiss the toast just because it's 6pm? So fry up an egg, slice up some fruit, and enjoy your toast! For more ideas, read this post on breakfast basics made better, or try this simple recipe for peaches and toast.

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Recipe: Peaches & Toast

A recipe post is long overdue. I thought I would share one of my favorite breakfast recipes with you. I grew up eating peaches and toast, but other than that I don't know where it originated from. It could be my grandmother's invention; it could be Dutch; who knows!

Bacon is the perfect side. It goes so well with sweet fruity or caramel flavors. but if you're like me and hate smelling like bacon all day, or don't have room in your diet for bacon (especially since you ate 2 1/4 pieces of pie last night), a soft-boiled egg is a nice side of protein.

One of this recipe's best features (other than being delicious), is that it's fast and simple! This makes it perfect for all different sorts of breakfast situations. Live by yourself? Having 10 people over early in the morning? (Goodness, why would anyone do that?) It can even work when you're camping! Anyway, I will give you the recipe and you will see how easy it is!

(This version serves 2 people)

Ingredients:

-Two 15.25 oz. cans peaches in light syrup

-1/4 tsp cinnamon

-Sprinkling of nutmeg

-4 pieces of good whole wheat bread

-Butter, to taste

-Bacon, to taste

1. Empty both cans of peaches into a saute pan or sauce pot. Mix in cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to a very small boil over medium heat. Let bubble for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to low.

2. While peaches are cooking, make your toast. A nice wheat or oat bread works best, as it holds up well and the nuttiness of the grains goes very nicely with the peaches. Toast to preferred darkness and apply butter as necessary (avoid eye contact).

3. Serves peaches over toast. Spoon a little extra syrup onto the corners. This will soften them a bit. You don't want the bread swimming in syrup, though, because it gets too soggy! I mean, if you like really sloppy sloppy bread soup, by all means, add more, but I prefer it just slightly softened.

For larger quantities, get those giant cans of peaches. They can also be used as doorstops and camera stands.

Variations:

If you have more time, use fresh peaches. Water and sugar will make a nice syrup.

Add sliced bananas and use coconut butter on the toast! My mom made this variation last summer when we were breakfasting in the garden. It was the perfect morning.

Let me know if you have any questions, because I undoubtedly left something out.