Simple, inexpensive food presented well is a delicious, healthy way to have a pleasant meal.
Whether you are short of money or simply want to conserve resources, dinner does not have to be uninteresting and cooking dinner doesn't have to be a dreaded event. By viewing food in its simplest terms, delicious, healthy and very nutritious meals for two can be created for very little money.
Look in the Refrigerator
Before looking at specific dishes, there are a couple of things that can help as you consider making an inexpensive dinner for two. Look in your refrigerator. What do you already have, and don't need to buy? Sometimes, the contents of your refrigerator may trigger ideas of additions to make a great meal on a budget. Do you have carrots? How about herb chicken drumsticks with potatoes and fried carrot medallions. To make the fried carrot medallions, steam the carrots until almost done, then sear them in a very hot pan.
Use Your Imagination
Consider how things will work together and be very creative. For example, if you have a pork roast and some apples, make a pork stew but use the apples instead of potatoes. Adding some cinnamon to the apple pork stew can also be very good. Consider how the flavors you already have could combine into a new and unusual dish. Remember, recipes are for your reference only, unless you are baking cakes, breads or cookies.
Creative Use of Ramen
Most people consider ramen noodles to be a low-end food suitable for college students and those weeks when your food budget has simply run out. However, Chinese home cooks often use ramen noodles, or any inexpensive instant noodle, to create a variety of noodle dishes. Cook the ramen noodles as instructed. Do not add the flavoring package yet. Look in your refrigerator for meats and vegetables that are either left over from other meals or that can be quickly cooked. If you don't have cooked meat, slice some uncooked meat thinly and stir fry with whatever thinly cut vegetables you already have. When the vegetables and meat are cooked, add the ramen noodle flavor packet and add the drained noodles. Briefly stir fry the noodles to mix the flavors together. By adding vegetables of varying colors, you can create a delicious, inexpensive and beautiful meal.
Beans & Rice Variants
Properly cooked beans, spiced well with a few simple vegetables combine with rice to create a very high protein dinner. By adding vegetables, a meal of simple beans and rice can be both healthy and delicious. Try adding some slices of meat, more as a texture and spice than for its nutritional value.
