Favorite Meal under $2.00

[akblack10]

What are forum member's favorite meals for under $2.00? &nbsp;I am getting ready to hit the road for about 4 months and I am looking for ideas.<div>My favorite would have to be Black Beans and Brown Rice with Hot Sauce! &nbsp;A complete meal for not too much money!</div>

 

[akrvbob]

I carry a propane BBQ and my favorite meal under $2 is a hamburger. A pound of very lean hamburger is less than $4 and makes 4 hamburgers, so it is only $1, add the fixins and its still under $2. Or I can make 2 hamburger and 2 sloppy joe meals. Or 1 hamburgers and 4 spaghetti dinner meals.&nbsp; Or 2 taco and 2 burrito meals. Or meatloaf and baked potatoes. Unlimited possibilities! Bob<br>

 

[Guest]

You know, as I think about it, most meals I cook and eat are close to that if not quite a bit under....<br><br>I pretty much eat like a Mexican and many of my meals are something to roll up in a tortilla...burritos can be made with anything at all...the latest term&nbsp; is "wraps" I think.<br>One of my favorite meals is to saute onions, fresh jalapeño pepper, chopped garlic and then scramble eggs in the mix...I then add some fresh chopped tomatoes and if available, some avocado, sprinkle with finely cubed cheese, a good dose of Cholula hot sauce and then wrap in a flour tortilla or if I have fresh corn tortillas I will just eat with a fork and eat the tortilla along with it.<br><br>If alone,&nbsp; I only use a couple eggs and I only buy aguacate if the price is right and ripe. If with my partner, we use 4 or 5 eggs.<br><br>Another quick and cheap meal is a fried egg sandwich. I often do pretty much the same as above...with onion, garlic, tomato and jalapeño and a couple eggs broken over it. It makes a nice sandwich and my wife who is not as fond of eggs as I am, loves me to make one for her.<br><br>I nice change of egg meals I make are breakfast burritos. I do much the same as above but chop up some potatoes and fry them with it and wrap a tortilla around a generous portion.....I then pour some green or red chile sauce (enchilada sauce) over the rolled up burrito and eat with a knife and fork.<br>I like Hatch brand green enchilada sauce and I usually make my own red out of ground red chile and water....a little salt and garlic powder helps......<br><br>A possible add to the breakfast burritos is Spam, bought in the foil wrapped single slabs. You can just use as much as you want chopped and fried and use the rest the next meal for something else.<br>Bri<br><br>P.S. I have gone to no refrigeration so I really like eggs as they keep a long time without refrigeration and I buy the produce as I go. <br>

 

[akblack10]

Thanks for the recommendations AKRvBob and BK2Valve, I got hungry reading your posts, really!<div>-AK</div>

 

[Ravensoracle]

Rice dishes. Definitely for the price, rice would have to be my choice. A big bag of rice will go a long way and it keeps really well. It also helps you expand on whatever meal you've made.<div><br></div><div>A good breakfast recipe I like is rice cooked with raisins and a little bit of sugar. Once it's done add a little milk. Eating it warm on a cold brisk morning really helps get you moving.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

 

[sl1966]

To expand on the rice. Something my sister and I did growing up was to put a scoop or two of rice in a bowl and then one of those banquet chicken pot pies on top of and broken up over it. Tasty and filling.<div><br></div><div>Loco Moco (A Hawaiian breakfast dish) is another great one.&nbsp;</div><div>2 scoops of rice</div><div>1 hamburger patty</div><div>brown gravy over that</div><div>1 fried egg on top of everything.</div><div><br><div><br></div></div>

 

[Guest]

To expand again on the rice.....see the Thermo Cooker thread....the thermo cooking way will really save cooking fuel. Being rather slow...I recently discovered the Rice Sides in Walmart for a buck a piece...many flavors and ingredients and by adding some other ingredients you can make a great meal for two regular folks or one really hungry big dude....<br>brian<br><br>

 

[VanTramp]

To expand again on the rice, I prefer gummi bears <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Okay, you did say meals... Actually, one of my favorites that is cheap and usually well under $2 is liver. YUM!&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Most of our meals come in at under $2 per also. We do a lot of crock pot stuff after a baked chicken or ham etc which stretches it into a couple two or three more nights of food for two people. Can end up pretty cheap.</div>

 

[Guest]

Michael......when will you learn?&nbsp; Gummi Bears, Circus Peanuts or Cheez-like&nbsp; product in a can do not fit in any food group like chocolate or jelly donuts do....sheesh! <br><br>On a more serious note....LIVER???? Ok, liver is good and used to be good for you but what do you think about it being a filter for anything poisonous or nasty in the animal's diet????? Do you eat organically raised liver?<br><br>Good to see you posting on here again my friend.<br><br>Bri <br><br><br>

 

[sl1966]

There's also the route of the 15¢ ramen noodle packets. Millions of college students have found creative ways to use them&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>The noodles ...</div><div><a href="http://www.maruchan.com/" target="_blank">http://www.maruchan.com/</a></div><div><br></div><div>Here's just one of the sites out there with a bunch of recipes</div><div><a href="http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/12/01/100-awesome-ramen-recipes-for-starving-college-students/" target="_blank">http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/12/01/100-awesome-ramen-recipes-for-starving-college-students/</a> </div><div><br></div><div>Here's a ramen recipe that will make you an honorary asian.</div><div>1 pkg maruchan (beef, chicken, or whatever)</div><div>1 can vienna sausage</div><div>1 healthy dose of Sriracha hot sauce</div><div><br></div>

 

[akblack10]

sl1966 thanks for the recommendations (thanks to everyone!) &nbsp; I kinda consider myself an honorary Asian now! &nbsp;I can eat the bottom out of a plate (or bowl) of just about any asian dish! &nbsp;I lived in Japan for 3 years, Cambodia for 7 months and visited many other Asian Countries. &nbsp;I make a pretty mean Kimchi if don't say so myself!&nbsp;

 

[sl1966]

You're beyond honorary then with the kind of time you put in there.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"><div><br></div>

 

[VanTramp]

Michael......when will you learn?&nbsp; Gummi Bears, Circus Peanuts or Cheez-like&nbsp; product in a can do not fit in any food group like chocolate or jelly donuts do....sheesh! <br><br>On a more serious note....LIVER???? Ok, liver is good and used to be good for you but what do you think about it being a filter for anything poisonous or nasty in the animal's diet????? Do you eat organically raised liver?<br><br>Good to see you posting on here again my friend.<br><br>Bri <br>

<div><br></div><div>LOL! When? Learn? Me? Prolly never&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif">&nbsp;You know me an my Squeeze Cheez! Actually, Heidi has been helping me get a bit better of a diet going though I haven't yet grown out of the &nbsp;gummi bears.(that one will take some time)&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>We have been going all organic and of course she grows a lot of our food anyway. We have even been going out to the dairy in Sequim to buy cream to make butter (and pet the baby cows of course) since you can't buy raw butter in Washington. And Yep, that nummy blood filter is from organic raised only. Grass fed, free range etc. Same with the eggs &amp; chicken, all happy free range stuff.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Heidi was just dressing out some ducks that came from our lower field this morning. These were shot by a barn customer.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I believe we are heading in healthy directions! &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Glad to see you posting here again too my friend! Have missed your input!</div><div><br></div>

 

[Guest]

Hey amigo...cool beans and ***** bears too.<br><br>It sounds like your bride is keeping you in great shape. Good for you two. Howz The Marine doing? Good I hope. Say hi and give him a...a ....well, whatever you give a Marine to say howdy...shoulder punch? fist touch? beer?<br><br>Anyway stay healthy and see you in a couple months I hope...<br><br>Bri<br><br>

 

[VanTramp]

Hope so too, would be great to see ya again!&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Probably will go with the shoulder punch and a beer for the marine <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div>

 

[Wild_E]

I have two different types of meals for under $2 bucks<div>Breaky, smoked turkey drumstick or thigh, sliced thin like bacan and tossed in the pan, with eggs. Serve with an orange and tomato</div><div>Yes, the smocked turkey is more than $2 but will last you about 3-4 days, so cheap per meal</div><div><br></div><div>2nd is lunch dinner;</div><div>can of Veggie Chile or Meat Chile, add in some Sweet potatoes (pre cooked)</div><div>cost is about $2 per meal.</div>

 

[cyndi]

You guys don't get enough veggies.<div><br></div><div>Inmates have perfected the art of cooking with nothing</div><div><a href="http://www.whitecollarprisonguide.com/images/PRISON_RECIPES.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.whitecollarprisonguide.com/images/PRISON_RECIPES.pdf</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.friendsbeyondthewall.com/cbc/cellblock_cafe_menu.html" target="_blank">http://www.friendsbeyondthewall.com/cbc/cellblock_cafe_menu.html</a> </div>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Meal ideas&nbsp;for under $2 meal... </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Well, I do eat a LOT of sardines, smoked oysters, braised eel, etc.&nbsp; One can of that plus a fruit cup would be about $2.00.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I also like to go to McDonald's and get the side salad and add on my own imitation crab meat.&nbsp; Total - under 2 bucks with LOTS of protein.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Lots of wraps... I like to use the salad bar veggies and meat strips.&nbsp; Otherwise I will get one slice of cheese and two ounces of the lean&nbsp;deli toast beef&nbsp;and put it in a wrap with spicy brown mustard.&nbsp; I also stir fry lots of stuff from the salad bar and eat it with tortillas.&nbsp; Cost is always around $2 a meal.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Toaster oven pizzas in the cargo van are a favorite.&nbsp; You can get as creative as you like but the cost is minimal and it's easy to count the calories.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sometimes I will just use a small amount of cooked shrimp, a bit of cheese and mayo, and make a sandwich or wrap... I learned from the Brits about how tasty a "prawn and mayonnaise sandwich" can be.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Tomato soup and a&nbsp;small cheese and onion quesadilla.&nbsp; I absolutely love quesadillas and use them for lots of stuff... Who doesn't live a good ole' grilled cheese sandwich in any culture?</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sloppy Joes with beef or ground turkey... Love 'em.&nbsp; Broken down for cost, you can eat them pretty cheap - under $2/serving.&nbsp; The leaner the beef, the better they taste cold.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Biscuit and gravy.&nbsp; You can get the gravy packet cheap, it's instant, and you can scale it to what you want.&nbsp; You can even add a little sausage to the gravy if desired.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I love mac and cheese... It's kind of fun to get the mac and cheese instant cups and add a bit of diced salad bar ham to them.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Instant soup cups are tasty but the darn sodium is so high... <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p>

 

[lampliter]

Ramen-mixed with all kinds of stuff-sardines,tuna,mixed vegs,creamed corn,peperroni,eggs,canned baby shrimp, canned oysters,---use your imagination---<br>Boil ramen 3 minutes-add ingredients-heat 30sec to 1 min.<br>This is the most versatile and packable food I have found.<br>Break the ramen up while still in the package-the finer the better.<br>Throw away the little packet of flavoring and add your own-unless you like msg.<br>My flavoring:<br>Paprika,chile powder, sea salt,pepper,cumin,dry mustard,celery seed,old bay,allspice.-mix it all together and put it on everything, it takes a bit of experimenting to get the proportions you like. If you like it hot add some red pepper.<br><br>

 

[karl]

Pancakes- often add corn, beans, tomato....whatever veggies are handy, or fruit- dried or fresh (often fruit cup), or precooked/dried meat or fish. Mix&nbsp; right into the batter and fry.<br>Great way to extend leftover stuff.<br><br>