{"id":1410578,"date":"2019-11-08T23:26:38","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T06:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=990645"},"modified":"2019-11-08T23:26:38","modified_gmt":"2019-11-09T06:26:38","slug":"weekend-dish-budget-gourmet-recipes-at-your-fingertips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/local-news\/weekend-dish-budget-gourmet-recipes-at-your-fingertips\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Dish: Budget gourmet recipes at your fingertips"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $('#imageGallery-990645-482').lightSlider({ gallery:true, item:1, loop:true, thumbItem:9, slideMargin:0, enableTouch:true, enableDrag: false, currentPagerPosition:'left', onSliderLoad: function(el) { $( '.gallery-loading' ).hide(); $( '.swift-gallery' ).css( 'opacity', 1 ); \/*var maxHeight = 0, container = $(el), children = container.children(); children.each(function () { var childHeight = $(this).prop( 'scrollHeight' ); if (childHeight > maxHeight) { maxHeight = childHeight; } }); container.height(maxHeight);*\/ } }); }); <\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"row gallery-loading\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<p class=\"text-center\"><i class=\"fas fa-circle-notch fa-spin\"><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" style=\"opacity: 0;\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-990645-482\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/baked-potato-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/baked-potato-1024x680.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Provided | Hot baked potato\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Hot baked potato<\/strong><br \/>Provided<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/baked-potato-1024x680.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .col --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .row --> <\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/barley-soup-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/barley-soup-1024x684.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Provided | A bowl of beef and barley soup with carrots, tomato, potato, celery, and peas.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>A bowl of beef and barley soup with carrots, tomato, potato, celery, and peas.<\/strong><br \/>Provided<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/barley-soup-1024x684.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .col --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .row --> <\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/pineapple-cherry-cake-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/pineapple-cherry-cake-1024x826.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Provided | Homemade upside down pineapple cake and fresh pineapple on orange tablecloth.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Homemade upside down pineapple cake and fresh pineapple on orange tablecloth.<\/strong><br \/>Provided<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/pineapple-cherry-cake-1024x826.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .col --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .row --> <\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/pinterest-search-recipe-easy-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/pinterest-search-recipe-easy-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Provided | Pinterest search for easy, affordable recipes.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Pinterest search for easy, affordable recipes.<\/strong><br \/>Provided<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/pinterest-search-recipe-easy-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .col --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .row --> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I was the quintessential starving student in college. During my first year in the dorms, I was forced to purchase my university\u2019s dining plan to my detriment. <\/p>\n<p>Our dorm rooms did not have kitchenettes, so the college conveniently required all freshmen to buy the dining plan. The food was subpar at best. One time, my friends and I saw one of the lunch workers bring in a box that read \u201cpremium wet dog food\u201d into the back door of the dining hall. The next day, they served us beef stroganoff. Coincidence? I think not.<\/p>\n<p>Needless to say, I ate a lot of ramen and popcorn that year. We were at least allowed to have microwaves in our dorm, so I could do some basic cooking. After freshman year, I moved out of the dorms and started the hellish process known as adulting. I worked so many service industry jobs but could only afford to pay my bills barely. I still ate a lot of ramen. If it weren\u2019t for multivitamins, I would have been malnourished during this time.<\/p>\n<p>When I finally started my master\u2019s program, I was sick of ramen<br \/>\nand popcorn. I had saved up enough money to move into a townhouse with a full<br \/>\nkitchen. I also lived alone for the first time, so I really had to watch out for<br \/>\nmyself. I worked during the day and attended classes at night, so I ate out all<br \/>\nthe time, which depleted my funds and expanded my waistline. This was when I<br \/>\ndecided to teach myself how to prepare nutritious food at home properly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/fresh-produce-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-990651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/fresh-produce-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/fresh-produce-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/fresh-produce-768x526.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Fresh produce<\/strong><br \/><em>Provided<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>I bought old recipe books at thrift stores and library sales. The internet did exist during this time, but Facebook was brand new, and Pinterest did not exist yet. Online recipes were scant. Using the old recipe books, I learned the basics of cooking and discovered it was not as challenging as I thought. I would cook affordable yet delicious meals on Sunday nights and freeze the rest to eat during my busy week. Over time, I became a halfway decent cook, and my nutrition greatly improved from eating healthier meals. I got in shape, ate well and never felt better. Life was good.<\/p>\n<p>Then disaster struck. I received my master\u2019s degree in May of 2008. As most of us remember, the economy tanked in September of that year, and we entered the Great Recession. I was back to being impoverished on a ramen budget. <\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-beans-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-990652\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-beans-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-beans-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-beans-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Legumes, bean seed in sack.<\/strong><br \/><em>Provided<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>This was a challenging time for me financially, but I refused to eat poorly. I could not afford some of the fresh, organic ingredients I had become used to. Instead, I started buying dried beans, lentils and rice from the bulk aisles. I also stocked up on canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. I became a master of mixing and matching random foodstuffs to make my meals. Sometimes I felt like I would magically pull almost empty air from my cabinets to make myself dinner. I was in survival mode. <\/p>\n<p>These days, the economy has improved from those dark times, but I<br \/>\nstill hustle. I am not rolling in dough by any means, but I do not have to<br \/>\nworry about having enough food. However, many of my friends have to work at<br \/>\nleast two jobs just to make ends meet. Times are still tough for many, and it<br \/>\ncan be so expensive just to be alive here. I certainly cannot afford to eat out<br \/>\nall the time, so I still rely on the cooking skills I acquired during scrappier<br \/>\ntimes.<\/p>\n<p>There are also so many resources available online now to help you find affordable, easy and delicious recipes. There are also some essential staple items that you should always keep in your pantry. These include beans (canned or dry), oats, frozen vegetables, affordable produce, brown rice, eggs, dried spices, flour, vegetable stock, and canned tomatoes. If you keep these ingredients in your pantry, then you can practically make anything. <\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-oats-seeds-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-990654\" width=\"342\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-oats-seeds-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-oats-seeds-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/dried-oats-seeds-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 342px) 100vw, 342px\" \/><figcaption>Provided<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The challenge can sometimes be finding inspiration. This is when<br \/>\nI turn to the internet, specifically Pinterest. You can use such search<br \/>\nkeywords as \u201caffordable, cheap, quick, easy, recipes\u201d to find hundreds of<br \/>\ninspirational recipes. I do this all the time to make the ingredients that I<br \/>\nalready have stretch as far as possible. You can get the most bang for your<br \/>\nbuck while having better nutrition than you would be eating fast food all the<br \/>\ntime. Cooking is also an art that can bring your friends and family together.<\/p>\n<p>I have compiled some affordable and tasty recipes from Pinterest below. Assuming that you have many of these items already on hand, this entire meal can be made for less than 20 dollars. I have made these in the past and can vouch for them. I always invite you to add your own ingredients to make these your own signature creations. <\/p>\n<p>Whether money is lacking or abundant, you should still eat well. Food is life, and your health is your real wealth.<\/p>\n<p><em class=\"\">Jordan Callier is an avid foodie and business owner in Glenwood Springs.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"swift-infobox p402_hide \">\n<div class=\"module module-promo card shadow-sm\">\n<div class=\"card-header\"><i class=\"fas fa-info-circle\"><\/i> Vegan Barley Stew<\/div>\n<div class=\"card-body\">\n<p><em>Serves two to four people<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients<\/strong><br \/>\n1-1\/2 cups barley<br \/>\n1 can tomatoes, crushed<br \/>\n4 cups vegetable stock<br \/>\n2 cups water<br \/>\n1\/2 medium onion, chopped<br \/>\n3 carrots, sliced<br \/>\n2 medium potatoes, cubed<br \/>\n3 cloves garlic, sliced<br \/>\n1\/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)<br \/>\n1 teaspoon cumin<br \/>\n1 teaspoon chile powder<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-990655 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/spices-and-dried-beans-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/spices-and-dried-beans-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/spices-and-dried-beans-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/spices-and-dried-beans-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/spices-and-dried-beans.jpg 1333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Directions<\/strong><br \/>\n1. Combine all ingredients in a large pot.<br \/>\n2. Cook on medium for about three hours while stirring occasionally.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mamalikestocook.com\/slow-cooker-vegan-barley-stew\/?fbclid=IwAR37oHsBkqhu3SxP-4X6XRkTleb6k9TsyjADvwbLVCwTHV7lnjfZHoy3Emg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/bit.ly\/barley-soup-pi<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END .card-body --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .module --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .swift-infobox --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"swift-infobox p402_hide \">\n<div class=\"module module-promo card shadow-sm\">\n<div class=\"card-header\"><i class=\"fas fa-info-circle\"><\/i> Baked Potatoes<\/div>\n<div class=\"card-body\">\n<p><em>Serves four people<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients<\/strong><br \/>\n4 Russet potatoes<br \/>\n2 tablespoons olive oil<br \/>\nSalt and pepper to taste<\/p>\n<p><strong>Directions<\/strong><br \/>\n1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.<br \/>\n2. Thoroughly rinse potatoes and cut away any brown spots.<br \/>\n3. Brush olive oil onto the outside of the potato, and poke with a fork several times to ventilate.<br \/>\n4. Bake in oven for about an hour and a half or until potato skin starts to (barely) wrinkle.<br \/>\n5. Carefully slice into halves and then mash with a fork.<br \/>\n6. Add preferred seasonings such as butter, cheese, mayonnaise, bacon pieces, sour cream, chives, salsa, ranch or anything you prefer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/recipesformen.com\/baked-potatoes\/?fbclid=IwAR1zRTxbJLMOCf0o0a7YXfYaSwj8huEZ7CrRm1E2aimOn95C6Tas58yWraU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/bit.ly\/baked-potato-pi<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END .card-body --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .module --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .swift-infobox --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"swift-infobox p402_hide \">\n<div class=\"module module-promo card shadow-sm\">\n<div class=\"card-header\"><i class=\"fas fa-info-circle\"><\/i> Pineapple Cherry Cake<\/div>\n<div class=\"card-body\">\n<p><em>Serves four to five people<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients<\/strong><br \/>\n1 large can (28 ounces) cherry pie filling<br \/>\n1 can (15 ounces) crushed pineapple<br \/>\n1 box (18 ounces) yellow cake mix<br \/>\n12 tablespoons butter<\/p>\n<p><strong>Directions<\/strong><br \/>\n1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br \/>\n2. In a baking pan, add crushed pineapple then top with cherry filling.<br \/>\n3. Pour the cake mix over the top of fruit, then add chunks of butter evenly over the top of cake mix.<br \/>\n4. Bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iheartnaptime.net\/dump-cake\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/bit.ly\/pineapple-cherry-cake-pi<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END .card-body --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .module --> <\/div>\n<p><!-- END .swift-infobox --> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/entertainment\/weekend-dish-budget-gourmet-recipes-at-your-fingertips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hot baked potatoProvided A bowl of beef and barley soup with carrots, tomato, potato, celery, and peas.Provided Homemade upside down pineapple cake and fresh pineapple on orange tablecloth.Provided Pinterest search for easy, affordable recipes.Provided Show CaptionsHide Captions I was the quintessential starving student in college. During my first year in the dorms, I was forced [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1410578","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-28 15:23:28","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KKCH - The Lift FM","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1410578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1410578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1410578\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1410578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1410578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1410578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}