Easy Budget Meals

Great as a side dish or paired with rice for a main dish! Ready in 25 minutes with this simple recipe!

Ingredients:

1. 3 tablespoons butter
2. 1 large onion
3. 1 large cauliflower, cut into bite sized florets
4. 3 large potatoes peeled and cut into bite size pieces
5. 2 Roma tomatoes
6. 15 oz can tomato sauce
7. 4 cloves garlic
8. 2 inch piece of ginger
9. 2 teaspoons ground cumin
10. 2 teaspoons tumeric
11. 2 teaspoons curry powder
12. 2 teaspoons salt
13. 4 teaspoons garam masala
14. 1 cup frozen peas
15. 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Melt butter over high heat in a large cauldron.
2. Add potatoes and cook for 5 min, stirring occasionally.
3. Put onion, garlic, ginger and tomatoes into a food processor and pulse until a paste is formed.
4. Add cauliflower, turmeric and curry to potatoes and cook for 2 min.
5. Add the paste from the food processor and remaining spices and mix thoroughly.
6. Pour in tomato sauce and 1 cup water and bring mixture to a boil.
7. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 min or until potatoes are tender. Add frozen peas and heat throughout. Serve immediately.

Insanely easy to make, ready in a flash & absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb pasta (any variety)
2. 3 chopped Roma tomatoes
3. 1 thinly sliced large onion
4. 3 cloves minced garlic
5. 1 cup sliced mushrooms
6. 2 thinly sliced green bell peppers
7. 5 1/2 cups water
8. Pinch of salt
9. 1 tsp Italian seasoning
10. Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients, except for cheese, to a large skillet with a lid.
2. Cover and bring to a boil.
3. Remove cover and stir continuously for 10 min. Top with cheese if desired!

Super simple buttermilk pancake recipe that substitutes more common kitchen items for syrup and buttermilk (I rarely keep organic buttermilk and maple syrup on hand) but tastes just as light and fluffy as the real thing!

Ingredients:

For pancakes:

1. 2 cups whole milk
2. 2 tablespoons lemon juice
3. 2 teaspoons baking powder
4. 1 teaspoon baking soda
5. 2 tablespoons sugar
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 2 eggs
8. 2 tablespoons melted butter
9. 2 cups flour

For sauce:

1. 1/2 cup brown sugar
2. 4 tablespoons butter
3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
4. 2 teaspoons water
5. 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Whisk lemon juice and milk until thick and let sit.
2. Mix all dry ingredients for pancakes in separate bowl.
3. Add eggs to milk and whisk lightly, then mix in melted butter.
4. Create well in flour mixture and add in milk mixture. Stir lightly with wooden spoon until just barely mixed together. The less you mix the fluffier the pancakes will be!
5. Spray or melt more butter on griddle or skillet over low heat and add 1/3 cup spoonfuls of batter. Flip when bubbles form and cook until golden brown.
6. Melt butter for sauce in a saucepan over low heat and, when melted, add all other ingredients. Stir continuously until all ingredients are melted and desired consistency is reached. Pour over pancakes and enjoy!

Quick and easy meatless tacos, inspired by one of my favorite street food dishes, tacos de carne molida!

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb firm tofu
2. 3 tbsp canola oil
3. 1 heaping tsp ground cumin
4. 1 heaping tsp chili powder
5. 1 heaping tsp paprika
6. 2 tbsp soy sauce
7. 1/2 tsp salt
8. 2 cloves garlic
9. 1 cup shredded cabbage
10. 2 tomatoes
11. Small corn tortillas
12. 2 tbsp white vinegar
13. Optional cilantro and spicy peppers

Directions:

1. Set oven to 425 degrees and grease large cookie sheet.
2. Drain tofu and, over large mixing bowl, crumble into pieces resembling ground beef.
3. Add soy sauce, oil, spices and salt. Press garlic or mince and add to mixture. Mix thoroughly.
4. Spread tofu evenly on cookie sheet and bake in increments of 15 min, flipping the mixture after each increment to cook evenly. Tofu is done when browned and lightly crispy, about 30-40 min.
5. While tofu is baking mix the cabbage with the vinegar and let marinate.
6. Chop tomatoes, cilantro, peppers and any other garnishes you like.
7. Heat large nonstick skillet over high heat. Cook tortillas in skillet until lightly browned and crisp, about 60-90 seconds per side.
8. When tofu is ready assemble your tacos and enjoy!

Simple and delicious vegetarian Tikka Masala that requires very little prep and only takes 15 minutes to make!

Ingredients:

1. 1 large onion
2. 5 garlic cloves
3. 3″ piece of peeled ginger
4. 2 tomatoes
5. 1 large zucchini
6. 1 cup chopped mushrooms
7. 1 bell pepper (yellow, red or orange)
8. 2 teaspoons garam masala
9. 2 teaspoons ground cumin
10. 2 teaspoons yellow curry powder
11. 1 teaspoon paprika
12. 30 oz canned garbanzo beans
13. 15 oz canned tomato sauce
14. 1 cup water
15. 1 cup milk
16. 1/4 cup oil (butter works too)
17. Chopped cilantro

Directions:

1. Chop onion, garlic, ginger and tomatoes in a food processor until paste is formed.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger and tomato paste and turn heat to high.
3. Stir for 2 min.
4. Add spices and stir 1 min.
5. Add canned tomato sauce and water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer.
6. Chop zucchini, bell pepper and mushrooms into bite size pieces and then add to skillet.
7. Cover skillet and let simmer 7 min.
8. Add undrained cans of chickpeas and milk and heat throughout.
9. Turn off heat and add chopped cilantro. Serve over rice.