Turkey Tacos Stretched 4 College Cooking

It is tremendously sobering to realize what it means to be living below the poverty level and trying to make ends meet on a minimum wage income! Dollars that are supposed to supplement families' or couples' struggling in this area are allotted $28 dollars per week per person towards groceries--that is, if you qualify, i.e. $1500.00 combined Gross (not Net) income of 2 people AND you may not own any assets AND you must rent an apartment, house or room!!

Just think about this! What if you don't work? That's it! That is your grocery budget!

How would you survive on $28 per person each week? Very challenging! 

In an attempt to raise my own awareness on some of these poverty and hunger situations in the US, I attended a conference focused on 'Cooking On A Very Tight Budget', which basically addresses how to create nutritious, healthy, satisfying, and cheap meals to fit that very budget of $28 per person per week.

The recipe below highlights one such recipe that stretches your protein/meat (the most expensive ingredient in a grocery budget) without sacrificing value or nutrition. It is intended as a taco meat option, but can also be used as a turkey chili or filling for a burrito! I simplified the process by simply adding store-bought Taco Seasoning in case you don't have the spices! 

You should have enough food for several meals, or to share, or to save in the freezer! Easily!

(Adapted from Healthy Lives Healthy Kitchens Conference & Share Our Strength / Cooking Matters)

Turkey Tacos

Cost: $12.50 Total

8 Servings @ $1.59 / serving

Equipment:

Large non-stick skillet

Can opener

Sieve 

Grater

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey

1 carrot, grated

1 small sweet potato, grated

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (or kidney, pinto, white beans)

1 can diced tomatoes with juice

1 packet Taco Seasoning

Salt & Pepper to taste

Add-ons:

16 Taco Shells or Tortillas

8 oz Cheddar Cheese, grated

1/2 ice berg lettuce, chopped

Tomato, diced 

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Prep all of your ingredients: 

• Grate carrot and sweet potato
• Drain and rinse black beans
• Have canned tomatoes ready with juices
• Grate cheddar
• Shred lettuce and dice fresh tomato
• Small jalapeño, grated

3. In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tsp of olive oil and brown turkey meat.

4. Add grated carrot and sweet potato.

5. Add beans and canned tomatoes.

6. Add seasoning packet and 1/2 cup water.

7. Adjust salt & pepper.

8. Simmer until thickens x 10-15 minutes.

9. Heat your tacos or tortillas, or make a salad.

10. Set the table and assemble with cheddar, lettuce, and tomato in a taco or tortilla!

Meyer Lemon Mock Alfredo

Sunshine. Summer. Citrus. 

It all comes together in this linguini or bucatini pasta dish perfect for college cooking and college budgeting! Less than 24 hours after making this for dinner…Jon had consumed the rest for breakfast! 

If you can boil pasta and put a few ingredients into a magic-bullet blender, this is perfect for college living on a tight grocery budget; and, can be done with little or no skills! Honestly! 

Eat better! Cook smarter! Save money! Eat together!

(Adapted from The Cooking Light 2015 Dinner Tonight Magazine)

Meyer Lemon Mock Alfredo

Equipment:

Magic Bullet Blender

Large Pot (for boiling pasta)

Large Non-stick skillet

Ingredients:

8 oz long pasta, any type (1/2 box)

1cup pasta water, set aside

1/2 cup Part-Skim Ricotta cheese

1/4 cup Meyer lemon (or regular lemon) juice
2 tsp grated or zested Meyer lemon rind

1/4 cup Heavy Whipping cream
1/4 cup chopped chives

1/4 cup Parmesan

1 tsp kosher salt 
1/2 tsp fresh pepper

Optional For Special Occasions / Added Protein:

Seared / Sautéed shrimp
Seared / Sauteed chicken breast

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Boil your pasta. Drain & set aside 1cup pasta water. Prep your ingredients.

3. In a magic-bullet blender, combine 1/3-1/2 cup of pasta water, lemon zest, ricotta,cream, and juice.
4. Pulse until well-combined.

5. Heat a large skillet over MEDIUM heat and add the ricotta cream sauce.
6. Cook for 1-2 minutes until heated.

7. Add the cooked pasta, chives, salt, and pepper. 

8. If pasta too sticky, gradually add 1-2 Tbls of remaining pasta water.
9. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan.

If mom and dad have bought your groceries. or your celebrating an awesome event and achievement, take it up a notch with a few seared shrimp. Or, sear a chicken breast for some added protein if you can't live without the meat.