Less is More

From Tales from a Studio Apartment by David Silva

December 28, 2009

In the wonderful world of “saving money” and living on a budget, there are times when you just want to scream at the top of your lungs “FUGGEDABOUDIT”!!!!!

(Channeling my inner Bronx-native)

I went in the supermarket on FULL intentions with making $5 lunches when BAM! The discounted produce box was E-M-P-T-Y. What’s a budget vegetarian to do? I looked around ... I saw goat cheese. I saw feta cheese. I saw grape tomatoes. And I rolled up my sleeves and said to myself firmly: NO budget this week. This week you are TREATING YOURSELF. And I did. Happily.

I made 3 meals for $30, which still is not that bad! My new goal was that I was to make more things with quality ingredients: Less is more.

There is no doubt that I am a roasting addict. (repeat) A-D-D-I-C-T. I’m sorry, but roasting vegetables just brings out the BEST flavor! AND I can do a load of laundry while I roast! UM, hello convenience! I read a recipe somewhere that included roasted green beans and I knew that THAT is what I wanted to try to make.

Here were my meal combos:
roasted grape tomatoes and green beans with garlic, feta, and walnuts
...and...
roasted pears and butternut squash with garbanzo beans, goat cheese, rosemary, and ginger

As I ate leftovers today for lunch, an enormous smile filled my face. It feels SO GOOD breaking the rules sometimes.