In Houston, we are now several weeks into social distancing to flatten the curve of COVID-19. The economic impact of closing venues and businesses offering one-on-one services (hair, nail, massage, etc.) and/or where more than 10 people gather (schools, houses of worship, dine-in restaurants, bars, movies, live shows, etc.) has resulted in lost jobs, income, and financial security. Planning meals for one or for a family takes on a new level of stress when grocery money competes with rent money.

Leanne Brown’s “Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day” is my go-to resource for inexpensive new recipes these days.  The author lives, works, and cooks in Brooklyn, the newest epicenter for the novel coronavirus in the United States. If purchasing a new or used copy of her cookbook is not in your current budget, she has published over 100 recipes on her cooking blog and website: https://www.leannebrown.com/.

One way for omnivores to stretch a food budget is to use chicken, beef, pork, and fish in recipes that surround these proteins with vegetables.  Two cheap packets of Ramen noodles can become Phở for a family – just add vegetables and a bit of protein like sliced hard boiled eggs. Another way is to incorporate alternative proteins several days each week. We have been using a pot of beans (cook on low all day in a Crockpot) as one of our weeknight dinners for years.

If you’ve been turning to Wiess Cooks for recipes, here are my favorite entrees that best fit a restricted budget:

• Chalupas – crispy tortilla, beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese
• Caldo – yummy Mexican-style vegetable soup; use the vegetarian version here or add leftover protein from another meal.
• Pasta salad – this recipe makes a LOT of salad but it is perfect for a complete meal in a bowl; add leftover protein from another meal; vegans can eliminate the dairy ingredients
• Black Beans – serve as a soup and add a salad and chewy bread or tortillas
• Baked Potatoes – topped with shredded protein and your favorite condiments
• Tom Ka Gai – ginger coconut soup  with your choice of protein; serve over rice to help fill up heartier eaters
• Pad Thai – choose your own protein to add to this box mix; I buy it online by the 6-pack, but as more grocery stores offer curbside service it is becoming easier to get locally. For a twist, try my Texas fusion version made with leftover ham and chopped greens.
• Red Beans and Rice – with or without a link of grilled sausage on the side
• Chicken Tacos – shred breast and thigh meat from a rotisserie chicken, then boil the carcass to get the rest of the meat plus broth for soup another day
• Chicken Soup – day two of that same rotisserie chicken
• Beef Tacos – follow the recipe but serve only half the meat; use the rest of the meat in Taco Soup
• Taco Soup – also delicious as a vegetarian meal if you ate up all yesterday’s taco meat!
• Tuna Salad – make sandwiches thicker by adding lettuce and tomato, or add chopped apples or celery to the filling.
• Breakfast for Supper – breakfast proteins are often comfort foods; serve up, French Toast, pancakes, waffles, or bacon / sausage with fried eggs and toast at night. Pancakes and waffles are also fun foods for all family members to help prepare.
• Frittata – eggs and shredded cheese bind together yummy vegetables in this baked casserole
• Hot and Sour Thai Soup – this makes a huge batch – about 3 gallons; freeze a lot of it for future weeks. Unfortunately, it uses several ingredients that are beyond subsistence cooking budgets. Try substituting lemon zest and lemon juice for the Lemongrass paste and swap dried basil for the Basil Herb paste. You can also eliminate the fish sauce. Ask for the Knorr Tamarind Soup Base with your next grocery order, that is the most important ingredient in this soup. In 2020, it ran between $1.60 and $2.00 per packet. This soup takes a LOT of chopping, so include all your family members or roommates in its preparation on a weekend afternoon or evening.