Cheap Cuisine – Thai Red Curry Mussels

I came across this great Thai Red Curry Mussels recipe by Bobby Flay and I knew I had to try it. Mussels are super easy to prepare and take on whatever flavor of the liquid they’re steamed in.

I didn’t have a few of the ingredients from Bobby’srecipe, but one of the great things about cooking is you can substitute comparable ingredients based on what’s already in your fridge or pantry.

This is a quick and easy meal you’re sure to love.

Ingredients:
Mussels: $2.50/lb
Rice Noodles: $3
Fish Sauce: $2
Lime Juice: $2
Curry Paste: $3
Coconut Milk: $1
Thai Coconut Curry Broth: $2
Basil: $1.50
Cilantro: $1.50
Garlic: $1

Scrub mussels. Simmer liquid ingredients (fish sauce, lime juice, curry paste, coconut milk and broth) in a pot with chopped garlic. Add mussels and cover until the shells open. *Discard any mussels whose shells don’t open. Toss in chopped basil and cilantro the last minute of cooking.

The curry broth is delicious.

{enjoy with a crusty piece of bread}

{or with rice noodles}

Tags: cheap eats, Dining on a Dime, Food Network

Cheap {yummy} Dessert – Apple Peach Cobbler

At last week’s AOL Blogger’s Night Out, I learned about KitchenDaily.com (chef Marcus Samuelsson whipped up a few meals with recipes from the website). Of course the foodie in me was excited to learn about a new online destination offering tons of recipes and how to videos.

My mouth started to water when I came across a recipe for Mixed Berry Cobbler. I had never made cobbler before but the recipe seemed pretty simple and I had all of the necessary ingredients…except the berries. So, I just swapped out berries for apples and peaches, which were sitting in my fridge.

Click more to see the scrumptious end result…

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Tags: cheap cuisine, Dining on a Dime

Cheap Eats – Phiefer’s Diner

If there’s one thing Jersey is known for (other than the Jersey Shore kids, or the Sopranos or a smelly Turnpike) it’s the diners.

They’re litered throughout the state and serve classic dishes at an affordable price. And there’s nothing better than eating breakfast at a dinner after a long night out. I went back to Jersey this weekend for some thrifting and I had to stop by one of my favorite spots, Phiefer’s.

It’s undergone a ton of management changes in the last few years, which is reflected in the menu, but it still has that no frills diner joint feel.

{some of the “breakfast’s” specials}

Click more to see what we chowed down on…

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Tags: cheap eats

Cheap Eats – Aguapanela’s

I’ve tried noodle bowls at Xi’An and tacos at El Cafetal, so for my most recent cheap eats, I went for Columbian cuisine at Aguapanela’s.

Johara from Luvin My Curves recommended the spot and it surely didn’t disappoint. I guess I shouldn’t call the restaurant “cheap” by some standards (meals averaged $15), but the amount of food you’re given is insane and muy delicioso!

The menu was full of typical Columbian dishes like empanadas, maduros, carne asada, arroz con pollo and other yumminess.

We ate well and didn’t break the bank. Click more to see what we had.

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Tags: cheap eats

Cheap {yummy} Cuisine – Lemon Garlic Tilapia

Ah summer,  hot days and warm nights. The last thing you want to do is slave away in the kitchen. Luckily, this weekend I made a dish* that was quick, easy and of course, super affordable. Not only is fish healthy for your, but it’s simple to prepare and a great alternative for dinner guests who don’t eat pork or red meat.

I present to you: lemon garlic tilapia with mushrooms and capers.

Ingredients:
Tilapia: $7
Butter: $2
Capers: $2
Mushrooms: $1
Lemons: 66¢
Garlic: $2
Parsley flakes: $1

Click more to see how I put the meal together…

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Tags: dinner, recipes