Filling, CHEAP Stove Top Meal

Boxed cornbread stuffing with canned mixed veggies. Yum.

Back when I was working for Dollar General, one of the most atrocious companies in the world to work for, barely surviving and struggling with applying for SSDI, I faced literal food insecurity daily. I learned to adapt with cheap recipes I pretty much made up like my not so famous pea salad and this. It's super easy, cheap, keeps well in the fridge, is very filling, has some nutritional value at least and even tastes good cold. I'm sure it's loaded with sodium, so I'm not by any stretch of the imagination calling it healthy.

It's two ingredients and couldn't be any simpler. In a saucepan, combine one box of stuffing mix, any brand, like Stove Top, and one can of mixed vegetables with the water they're packed in. You might have to add another half can or so of water, but you'll have to experiment a little with that. If you're fancy and can afford it, some butter or margarine adds flavor. Stir well, heat and eat.

See, I told you it was simple. I portioned it out into small plastic containers, refrigerated it and took it to work for lunch. It usually lasted a good week in the fridge. I ate the leftovers cold but you could also microwave them for 10 or so seconds at a time until they're hot enough to suit you. If you do that, you might add a dash of water so it doesn't get dried out.

To make it actually good, you could add some chicken broth instead of the water from the veggies and maybe some fresh ingredients like sliced mushrooms or whatever your heart desires and your creativity can conjur. Frozen mixed vegetables would work just as well as the cans, though I never tried those in it. Your thoughts? Let me know!