Dreamy Tomato Soup

Deviant Art - Saehral

I had the most epic dream. Yeah, I dream a lot. And yeah, they're usually pretty geeky dreams. My dreams seem to be affected by what game I played last or what series of books I read recently. Whenever I tell my husband about my geek dreams, he gives me that sly look and says "You've been playing too much <insert latest game addiction> lately." That's when I roll my eyes and tell him I'm not sharing my epic dreams with him anymore.

Anyway, I think my dream was inspired by a mix between Codex Alera, D&D, and SWTOR. It was freakin' awesome. I could fly, I had force powers, there was an large-scale battle going on with a big bad boss and his cronies that I was fighting my way through. There were close calls and bad falls. There were triumphs and lots of butt-kicking-for-goodness! But, like all dreams, when you start explaining it to someone else, it just can't compare to experiencing it yourself. It's all a confused jumble to try and sort out and tell someone else about. Words just don't suffice.

Now I'll bet you're wondering what all this has to do with tomato soup. I'm getting there. I love Campbell's tomato soup. I figured if you're going to have tomato soup, that's the best way you could have it. However, canned soup doesn't fit my into my diet very often anymore. (If you want to learn more about what I'm doing you can check out RillsMenu.com) But, I can make my own soups!

Do you know how hard it is to find a tomato soup recipe that tastes like my favorite canned soup? HARD! I've tried recipe after recipe. But the effort was worth it because I have success. This tomato soup is not only simple to make but it's epic-ly delish. DREAMWORTHY! It's seriously like something I dreamed about that I can't describe to you! You have to experience it! You will not believe how good this tastes. It's not just like Campbell's....it's better than!

Dreamy Tomato Soup

4 Servings | Total Time: 35 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 Tbl Unsalted Butter
• 1 can Tomato Puree (not paste)
• 1/2 can Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 tsp Basil
• 1 1/2 cups Vegetable Stock
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Sugar
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream

Craft: In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, sauté the garlic in the olive oil or butter on medium-heat for 1 to 2 minutes just until the garlic has softened, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the basil, tomato puree and the crushed tomatoes, adding all juice. Bring mixture to a simmer. Add the stock, salt, sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes to cool a bit. Puree the soup in 3-4 batches in a blender. (If you lack a blender, leave the soup slightly chunky for a ‘rustic’ version. Personally, I prefer pureed, silky tomato soup.) Return the pureed soup to a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring back to a simmer over medium-heat. Stir in the heavy cream.

Strategies: You can top this with cheddar, pepperoni, crackers, bread...whatever suits your fancy. I personally love it with just a little cheese and some crumbled saltines.

LFM: Biscuits and/or salad!

Cost:

• Tomato Puree | $0.75
  
• Crushed Tomatoes | $1.50
  
• Vegetable Stock | $1.00
• Heavy Cream | $1.25

Total Cost: $4.50
Cost Per Serving: $1.13

Category: Critical Hits, Casual, Troll Fuel

GLaDOS' Chocolate Mug Cake

I have something to confess. I'd never played Portal until this last month.

/hang head in shame

Sometimes I just don't get the itch to follow a trendy game. It actually took my brother who talked to my husband who talked to me...to finally get me to take a look at the game. Conveniently it was on sale at Steam. So I gave it a try.

I was hooked. Simple introductions to the mechanics and easy puzzles that gradually got more difficult. It was really fun! I could see why a lot of people liked it. And I had a really good laugh (at myself) when I finally really understood the "cake is a lie" references. /facepalm@self. I have to say though, my favorite part was at the end of the testing when GLaDOS pulls the bait and switch. Talk about getting an emotional vested interest in a game! Then she cracked up me later with this comment that I'll never forget:


Didn't we have some fun, though? Remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit and I said "Goodbye", and you were like, "No way!" And then I was all, "We pretended we were going to murder you." That was great.

But I'm no GLaDOS. I promise that this cake is no lie. You can make your own personal chocolate cake in less than 5 minutes. Which is good because that's all the time you have before you die from my neurotoxin. Then the cake will be all mine.

You will be missed. Goodbye.

P.S. (My other favorite quote from Portal2)

It's been a long time. How have you been? I've been really busy being dead. You know, after you murdered me. But I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster.


GLaDOS' Chocolate Mug Cake

2 Servings | Total Time: 6 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 8 Tbl Flour
• 4 Tbl Sugar
• 3 Tbl Cocoa Powder
• 1 Egg
• 6 Tbl Milk
• 6 Tbl Canola Oil
• Splash of Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tbl Chocolate Chips
• 3 Strawberries
• Powdered Sugar

Craft: Mix together all ingredients. Divide and pour into 2 microwave proof coffee mugs. Microwave one at a time for two minutes. Remove the tops from the strawberries and slice in half. When the cakes are done, remove from microwave with pot holders, they're hot! Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with strawberries. This can be eaten from the mug or tipped out onto a plate.

Strategies:The cake will rise above the edge of the coffee mug. Don't panic! It simply does that while it's cooking. It'll go back down when it's done or when the heat stops.

LFM: The perfect dessert to compliment any meal.

Total Cost: < $1.00
Cost Per Serving: < $0.50

Category: Critical Hits, Cheat Codes, Phat Loot, Snackage

PvZ Skilletini

When I play my video games, I sometimes get struck by inspiration for a dish. Sometimes I make the dish, then get inspired what to name it after. But, it's like the chicken and the egg dilemma most times. Which inspired what and when?

But this dish actually did get inspired by the game first. Plants vs Zombies! It's an excellent game, full of strategy and fun but not too hard or mind-numbing. I hate to take the zombies side but...How can you stare at that lawn full of vegetables and not think they'd make a great meal! And there's meaty brains on the other side too!

I decided to try something new. Recipes in How-To-Video style! I won't have a video all the time but I'm aiming for twice a month. I'm also sharing some recipes with myself on my other blog. Feel free to visit! 










Another change to this blog that you may notice is in the ingredients cost. I'm breaking it down by measurements. For example 1 head of cabbage will cost you $1.00 but if you're only using 1 cup of shredded cabbage that will be more like $0.20.

PvZ Skilletini

2 Servings | Total Time: 20 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 1/2 lb Ground Brains (or beef if you're out)
• 1/4 Onion, minced
• 2 Mushrooms, minced
• 1 Tbl Butter
• 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 can Tomato Sauce
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1 Tbl Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 cup Cabbage, shredded
• 1/2 cup Peas
• 1/2 cup Whole Kernel Corn
• 1 Small Yellow Summer Squash, diced

Craft: Mix together ground beef, mushroom and onion. Form into small meatballs. Cook in a large pan over medium heat. When browned on all sides, remove from pan and set aside. Melt butter in the pan. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add peas, squash and corn. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomato sauce, oregano, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well then add cabbage and cook until cabbage is wilted. Add meatballs and cook a few minutes more. Serve hot.

Strategies: Be gentle when turning the meatballs! They have no binding breadcrumbs or eggs! You can certainly add some binding agent to it if you want but it's not necessary if you're gentle.

LFM: It's really a one-dish meal but if you're hankerin' for something more try some garlic bread!

Cost:

• Ground Beef | $2.00
  
• Onion | $0.30
  
• Mushrooms | $0.25
• Tomato Sauce | $0.33
• Cabbage | $0.20
  
• Peas | $0.25
• Whole Kernel Corn | $0.25
• Yellow Summer Squash | $0.50

Total Cost: $4.08
Cost Per Serving: $2.04

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

Fancy Pants Caesar Salad

You know that guy. The one who's always got the strategy and who's always trying to get people to follow the strategy and berates them for not following the strategy and blames other people for failure of said strategy? The guy who some dolt made raid leader and now that guy insists on different ranks for the elite and privileged raiders that he deems smart enough or dedicated enough to get first pick of loot. The guy who demands you have all the approved addons installed or you won't do it right. The guy who has to make a rule for everything so no one can exploit 'the system'. He doesn't trust anyone to behave honorably so he's got his guild laws and raid laws and a different punishment for every law to make sure you feel punished for breaking a law.

I have dubbed that guy Mr Fancy Pants. Because he's that guy who can't keep things simple and straight forward. I have also named a salad after him. I mean sure, you can have a perfectly workable Caesar salad for dinner. The salad part is probably the easiest, simplest part. You could even add some chicken and it'd still be a straightforward salad. But this salad is just going overboard. A plain ol' salad is just too simple. It's not fancy enough! You need more crunch, more juicy tomato, more creamy avocado! More, I tell you! More!

Fancy Pants Caesar Salad

2 Servings | Total Time: 8 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1 Chicken Breast
• 1 bag Caesar Salad Kit (with croutons, cheese, bacon bits & dressing)
• 1 Celery Stalk
• 1 Carrot
• 1 Roma Tomato
• 1 Avocado

Craft: Place the chicken breast on a well oiled indoor appliance grill. Close the lid and let cook for 6 minutes. When done let rest for 1 minute then dice. Meanwhile, dice the celery and carrot. Chop the tomato and slice the avocado. Open your salad kit. Divide the lettuce into two large bowls, top with remaining ingredients and drizzle with dressing.

Strategies: You certainly don't have to have all the extra toppings but it adds a lot more healthiness, deliciousness, and umph to it!

LFM: Serve with any kind of fruit or rolls.

Cost:

• Chicken Breast | $1.00
  
• Caesar Salad Kit | $3.00
  
• Celery | $1.25
• Carrot | $1.25
• Roma Tomato | $0.50
  
• Avocado | $0.75

Total Cost: $7.75
Cost Per Serving: $3.88

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

The Chilinator

I grew up in southern California around lots of Mexican and Latino folks. I had my fair share, and then some, of Mexican foods. Did you know there are three basic food groups in Mexican cuisine? Corn, Chili Peppers and Beans. If it doesn't have those, it's not Mexican food. So naturally when I moved out of California I had a hard time adjusting to what the rest of the country perceives as Mexican food. Especially Chili.

Some people argue that chili isn't Mexican food. Bullhonkery! Chili, as most people know it, has just been Americanized so that it's barely a shadow of what it used to be. Trust me, if you want some real, true roots, chili, you need to try this recipe.

The focus of flavor in this recipe is in the chilies. That's why it's called chili after all. Not this blended meat and tomato soup that you threw some hot sauce into. Bleh. You'll never go back to that again after eating this explosion of flavor. The great thing about chilies is there are all different kinds so you can make this hot and spicy or mild and succulent.

And don't tell anyone but...

>.>

<.<

This chili has no meat. *GASP!*

Meat is expensive. And honestly, most Mexican families would much rather have a milk cow or goats and sheep that are alive and productive. Not just butchered for food. For much of the world, meat is a flavoring ingredient, not the main course as it traditionally is here in America. You can certainly add ground beef or chicken to this recipe if you so desire it but trust me, it doesn't need it. (I have nothing against meat. I'm no vegan. I love a good steak now and then.)

Instead we have beans. Two kinds here. The traditional Red Kidney Bean and a couple cans of chickpeas. You want chili to have good texture as well as flavor. That's part of the reason people started adding meat to chili in ye olden days (called Chili con Carne for a reason after that. Chilies with meat!). To keep it meatless but still get that fabulous texture we pulse the chickpeas in a blender until it's coarsely chopped. After cooking for a couple hours in the deliciousness that is real, whole, chilies, you won't notice the missing meat at all.

By the way, big thanks to my brother for deciding the name of this chili. It was so delicious, so epic, so legendary that I couldn't think of a name. My mind was thoroughly blown after tasting it and it wasn't coming back. Unlike this chili, which now has a tag line "I'll be back." *ba-dum ching!*

The Chilinator

6 Servings | Prep Time: 30 Min ; Total Time: 2.5 hours | Journeyman

Mats:

• 9 Dried New Mexico Chilies
• 1 Vegetable or Beef Bullion Cube
• 2 can Red Kidney Beans, rinsed
• 2 can Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans, rinsed
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes
• 1/2 Tbl Coconut Oil or Butter
• 1 Onion, finely diced
• 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 Tbl Cumin
• 1 Tbl Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 2 Tbl Corn Meal or Masa

Craft: Remove the stems from the chilies (and seeds if you don't want your chili spicy at all). Combine all chilies in a medium saucepan with water and bullion. Simmer over medium high heat until chilies are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, reserving water separately. Transfer chilies to a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Add chickpeas to the blender and pulse until roughly chopped. Put the chickpeas with the chilies. Blend the diced tomatoes and add to the chilies and chickpeas. Heat oil/butter in a pot or dutch oven. Add onions and cook until softened and translucent. Add garlic, cumin and oregano then cook 1 minute more. Add all ingredients to the pot, including reserved liquids and excepting the masa/corn meal. Mix well. Add more water if needed to cover ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 1 ½ - 2 hours, stirring occasionally, adding more liquid as needed to prevent sticking. Add masa/cornmeal and mix well. Cook 5 minutes more to thicken.

Strategies: To get different flavors and temperatures try different chilies or combinations of different chilies.

LFM: Garnish with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, chopped green onions, avocado, lime wedges or tortilla chips. Serve ice cream for dessert to cool off!

Cost:

• New Mexico Chilies | $6.00
• Red Kidney Beans | $1.00
• Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans |$1.00
• Diced Tomatoes | $0.50
• Onion | $0.50

Total Cost: $9.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.50

Category: Hardcore, Critical Hits, LFG

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Ghostcrawler Stuffed Wontons

Greg "Ghostcrawler" Street is the lead dev for World of Warcraft. He's prominent depicted by his avatar, a red crab. He has his own 'Dev Watercooler' blog and enjoys speaking about designs and intentions for WoW. Because he's so highly placed and so interactive with the community it brings both good and bad attention to him. He has his fans and his critics. I've been a little of both, I'll freely admit.

GC, as he is known, is in an unenviable position. He likes to interact with the community. Which most would say is a good thing. But that exposes him too. He'll never appease everyone so he'll always have frothing, maddened fans who think he's ruining the game. And he'll also always have 'fanbois' who support him and say he can do no wrong.

As for me, I find myself in-between opinions. I understand that he's just trying to figure out a good, fun, balance for the game and it's classes. But I am certainly irritated that he continues to nerf my favorite class and has turned it into a weak specter of what it once was. I've played a Retribution Paladin since Day 1. Even vanilla paladining wasn't as painful as it's been during the Cataclysm expansion. Though I'd never get into a fight (verbal or otherwise) with GC but it's made me so mad and frustrated that I went crab hunting for a good long while. And you know what I do with excessive amounts of crab meat? Make food!

Ghostcrawler Stuffed Wontons

6 Servings | Total Time: 35 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 30 Wonton Wrappers
• 4 oz Cream Cheese
• 1 clove Garlic
• 1 Green Onion
• 1 large Celery Stalk
• 1 medium Carrot
• 1 can Lump Crab Meat, drained
• 1 Tbl Canola Oil
• Kitchen Weapon Proficiency: Food Processor

Craft:Combine all ingredients except wrappers in a large bowl. Place 1 tsp of the mixture inside each wonton wrapper. Use folding instructions on wonton package. Place on an oiled baking sheet, brush with oil and bake for 6-8 minutes or until edges are browned.

Strategies: Try to get as much air out of the wontons as possible while folding but don't fuss if the seams break open a little during baking. You can make a big batch and freeze them before or after baking for fast meals in the future.

LFM: Serve with salad, or chinese style noodles, or fried rice, or roasted vegetables.

Cost:

• Wonton Wrappers | $2.50
• Cream Cheese | $1.25
• Green Onion | $1.00
• Celery | $1.25
• Carrot | $1.00
• Lump Crab Meat | $2.00

Total Cost: $9.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.50

Category: Casual, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Taris Flatbread Pizza

Taris used to be a planet full of cities. Apparently they got on the Empire's bad side and got themselves infested with a plague of Rakghouls. And bombarded to ruins and rubble. The Republic just the left the place alone for a good long while but now it's time to go try and re-inhabit the place. Why? I have no clue. Unfortunately the rakghouls are running wild and so is the plant life. It makes for epic scenery but it's bad for civilization. I couldn't tell you what to do about the rakghouls but I do have some ideas for the plants! Just hang with me for a moment of reflecting ranting.

Did you notice how Taris just goes on and on and on and on! I've never encountered so many quest hubs before Taris and not after Taris either! Don't get me wrong. I like questing. Love it even. But Taris doesn't change much from hub to hub. It's the same thing over and over. Fight the rakghouls, over and over. It just wears on a person! For those of you who are on Taris right now, my sympathies. But take heart, there is an end to the madness.....eventually. And at the end you'll find the bonus quest chain. And then it'll end too. And you'll never have to go back! ....except maybe once or twice for class quests. I'm doing a terrible job of reassuring you aren't I? Moving on!

The abundance of plant life on Taris had me craving some cheese covered veggies. And what better excuse to get it than to put it on a pizza! Pizza is one of those classic foods that crosses over the stereotyping lines. Pizza is a favorite of nerds and jocks alike. No one can resist the call of pizza. The gooey cheese. The crispy crust. The hot, cooked-to-perfection toppings. I've showed you before how to make quick Poor Man's Pizza. But here's another version that takes just a tad longer but keeps truer form to the classic pizza. Except for maybe the toppings because everyone needs variety. And honestly, where are you going to find pepperoni on a force-forsaken planet like Taris?


Taris Flatbread Pizza

8 Servings | Total Time: 15 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 8 Flour Tortillas
• 4 Tbl Pesto
• 1 cup Spinach
• 1 can Great Northern White Beans, rinsed
• 2 Roma Tomato, finely diced
• 1 Red Onion, thinly sliced
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, finely diced
• 1 cup Broccoli Florets
• 8 Mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 Zucchini, thinly sliced
• 1 cup Mozzerella Cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Feta Cheese
• 8 Tbl Parmesan Cheese

Craft: Preheat oven to 450° F. Place the tortillas on two greased baking sheets. Spread pesto on each tortilla then layer veggies/beans and top with cheese. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until tortillas are brown and crunchy and cheese is melted.

Strategies: You can slice it pizza style like the picture above or you can fold it in half  and eat it taco style! And if you lack pesto, tomato sauce works just fine.

LFM: This is an all in one meal but I recommend any kind of fruit for dessert!

Cost:

• Flour Tortillas | $1.25
• Spinach | $2.00
• Great Northern White Beans | $0.50
• Roma Tomato | $0.75
• Red Onion | $0.75
• Red Bell Pepper | $1.50
• Broccoli Florets | $1.00
• Mushrooms | $1.00
• Zucchini | $1.00
• Mozzerella Cheese | $2.00
• Feta Cheese | $2.50

Total Cost: $14.25
Cost Per Serving: $1.79

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Not "The Oatmeal Option"

This meal is in honor of Elisa from ecwrites.com. On 11/18/2011 she will be releasing her first book, "The Golden Sky." It is her journal from a time in her life full of trials and the loss of her son. Here is the quote from the back cover of her book. You can also order her book and read other writings of hers at the link below.





    
"The "death home" gave my son a really nice funeral, the kind I'd never wished to attend.  When they tried closing his casket, I nearly fell on my face, not wanting them to shut the lid on my baby.

        We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief.  Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and even grew out his damn hair.  At the time, I was sick of "the oatmeal option" (the only food we had), so I kicked Cade out of the house, and started modeling and working as a diesel mechanic.  That was how I met Earl, an old man and unlikely best friend; the "big sag," a middle aged woman who still flashed folks; my neighbor, the stripper next door, and "The Cowboy," a man who fell in love with me. 

        It was slow at first, but Cade reverted back to the man I'd busked with years before.  It wasn't until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance.  But could our marriage recover from the death of our son?" -EC Stilson

Not "The Oatmeal Option"
4 Servings | Total Time: 30 Minutes | Apprentice
Mats:

• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp veggi oil
• 1 lb sirloin tips, thinly sliced (Stir-Fry Beef)
• 3 tbl veggi oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1/4 cup beef broth
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 cup uncooked rice 

Craft: Cook rice according to package directions.  While rice is cooking, in a large mixing bowl, combine garlic, pepper, cornstarch, 1 tsp vegetable oil. Add beef, mix well. In a wok, heat 2 tbl oil over high heat for 1 minute then add beef; cook and stir for about 2 minutes or until beef begins to brown. Transfer beef to a bowl and set aside. Heat remaining 1 tbl oil in wok. Add onion; cook and stir until tender. Mix in green beans and broth. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until bean are tender-crisp. Stir in soy sauce and beef. Cook, stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Serve over hot rice.

Strategies: You can substitute the rice for ramen noodles if cooking rice makes you nervous.

Cost:

• Meat | $4.50
• Green Beans | $0.59
• Rice | $1.00

Total Cost: $6.09
Cost Per Serving: $1.52

Categories: Raid Night, Critical Hits

Naaru Bean Balls

The Naaru are crystalline beings of the Holy Light. They are not only great champions of the light but their natures are literally light in nature. But like all things, Light cannot exist without the Dark. Sometimes, a wounded Naaru can be drained of their power and become darkened. Darkened Naaru becomes servants of the Void. It is extremely rare for a Naaru to fall into a darkened state and it is a tragic event for all the Naaru as a race. Even more rare is it for a Naaru to be redeemed from a darkened state.

It is this yin yang nature of the Naaru that inspired this dish. Black Bean Croquettes are a fairly common dish for people who love black beans but I wanted to expand my horizons so I created Butter Bean Croquettes as well as light and dark sauces for them. You won't know which one you like more, I promise!

Naaru Bean Balls

4 Servings | Total Time: 20 min | Artisan

Mats:

• 1 can Black Beans
• 1 can Butter Beans
• 1/2 can White Whole Kernel Corn
• 1 cup Breadcrumbs
• 1 cup Medium Salsa
• 2 Tbl Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 pkg dry Ranch Dip
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• 1 Slices of Pepper Jack Cheese
• 3/4 cup Barbecue Sauce
• 1/4 cup Steak Sauce
• 1 Tbl Honey
• 1 Tbl Bacon Bits

Craft: Preheat oven to 425° F. Grease a baking sheet. Drain and rinse black beans. Mash black beans with a fork in a bowl. Mix in salsa, 1/4 cup at a time until moist but still firm. Form mixture into 1" balls, using breadcrumbs to firm them up if needed. Drain and rinse the butter beans. Mash butter beans in a separate bowl with a fork. Drain corn and add to the butter beans. Form mixture into 1" balls, using breadcrumbs to firm them up if needed. Place the bean balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan mix ranch dip, sour cream and pepper jack cheese. Turn the heat to medium low and stir constantly until cheese is melted. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix barbecue sauce, steak sauce, honey and bacon bits. When bean balls are done serve them with dark sauce over the white balls and the white sauce over the dark balls. Or vice verse if desired. Two bean balls per serving.

Strategies: You can make extra bean balls and sauce then freeze them for later meals. To reheat them, bake at 425° F for 10-15 minutes. Reheat sauces in a covered bowl in the microwave for 2 minutes.

LFM: Coleslaw and fruit cocktail.

Cost:

• Black Beans | $0.50
  
• Butter Beans | $0.50
• White Whole Kernel Corn | $0.50
• Medium Salsa | $2.00
• Dry Ranch Dip | $1.00
• Sour Cream | $1.00
• Pepper Jack Cheese | $1.50

Total Cost: $7.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.75

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Kaja Nacho Casserole

It's a little known fact that the makers of Kaja Cola have delved into realms outside the beverage industry. I mean, there's only so much you can do with a drink. They've got Kaja Cola, Kaja Cola Zero-One, the Kaja Cola Six Pack, and the limited edition Banana Kaja Cola. Yes, it was time to branch out. Branch out into food!

Now, let's not confuse foods and beverages. In WoW there is a big difference. Food gives you health back. Drinks will give you mana back. The Kaja Cola Company ruled the drink industry in Kezan and they decided they wanted a part of the food industry too. Not only could their mana addicts get great ideas from their drinks but they could also rope in the likes of rogues and warriors with their food! If only they could find the right recipe...

Kaja Nacho Casserole

4 Servings | Total Time: 20 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 1lb Ground Beef or Turkey
• 1 bag Tortilla Chips
• 1 packet Taco Seasoning
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
• 1 can Olives, sliced
• 4 oz Cream Cheese
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
• 1 Tbl Lime Juice
• 1 cup Cheddar Cheese
  

Craft: Preheat oven to 350° F. Add ground beef to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ½ packet of taco seasoning. Cook for 4-6 minutes or until beef is browned. Add tomatoes, undrained and olives, drained. Add Cream Cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, stir together rest of the taco seasoning, sour cream, cilantro and lime juice. In a casserole dish, layer chips, meat, sour cream, and cheese. Top with cheese. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes

Strategies: This is also really good if you replace the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes and a can of green chilies. You can also reduce the sodium by making your own taco seasoning with cumin, paprika, onion powder and chili powder.

LFM: A crisp green salad.

Cost:

• Ground Turkey | $1.50
• Tortilla Chips | $2.00
• Taco Seasoning | $1.00
• Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies | $1.00
• Olives | $0.50
• Cream Cheese | $1.25
• Sour Cream | $1.00
• Cheddar Cheese | $2.00

Total Cost: $10.25
Cost Per Serving: $2.57

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Talandra's Rose Flatbread

I have been an herbalist at heart for as long as I can remember.  I have always found herbs fascinating.  When I was twelve I started my own herb garden growing things like mint and lavender, parsley and basil.  So naturally when I started playing WoW I had my first professions practically handed to me on a silver platter with my freaking name on it.  Herbalism and the accompanying Alchemy.  I loved creating potions and elixirs from the various herbs found around the map in game.  However I was not terribly found of having to find the herbs.  Wouldn't it be so much easier to just grow an herb garden like IRL?  Or even go down to the grocery store and buy them dried in a bottle on a shelf?  Alas, this may not be an option available in game, but it is one for your kitchen IRL.  Today I present you with one of my favorite appetizers, Talandra's Rose Flatbread.

Talandra's Rose Flatbread
4 Servings | Total Time: 5 Minutes | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1 10-ounce fully baked thin pizza crust (such as Boboli)
• 1 Tbl Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp minced fresh rosemary
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Pepper

Craft: While barbecue is heating to medium or oven is heating to 400° brush 1 side of pizza crust round with oil, then sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, sea salt, and pepper. Place on grill or in oven, seasoned side down. Brush top with oil, then sprinkle with remaining rosemary, sea salt, and pepper. Cook until just golden, about 2 minutes per side on the grill or 6 minutes in the oven. Cut pizzas into wedges and serve.

Strategies: You can make this with your own home made pizza dough and adding a little sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.  Also try changing out the herb to basil or oregano or a combination of your favorites.

Cost:

• Pizza Crust | $5.00

Total Cost: $5.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.25 
*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your price may vary.

Categories: Troll Fuel, Snackage, Expansions, Raid Night, Critical Hits

Cairne Asada Salad

"We're allied with the Tauren? Fantastic! We'll be having steak twice a week." This /silly is epic!  The first time I heard it I lol'd and almost rofl'd.  Though rofling takes a lot more effort than loling, and would include actually rolling on the floor, which I don't do because I am an adult.  But it was hilariously funny.  I am a big meat fan myself and can't keep my mind off of all the fabulously meaty names for the Tauren.  Names like "Rumproast" and "SirLoin" and "PrimeCut" and "Angus" and "Kobe" etc.

Alas, since I am Alliance, I take any chance I get to put a Tauren on my table for dinner.  Heck, lunch and breakfast work too!  When invading Thunder Bluff last year I was fortunate enough to be able to butcher Cairne Bloodhoof and stick him in the freezer to be served on very special occasions.  The addition of his royal and well kept carcus will make any salad fit for the carnivore in you.

Cairne Asada Salad
4 Servings | Total Time: 30 Minutes | Journeyman

Mats:

• 1 3/4 pounds beef sirloin steak
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 8 cups romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 small green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1/2 cup sliced red onion

Craft: Cut steak into strips and cook in a wok on high for approximately 5 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness.  Remove from heat and let sit until cool enough to handle. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Mix in the cheese. Cover and place dressing in refrigerator. Onto chilled plates arrange the lettuce, tomato, pepper, onion and olives. Top with steak and drizzle with dressing.

Strategies: You can save time by using a premade salad dressing.

Cost:

• Steak | $5.00
• Blue Cheese | $2.59
• Tomato | $0.99
• Bell Pepper $0.99
• Onion $0.63

Total Cost: $10.20
Cost Per Serving: $2.55

Category: Casual, Critical Hits, Expansions

Cheezeburger Tator Tot Pie

Welcome to my fourth installment of gamer food remakes. I don't know about some of you gamers out there but in this household, burgers and tator tots are a classic pairing. Even more so than burgers and fries. Although I guess it's still deep-fried potatoes so what's the diff, eh? Anyway! Since I've been trying to get on a healthier kick I've been looking for a way to remake this tasty but oh-so-not-good-for-you meal.

Well I finally figured it out. I've seen the so-called 'crockpot cheeseburger' recipes and the tator tot casserole recipes and the shepherd's pie recipes. Somehow, my subconscious mind decided it'd be a great idea to combine elements from all three recipes and see if I couldn't make a tasty dish! I have to admit, sometimes these screwy ideas of mine don't exactly work out. But in this case it did work out. And glorious were the results! All I need now is a cat in the picture.

Cheezeburger Tator Tot Pie

4 Servings | Total Time: 30 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 8oz Ground Turkey
• 1/4 cup Onion, minced 
• 1 Tbl Garlic, minced 
• 1/2 can Small Peas, drained/rinsed 
• 2 Wedges Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese, room temp
• 1/3 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 12 Hamburger Style Dill Pickle Slices 
• 2 Tbl Ketchup 
• 4 tsp Mustard 
• 36-ish Tator Tots

Craft: Preheat oven to 400° F. Brown the turkey in a pan with garlic and onion. Drain, add peas and set aside. In a small bowl mash together cheese wedges and cheddar. Put a layer of 4 pickle slices in the bottom of each ramekin. Divide the meat/peas into the four ramekins on top of the pickles. Next layer the cheese mix. Next add 1/2 Tbl ketchup and 1 tsp of mustard to each. Top with a layer of tator tots (about 9 each). Sprinkle with salt & pepper if desired. Bake for 20 minutes.

Strategies: You can use ground beef if you prefer but there's no difference in taste. Only health and calories!

LFM: Jello!

Cost:

• Ground Turkey | $1.50
• Onion | $0.75
• Small Peas | $0.50
• Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese | $3.00
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese | $2.00
• Tator Tots | $1.50

Total Cost: $9.25
Cost Per Serving: $2.32

Category: Casual, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Dorrito Ranch Chicken

Ahh Dorritos. A simple triangle of crunchy corn chip covered in powdered cheese and addictive flavorings. No other chip screams gamer like these do with the possible exception of Cheetos (which is really the same thing, just a different chip underneath the flavor). It's cheese! Powdery cheese! Cheese is an essential staple in a gamer's diet. And at least 75% of the cheese consumed must be in a powdered form, come in blocks that you don't have to refrigerate (Velveeta!) or can be shot directly into the mouth from a can. In other words, be as unhealthy but convenient as possible.

We'll just work with the cheese powdered chips for this recipe. But we're also going to add some contrasting, delicious flavors, make it into more than a snack AND still stay within a college kid's budget. You'll be amazed at how well the seasonings flavor the chicken, how crunchy the coating stays, how moist and juicy the chicken is. And so tender! You don't even need a knife! Perfect one-handed food for gaming nights.

Dorrito Ranch Chicken

2 Servings | Total Time: 20 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 2 Bags (snack size) Nacho Cheese Dorritos
• 1 pkt Ranch Dressing Dip Mix
• 1 Egg
• 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Craft: Preheat oven to 375° F. Pound chicken breasts to 1/4" thickness. In a shallow bowl, whisk egg with a little bit of water. Empty the contents of the ranch dressing dip mix into another shallow bowl. Crush dorritos in a bag with a rolling pin or heavy can or use a food processor. Place the dorritos in another shallow bowl. Coat each chicken piece in the ranch dip mix, then egg, then dorritos. Place on a greased baking sheet and cook for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through.

Strategies:Try the opposites of this recipe. Use Ranch flavored Dorritos and a powdered cheese sauce packet (from a mac & cheese box) instead! Serve this version with pasta coated in Velveeta with veggies.

LFM: Serve with pasta, ranch dressing and veggies.

Cost:

• Nacho Cheese Dorritos | $1.00
• Ranch Dressing Dip Mix | $1.00
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts | $2.00
  

Total Cost: $4.00
Cost Per Serving: $2.00

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Capers & Crooks Chicken

This is a repost from our lost dataz.

Capers & Crooks Chicken

4 Servings | Total Time: 30 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 8 oz Spaghetti Noodles
• 1 tsp Paprika
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 2 Egg
• 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 5 Tbl Butter, divided
• 1 jar Capers
• 1 Tbl Lemon Juice
• 1 can Peas

Craft: Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain the peas and add them to the pasta during the last minute of cooking. In a shallow bowl combine flour and paprika. In a second shallow bowl combine eggs and parmesan cheese. Pound each chicken breast to about 1/4" thickness. Heat 1 Tbl of butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle each chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides then dredge in the flour. Dredge in the egg mixture then carefully place in the pan. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side. Repeat for other chicken breasts, adding 1 Tbl of butter per piece if needed. Turn the heat down to medium low. Drain the capers then add them to the pan with 1 more Tbl of butter and the lemon juice. Cook for about 5 minutes. When pasta is done, toss half the caper butter in the pasta and use the other half to garnish the chicken.

Strategies: You can trade out the peas in this recipe for any bite-sized veggie you have handy.

LFM: Fresh berries with ice cream or yogurt.

Cost:

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts | $2.50
• Spaghetti Noodles | $1.00
• Grated Parmesan Cheese | $1.50
• Capers | $1.50
• Peas | $0.50

Total Cost: $7.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.75

Category: Casual, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Cinco de Mayo Chimichangas

Because I grew up in a town most people referred to as "Little Mexico," Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that is close to my heart. Our town had as big of celebrations for Cinco de Mayo as it had for the Fourth of July. Don't call me unpatriotic for supporting a Mexican holiday, I am simply an enormous fan of the food, and anything that keeps it authentic in the US of A is A-Okay by me. I absolutely love the great food of the Mexican culture and it is really hard to find authentic Mexican food where I now live, so I have resorted to learning how to make it all on my own. Here is one of the recipes that I have come across in my explorations and I can't wait to have it today with my Cinco de Mayo celebration.

 

Cinco de Mayo Chimichangas
6 Servings | Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 3 Hours | Apprentice

Mats:

• 2 lb Boneless Beef Chuck Roast, trimmed of fat
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1 1/2 cup Beef Broth
• 3 tbl Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 tbl Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Ground Cumin
• 6 Flour Tortillas (8 inch)
• 3 tbl Butter, melted
• 1 cup Salsa
• 1 cup Shredded Cheese
• 3/4 cup Sour Cream

Craft:  In a medium bowl, combine beef broth, red wine vinegar, chili powder, and cumin. Place beef in a crock pot on high heat and pour the broth mixture over the beef. Cover and cook until beef is very tender and pulls apart easily, about 3 hours. Allow to cool, then shred and mix with the residual juices.

Preheat oven to 500°. Brush both sides of each tortilla with melted butter. Spoon shredded beef filling down the center of each tortilla. Fold ends over filling, then fold sides to center to make a packet. Place chimichangas. seem side down on a cookie sheet. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with salsa, shredded cheese and sour cream.

Strategies: Put a little bit of cheese in the tortilla with the beef mixture before baking for a cheesier version. You can also make the beef filling ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you need it. 

Cost:

• Beef Chuck Roast $7.50
• Flour Tortillas $1.00
• Sour Cream $0.88

Total Cost: $9.38

Cost Per Serving: $1.56
*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Categories: Hardcore, Critical Hits

Dark Side Cookies

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies! I used to find this saying slightly amusing though very absurd if you analyze it. I mean, where did the Dark Side get cookies? What Sith Lord would confess to a baking habit? And I am sure that if anyone on the Dark Side did bake, they wouldn't turn out very tasty. 

But then I realized that you don't need to have a baking skill to be able to craft wonderful cookies. My eldest sister use to make these wonderful cookies all the time. Unfortunately she stopped making them when my older brothers teased her that there was poop on the counter. These are my favorite cookies, they aren't baked and they look like poop. Sounds like the perfect Dark Side cookie temptation if you ask me!

Dark Side Cookies
36 Cookies | Total Time: 45 Minutes | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1 3/4 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/2 cup Butter
• 4 tbl Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 cup Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth)
• 3 cup Rolled Oats
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Wax Paper

Craft: In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, butter and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, oats and vanilla. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool until hardened.

Strategies: You can use instant oats or regular oats for this recipe. You also have the choice of crunchy or creamy peanut butter. It all depends on your texture preference. Additionally, if you have room in your fridge, cooling the cookies there helps them set faster if you are in a time crunch, or just impatient.

Cost:

• Cocoa Powder $1.89
• Oats $0.98
• Wax Paper $1.45

Total Cost: $4.32

Cost Per Serving: $0.12
*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Categories: Casual, Phat Loot, Critical Hits, Snackage

Mage Bread

Have you ever done a /who mage while in a major city, hoping some bored mage will be kind enough to conjure you up some bread to take questing? I haven't but that's because I am a mage. Have been and always will be until the day WoW shuts down it's servers. Being a mage gives you the best of everything. You can port to any major city from anywhere, you can provide yourself with sustenance. And those pesky pvper's get the sheep, or turtle, or penguin, or black cat, or rabbit, or pig, depending on which glyph or tome you have. Since mage's have a lot of experience in making bread, and it's cheap and fast to make, you can imagine that it is always the best. That is definitely my experience, and my dear friend over at EC Writes also agrees. 

Why I recall a day back when I was level 60, Leetah was inside the Molten Core as the 39 other raiders filed inside. I looked at the raid list to see who I would be competing for loot against, what other mages would be trying for my epics. I stood in utter shock at first, then excitement filled me as I realized I was the ONLY MAGE. If something dropped, it was guaranteed to be mine. Thrill filled me, for the first, and possibly last time, I wouldn't have to compete with another mage for loot.

Of course, all good things come to an end. I looked at my chat screen in dismay as the whispers came in. "4 stacks of bread and 4 water plz." "4 bread plz." "4 bread 2 water plz." They kept coming and coming. The only classes in the raid that didn't want food or water or both, were the 3 rogues. Needless to say there was a huge line, waiting for the infamous and usually speedy mage food. At that time, for those newbies out there, I was able to conjure 4 stacks of water (10 at a time) and 1 stack of bread before I was out of mana. Evocate helped speed things up, every 15 minutes. I managed to feed and water the entire raid, but we had to start nearly an hour late.

Instead of making all of your raids start late by asking the only mage to conjure individual stacks of food and water for everyone, Blizzard finally decided it would be a great idea to create the Mage Table, for which I will eternally be thankful for. And following their lead, here is how you can make your own Mage Bread.

Mage Bread
2 Loaves | Total Time: 1 Hour | Journeyman

Mats:

• 5 1/4 cup Flour
• 1/4 cup Sugar 
• 1/2 tbl Salt
• 1 1/2 tbl Instant Yeast
• 3 nickle-sized blobs of Soy Lecithin (in the baking aisle or at a specialty baking shop)
• 2 1/2 cup Hot Water
• 2 tbl Butter
• Kitchen Weapon: Heavy Duty Mixer (e.g. Kitchen Aid or Bosch)

Craft: Pre-heat oven to 350°.Combine first 4 ingredients.  Add lecithin and water.  Mix in heaver duty mixer for 5 minutes.  Spray counter top with food release.  Dump dough onto counter.  It should be sticky.  Do not add anymore flour.  Divide and shape into 2 loaves.  Put in greased breads pans.  Place on top of the oven (so the heat of the oven will warm the loaves) and over with a towel. Let rise for 25 minutes.  Bake for 25 minutes. Remove loaves from pans immediately. Rub butter on the top of the bread and let cool (If you don't remove from pans, the pans will sweat and the bread will get soggy on the outside and then stick to the pan as it cools off and dries out).

Strategies: This recipe is great with any kind of flour. You can do all whole wheat flour, bread flour, turkey flour or all-purpose flour. You can even mix it up. I prefer to do half whole wheat and half turkey flour. Also, make sure you are using Instant Yeast otherwise it will not rise. Instant Yeast does not need to be prepared like regular yeast does.

Cost:

• Flour $2.00
• Sugar $1.98
• Yeast $5.47
• Soy Lecithin $12.50

Total Initial Cost: $21.95
*This cost is based on buying all mats, which can be used for 10+ conjurations of this recipe. 


Catergories: Critical Hits, Rez Plz, Snackage, Troll Fuel, Hardcore

Home-Fried Tacos

There are a lot of debates about the border between the United States and Mexico. Should the border be shut down? Should the United States be so restrictive against immigrants comming in from Mexico. Why would we want it to be hard for people to make a better life for themselves? These quarrels have even seeped into the gaming world, as controversy arose around the release of the game "Call of Juarez: The Cartel."

With all of these political debates, the only demand I have is this. Don't take my Mexican food from me! And no, Taco Bell does not count as Mexican food. Having grown up in Southern California, I have a pretty darn good idea about what qualifies as Mexican Food. One of my comfort foods, my mother learned to make from the Mexican ladies in our little town in SoCal. Tacos. Home-Fried Tacos. Not these cheap pre-made taco shells that crack and break and make everything fall apart all over the front of your white wife-beater.

Tacos are flavorful, but even more so when wrapped in a freshly fried shell. One of the other best things about tacos are their versatility. You can top them with whatever sounds good!

Home-Fried Tacos
6 Servings | Total Time: 35 Minutes | Journeyman

Mats:

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1 pkg Taco Seasoning
• 2 cups Oil, Canola or Vegetable
• 12 Corn Tortillas, uncooked
• 1 Tomato, diced
• 2 cups Cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Lettuce, shredded
• 1 cup Sour Cream

Craft: In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Add taco seasoning and mix well. In a separate, small, skillet. Heat oil on medium high heat for 3 minutes. Place a corn tortilla in oil and cook approximately 30 seconds per side, or until cooked, but not browned. Remove tortilla from oil and place on plate to drain off oil. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Prepare tortillas as desired with meat and toppings.

Strategies: You can use pre-made taco shells if you like, but they are very brittle and fall apart easily. Cooking them yourself leaves them pliable so they aren't as messy while eating. You can use any toppings you would like for your tacos as well.

Cost: Categories: Casual, Critical Hits

• Ground Beef $1.89
• Taco Seasoning $1.12
• Corn Tortillas $2.05

Total Cost: $5.06
Cost Per Serving: $0.84
*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Dragonfin Filet

A bone jarring gust of wind nearly knocked Rill off her precarious perch on the edge of an iceberg. She tottered, slipped but regained her footing quickly. She shuddered and pulled her cloak more tightly around her.

"If I never have to come to Northrend again it would be too soon," she said with a gentle tug on her fishing pole.

One of these days she'd catch a riding turtle. One of these days she'd learn to cook a fish feast magnifique. Then she could leave this light-forsaken place and be done with it. Arthas was dead, there were very few reasons anyone would want to be in this place anymore. But of course here she sat because she heard you could catch a mighty underwater mount if you were patient enough.

Right now though, all she wanted was to get a nibble! She was hungry! As if on que, her stomach growled and something tugged on her line. With a whop and a hollar she reeled it in, anxious to see what kind of fish she had to work with for dinner! Something spicy to warm up the cold tundra she hoped.

Dragonfin Filet

2 Servings | Total Time: 10 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 2 Tilapia Fillets
• 1 Tbl Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 2 Tbl Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Craft: On a plate mix together chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Coat both sides of each tilapia in the spices then fry for 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve immediately.

Strategies: Tilapia cooks SUPER FAST. Who knew something so fast would be so tasty! It's even faster than going out to get a burger! (And it's better for you too.) Just keep a close eye on it so it doesn't burn.

LFM: Rice or Mashed Potatoes with any kind of veggie. I recommend broccoli or peas.

Cost:

• Tilapia Fillets $2.00

Total Cost: $2.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.00

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.