How Are You Doing??

Are you telling everyone how you are "doing" when you go to the grocery store?

Well in our neck of the woods, people can see clearly how you are "doing" depending on what's for supper. Most people wouldn't ordinarily focus on this, but watching people in a grocery line will let you know lots of things. I hadn't focused on this until I listened to a cashier one day guessing what was for dinner based on what you were buying. If you were having spaghetti or chicken everything was smiles because you were doing well, but the family with the bologna and bread all they got was a smile of empathy that we Southerners are so well known for giving.

So how do you hide your financial situation other than stay out of the grocery store? You use the creative power of innovation. It is for this reason my family enjoyed such a varied selection of inexpensive but flavorful meals. One such meal was Salmon Stew (pronounced Sow-man Stu).

Here is a delightful meal that is rather tasty in a high class fish way and yet disturbingly cheap if you catch that can of salmon on sale. It only takes one small onion if you have it. Cut it up and heat it in the pan while the heat is on low. You can add a spoon of oil if you want it to cook faster. Open the can of Salmon and drain it. Put it in the pot with the onions. Add in a can or two or three of whole pealed/diced tomatoes depending on how hungry you are or if you have company. Add a little salt and pepper and let it simmer. Cook a pot of rice and there is your meal. Do the math this is a cheap meal--Small onion (optional to $.50), Salmon can (less than $3), Rice ($1), tomatoes ($3 if you used all three cans).

Eh, then again, maybe skip buying groceries and try some cheap Chinese. You must be "doing" fine if you are eating out.