By Sandy Rodriguez | Staff Writer |
Let’s face it, we can’t all make it home for Thanksgiving and we can’t all afford to cook an expensive dinner.
Some of us have homework and others have work, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a home-cooked holiday dinner away from home or that we have to spend $30 on a turkey alone.
I made it my mission to prepare a savory Thanksgiving dinner without spending Thanksgiving money.
I made my way to Stater Brothers with only $20 in my pocket and went straight to the meat aisle.
I found a ready-to-heat, honey cured boneless ham for about $11.
I bought a can of pineapple for $1.50, so I could add it to the top of the ham, but that is optional.
Mashed potatoes are a must and I personally prefer actual potatoes instead of the two ingredient box type.
A small bag of russet potatoes was on sale for $1.50.
I decided to add cheese instead of gravy, a small portion of cheese goes for around the same as a can of gravy for about $2.
Veggies completed the dish so I decided to go for my favorite vegetable and bought broccoli for $2, which of course can be substituted for any vegetable of choice.
The purchase was completed and came to a total of $19.37.
I decided to use minimal utensils in order to simulate cooking in a dorm.
The following makes 5 to 6 servings.
Ingredients:
1/4 Ham
A large head of broccoli
7 Russet potatoes
1 Tbsp Butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic salt to taste
Optional:
Pineapple
Jack cheese
Crushed red pepper
Steps:
Set a 3/4 water filled sauce pan on high heat, let it boil.
As you wait, wash the potatoes.
Place the potatoes in the boiling water for about 30 minutes or until you could easily poke them with a fork.
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
Put a small amount of butter on a oven safe pan and set the ham on the pan, with an option of pineapple on the top.
Place the ham in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes once oven preheated.
Rinse broccoli and cut into desired slices and set it in a pan to steam for about 15 minutes with a small amount of water and a pinch of salt.
Wash sink in order to place the hot potatoes on it once they’re ready and soft.
Once the potatoes are cool enough, you may peel them with your hands, knife, or potato peeler and cut them into small cubes. Set them in a large bowl and mush them with clean hands if you don’t have a potato masher.
Place a tbsp of butter in a clean sauce pan. Once melted add the potatoes, a cup of milk, a tbsp of garlic salt, a tsp of salt and a tsp of black pepper and mix well.
Once the mashed potatoes are close to boiling, you may add cheese and/or red pepper if you wish.
Once boiled your mashed potatoes should be ready to serve along with your ham and steamed broccoli.
Bon appetite!
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