I challenge you.

I was thinking today. Cooking at home, more or less from scratch (no boxes, cans only where appropriate) is cheaper, healthier (unless you add bacon to everything, like I do), and better tasting. Not an original thought, certainly, but one I had.

We are currently, to use an economics term, a bunch of broke-ass bitches. And, to use a public health term, a nation of lard-asses. Cooking at home is good your health, financial and otherwise. On to the challenge.

Each Monday (or whatever day works for you), you have three tasks. Post pics, and use the hashtag #mondaymeals if you could be so kind.

1. Make a cheap meal, from scratch, that makes you smile. This isn’t a contest; it doesn’t have to be fancy. You just have to like it, and it has to be cheap. Split pea soup with ham? Sure. Pasta with homemade marinara? Absolutely.
2. Make enough to bring for lunch on Tuesday.
3. Do one thing to facilitate quick/easy cooking later in the week. Make stock with aging veggies, roast a squash and stash it in the fridge, or clean and de-bone a big package of chicken thighs. Do whatever is going to make dinner later in the week easier to make than buy out.

Who’s in?

via Nathan

Though, I would be more than happy to make it a contest. With the cheapest, best looking, best tasting meal being the winner.