The Frugal Bostonian

A few months ago I saw a great website called a year of crockpotting which had amazing crockpot recipes.  I will try to post the link, but you can google the name.  I wanted to try the recipe for african peanut soup, but I did not have a crockpot.  I did some online research, the cheapest one was about $20.  That seemed a bit high for me, as I had never used a crockpot before, and did not want to spend $20 for something that I would use once.

During idle chatter at work, I mentioned my desire to make the soup, but the lack of a crockpot.  Someone volunteered that they had an extra crockpot that they were planning to get rid of, and that I could have it.  I was given a nearly-new crockpot, and made the soup, which was amazing.  I have since made several other crockpot recipes, all of which made multiple portions which I could bring to work for lunch.  I usually get the vegetable ingredients at haymarket (see prior post, which I still have not figured out to link), and other ingredients at Trader Joe’s. 

The frugal part of this: the crockpot makes inexpensive yet tasty foods.  It’s like getting the nice deli soup for the price of the condensed can.   So many people have crockpots lying around that you can probably get one for free just by asking.  Or, go to craigslist or goodwill.

After my cholesterol was too high, I started eating cooked steel cut oats.  They take about 30 minutes to cook on the stovetop, so its not a really convenient food.  However, I have been making four servings at a time.  After devouring one portion, I put the remaining three in tupperware and microwave when needed.  Trader Joe’s charges $2.99 for a canister of organic steel cut oats that provides 21 servings.  That works out to around $.15 per serving.  I usually add a tablespoon of jam or some sugar.  I toss the tupperware into my lunch sack and bring it to work to eat there.

I was in the supermarket and discovered that they are now selling prepared steel cut oats in the refrigerated section.  It looked to be more than $2 for two portions (I was so shocked at the price that I did not write it down).  This seems way too expensive, you can cook it yourself ahead of time for alot less.

If my experience is typical, oatmeal really helps with cholesterol.  Mine dropped over fifty points with the oatmeal and eating slightly less junk food.

I joined a friend for a screening of “Mamma Mia” at MIT yesterday.  The tix cost $4 each, and popcorn was only $.75 for small container, $2.50 for a huge carton (and it was popped in a machine, just like a “regular” theater)!  Candy bars were $.75. 

The movie was shown in a huge room which was more like a movie theater than a classroom.   The print quality was excellent, this was really like going to the movie theater (but at less than half the price, with reasonably priced refreshments).   The movie screenings also serve as a fundraiser for student groups.  Find out more about the MIT series at http://lsc.mit.edu/.  And, other schools undoubtedly have screening like this open to the public. [I am not a student or affiliated with MIT, and there was no request for any sort of id.  The crowd seemed much older than undergraduates, and there were several young (10 years old) kids in attendance].