In related news, I'm about to clear out my fridge and make a meal plan and shopping list

[conuly]

Fridge clearing has to come first, because over the past two weeks between the family drama and the heat (omg the heat) nobody has cooked and now we need to clean the fridge.

So, anybody have any cheap-but-tasty recipes they'd like to share? They should be pork-free or at least pork-optional - the friend who needed the plane ticket and a place to stay doesn't eat pork, so we need to be able to prepare her serving without no matter what.

Recipes that are fast to prepare or use the slow cooker are appreciated.

Comments

[adrian_turtle]

My favorite cheap, tasty, quick, hot weather recipe is this variation on tuna salad. It's no help for cleaning the fridge, because it's mostly pantry ingredients. You can eat it warm or cold. I think of it as a hot weather recipe because you don't need to turn the oven on or spend much time at the stove.

0.5 or 1 pound pasta (medium shells or ziti or like that. Not spaghetti.)
2 pounds broccoli, cut up and steamed (or microwave some frozen broccoli florets and drain them.)
1 can chickpeas
1 or 2 cans tuna
Combine everything except pasta.

While pasta is cooking, make a thick lemon-tahini salad dressing. Proportions are approximate, and you might want more dressing.
3 tablespoons tahini
4 tablespoons lemon juice (if you squeeze a fresh lemon, grate a little of the zest into the bowl.)
2 tablespoons cold water
half a teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste. Or mince fresh garlic. But I actually prefer the powder in this.)
half a teaspoon salt (or to taste)
dash cayenne (can omit, or add hot sauce at table)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional but tasty. add extra 2 tbsp lemon.)
Mix well, add salt/pepper/garlic/cayenne or more lemon if you like. Then mix in half a cup of the pasta-cooking water when the pasta is almost done.