Mushroom challenge!

[Jerry]

I need your help! Any and all constructive suggestions are welcome!

Challenge: Easy to prepare mushroom-based meals without a kitchen. You get a small refrigerator, a microwave, $20 per week, any utensils/dishes required, and that's it. Cold-storage is very limited but dry-storage is not. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, utensils or fingers, anything else goes.

Background: I've adopted a very...mobil....lifestyle 2 years ago. When work doesn't move me from state to state, life comes in and finds a way to delay/foil my well laid plans. I'm the guy who has a UPS personal mailbox address on his drivers license instead of an actual residential address. Add to this my desire to lose 20-30kg asap and *poof* diet changes. Not fad dieting, but permanent changes. I have given up a lot and am willing to give up more, but my one demon, even over alcohol and surgery drinks....is meat. I looOOo00ooove meat. I can eat a whole rotisserie in one sitting and still want more. Obviously that's not sustainable if I would like to avoid a heart attack

Enter mushrooms, a cheaper, much healthier alternative. If nothing else I'll nuke them for a moment with a little real butter and eat them whole. YUM! But ohhh do I like me some cheese, a little zing, some color...

HELP!


My most recent experiment: Easy Eggs with Mushrooms | Mushroom Info

PS: every post on this thread get's a like. I'm a whore like that, and so are you

 

[Slartibartfast]

I was hoping for an entirely different style of mushroom challenge.


But if your food budget is that tight, I suggest getting a crock pot if you can and go for rice as your main staple (you can get a 20lb bag for $9, 20 is really 60 lbs after its cooked) and then explore canned goods at your local discount grocery to fill it out. This will cover your main course. Next, learn to bake bread. Next explore large squashes or eggplants, usually those are cheap, huge, and highly nutritious. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but if they are cooked right, they can fill in for meat pretty well (ok not really, but there can be some density which is a plus in terms of food psychology).

Other good cheap things are:
eggs, potatoes, radishes, beets, etc.

This may also be helpful
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/foodsavings/tp/Cheapest_Produce.htm

On that budget, I would consider meat to be a rare treat. Sorry. This is where dense things like squash can help though.

http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RPSL-350-Quart-Slow-Cooker/dp/B0013IR88A

 

[Declan]

Since you can nuke them, you have electricity availabe regularly. Might I suggest a small immersion blender. You can make a limitless amount of soup combinations with them and end up with any texture/flavor profile you want. They have different models. One of mine comes apart and with all its parts will fit in a gallon sized ziplock bag. very space friendly.

On that note, just use such a blender, throw your shrooms into the broth of your choice, mix them to the texture you want, throw in some cream, and you have cream of mushroom soup.

 

[Jerry]

I was hoping for an entirely different style of mushroom challenge.

Ohhh my friend if only I wasn't subject to "random" drug screening every other week. If only.....

But if your food budget is that tight, I suggest getting a crock pot if you can and go for rice as your main staple (you can get a 20lb bag for $9, 20 is really 60 lbs after its cooked) and then explore canned goods at your local discount grocery to fill it out. This will cover your main course. Next, learn to bake bread. Next explore large squashes or eggplants, usually those are cheap, huge, and highly nutritious. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but if they are cooked right, they can fill in for meat pretty well (ok not really, but there can be some density which is a plus in terms of food psychology).

Other good cheap things are:
eggs, potatoes, radishes, beets, etc.

This may also be helpful
The Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables Month-By-Month

On that budget, I would consider meat to be a rare treat. Sorry. This is where dense things like squash can help though.

http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RPSL-350-Quart-Slow-Cooker/dp/B0013IR88A

I don't know if I can bake bread with a microwave but it's worth a Google. The crock-pot is a great suggestion. I certainly have the counter space and cash for one of those, and brown rice is awesome anyway.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Ohhh my friend if only I wasn't subject to "random" drug screening every other week. If only.....


I don't know if I can bake bread with a microwave but it's worth a Google. The crock-pot is a great suggestion. I certainly have the counter space and cash for one of those, and brown rice is awesome anyway.

bread can't be made in a microwave that I know of, but ... How to Make Bread in a Crock-Pot - Home Ready Home

seriously, crock pots are awesome

 

[Jerry]

Since you can nuke them, you have electricity availabe regularly. Might I suggest a small immersion blender. You can make a limitless amount of soup combinations with them and end up with any texture/flavor profile you want. They have different models. One of mine comes apart and with all its parts will fit in a gallon sized ziplock bag. very space friendly.

On that note, just use such a blender, throw your shrooms into the broth of your choice, mix them to the texture you want, throw in some cream, and you have cream of mushroom soup.

Oooo I have a blender in storage that just might work for that. Thanks :thumbs:

 

[lizzie]

Can you also use crockpots, electric skillets, toaster ovens/ and similar electric appliances? If so, that greatly improves your options. When DH and I built our house, we didn't have a propane line run for several months after we moved in, and I was able to cook 5-6 nights weekly without having a kitchen range.

I love mushrooms, but I don't cook mushroom based meals- they are a side dish to me. What I would do is live based on what "preppers" store for emergencies. Dry beans, rice, wheat, corn, etc. You can also get dry whole milk or skim milk, and dried fruit. These will all keep for years. Eggs are an excellent source of protein as well, and they keep relatively well, in a small space. As for eating meat and heart health concerns- it all depends on the individual. Some people can eat a high fat diet and it doesn't hurt them at all. Others can eat healthy, and still have high cholesterol and abnormal lipid levels, so don't automatically assume that if you eat meat, it's bad for you. Imo, moderation is key. If you need some small electrical appliances, let me know. I have extras, and I'd be glad to give them to you.

 

[americanwoman]

I need your help! Any and all constructive suggestions are welcome!

Challenge: Easy to prepare mushroom-based meals without a kitchen. You get a small refrigerator, a microwave, $20 per week, any utensils/dishes required, and that's it. Cold-storage is very limited but dry-storage is not. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, utensils or fingers, anything else goes.

Background: I've adopted a very...mobil....lifestyle 2 years ago. When work doesn't move me from state to state, life comes in and finds a way to delay/foil my well laid plans. I'm the guy who has a UPS personal mailbox address on his drivers license instead of an actual residential address. Add to this my desire to lose 20-30kg asap and *poof* diet changes. Not fad dieting, but permanent changes. I have given up a lot and am willing to give up more, but my one demon, even over alcohol and surgery drinks....is meat. I looOOo00ooove meat. I can eat a whole rotisserie in one sitting and still want more. Obviously that's not sustainable if I would like to avoid a heart attack

Enter mushrooms, a cheaper, much healthier alternative. If nothing else I'll nuke them for a moment with a little real butter and eat them whole. YUM! But ohhh do I like me some cheese, a little zing, some color...

HELP!


My most recent experiment: Easy Eggs with Mushrooms | Mushroom Info

PS: every post on this thread get's a like. I'm a whore like that, and so are you

I don't like mushrooms so I can't offer any shroom recipes but if you like beans and rice, I can hook you up.

 

[sangha]

Never tried this but it's worth a shot. In fact, I think I'm going to try this one

Microwave Mushroom Risotto Recipe - Taste.com.au

However, if you're looking to lose weight, it's better to avoid refined carbs (like white rice, bread and risotto) than avoid meat.

 

[PoS]

If you just have a microwave then an onion mushroom soup would be good.

All you need:

-chopped mushrooms
-sliced onions
-beef stock/bullion cube
-Worcestershire sauce
-salt and pepper
-mozzarella cheese
-butter

Nuke the onions and mushrooms till they are soft with the butter. Then add hot water with a bullion cube or beef stock then the Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor and nuke them all. Finally top a piece of bread on top till it soaks and top that with the cheese then nuke again till its melted on top.

 

[Tim the plumber]

I have to ask, what do you do that has you floating all over the place for very little money?

If you are after a new career and don't have the time etc for a proper college course try welding. Buy a welder and practice. 2 hours a day for a month and watch the videos on the internet and you should be OK. Then you can get a job doing basic welding and after 6 months you should be OK to get to the level of coded welder. Lots of money.

You will need to be OK about the construction industry though. Cold or hot or wet and whilst you can be mad, unreliable or odd you have to be capable. Overcoming problems all the time.

 

[Jerry]

I have to ask, what do you do that has you floating all over the place for very little money?

It's not my gross income, it's my student loans, car payment and child support.

It all began with industrial high-voltage power-line. You go where the job is. Hotels, corporate owned housing, I've even said '**** it' and lived out of my car for a few months in the summer, showering and doing laundry at the Loves truck stop, sleeping in my car at a rest-stop, just to save on rent.

For the last few months I've been at a weekly rate hotel, and I've moved into manufacturing. I have a residential construction background but unfortunately that market fell through localy so I had to adapt. Here's the curve ball: in the mean time, I lost the kids in the divorce (not really a surprise) so now I need to move to Ohio to be near them.

To make myself more marketable I need to use the remaining time in the Guard to attend schools. To attend schools I need to first lose weight, which I've been working on. And now this thread to further help me along.

FML

 

[Tim the plumber]

It all began with industrial high-voltage power-line. You go where the job is. Hotels, corporate owned housing, I've even said '**** it' and lived out of my car for a few months in the summer, showering and doing laundry at the Loves truck stop, just to save on rent.

If the pay is that crap change jobs.

The other good thing to get into is syphonic drainage. That's very easy when you have done it for a week or six. Just got to be very obsessive about following the drawing.

 

[joG]

I need your help! Any and all constructive suggestions are welcome!

Challenge: Easy to prepare mushroom-based meals without a kitchen. You get a small refrigerator, a microwave, $20 per week, any utensils/dishes required, and that's it. Cold-storage is very limited but dry-storage is not. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, utensils or fingers, anything else goes.

Background: I've adopted a very...mobil....lifestyle 2 years ago. When work doesn't move me from state to state, life comes in and finds a way to delay/foil my well laid plans. I'm the guy who has a UPS personal mailbox address on his drivers license instead of an actual residential address. Add to this my desire to lose 20-30kg asap and *poof* diet changes. Not fad dieting, but permanent changes. I have given up a lot and am willing to give up more, but my one demon, even over alcohol and surgery drinks....is meat. I looOOo00ooove meat. I can eat a whole rotisserie in one sitting and still want more. Obviously that's not sustainable if I would like to avoid a heart attack

Enter mushrooms, a cheaper, much healthier alternative. If nothing else I'll nuke them for a moment with a little real butter and eat them whole. YUM! But ohhh do I like me some cheese, a little zing, some color...

HELP!


My most recent experiment: Easy Eggs with Mushrooms | Mushroom Info

PS: every post on this thread get's a like. I'm a whore like that, and so are you

Try mushroom risotto.

Make the risotto slowly with onions and vegetable broth
10 minutes before ready put in rough chopped mushrooms
add a little white wine
Stir in Parmesan cheese salt, pepper and add a (generous) flake of butter

 

[Gaius46]

Can you also use crockpots, electric skillets, toaster ovens/ and similar electric appliances? If so, that greatly improves your options. When DH and I built our house, we didn't have a propane line run for several months after we moved in, and I was able to cook 5-6 nights weekly without having a kitchen range.

I love mushrooms, but I don't cook mushroom based meals- they are a side dish to me. What I would do is live based on what "preppers" store for emergencies. Dry beans, rice, wheat, corn, etc. You can also get dry whole milk or skim milk, and dried fruit. These will all keep for years. Eggs are an excellent source of protein as well, and they keep relatively well, in a small space. As for eating meat and heart health concerns- it all depends on the individual. Some people can eat a high fat diet and it doesn't hurt them at all. Others can eat healthy, and still have high cholesterol and abnormal lipid levels, so don't automatically assume that if you eat meat, it's bad for you. Imo, moderation is key. If you need some small electrical appliances, let me know. I have extras, and I'd be glad to give them to you.

Also a single burner induction cooktop plus a stainless steel frying pan and sauce pot - total cost less than $200 - and you can cook anywhere there's an outlet.

 

[sangha]

Also a single burner induction cooktop plus a stainless steel frying pan and sauce pot - total cost less than $200 - and you can cook anywhere there's an outlet.

I was thinking the same thing but that sounds a little spendy for his budget. If he wants to cook with heat, he can get a camp stove of some kind or a small bbq grill for much less money. The induction burner doesn't do anything a camp stove does.

The slow cooker was the best idea. Rice and beans can be bought in bulk for cheap and can be cooked in a slow cooker. So can bread and the ingredients for that are cheap too.

 

[Gaius46]

I need your help! Any and all constructive suggestions are welcome!

Challenge: Easy to prepare mushroom-based meals without a kitchen. You get a small refrigerator, a microwave, $20 per week, any utensils/dishes required, and that's it. Cold-storage is very limited but dry-storage is not. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, utensils or fingers, anything else goes.

Background: I've adopted a very...mobil....lifestyle 2 years ago. When work doesn't move me from state to state, life comes in and finds a way to delay/foil my well laid plans. I'm the guy who has a UPS personal mailbox address on his drivers license instead of an actual residential address. Add to this my desire to lose 20-30kg asap and *poof* diet changes. Not fad dieting, but permanent changes. I have given up a lot and am willing to give up more, but my one demon, even over alcohol and surgery drinks....is meat. I looOOo00ooove meat. I can eat a whole rotisserie in one sitting and still want more. Obviously that's not sustainable if I would like to avoid a heart attack

Enter mushrooms, a cheaper, much healthier alternative. If nothing else I'll nuke them for a moment with a little real butter and eat them whole. YUM! But ohhh do I like me some cheese, a little zing, some color...

HELP!


My most recent experiment: Easy Eggs with Mushrooms | Mushroom Info

PS: every post on this thread get's a like. I'm a whore like that, and so are you

Lean cuts of beef are not bad for you. I don't understand why people insist on saying that. If you pass on the butter and go easy on the oil beef is high in protein and relatively low in fat. And there are low priced cuts available. As long as you're not a gavone about it you can get 3-4 meals out of a pound. You probably don't want to eat it every day but there's no reason to completely banish it from your diet.

Mushrooms have a meaty flavor on their own but you can enhance it by using tomato paste and /or worchestire sauce.

Another thought. Lentils. They're a great replacement for meat as well. Made Shepard pie with lentils instead of meat last week. It was a huge hit.

 

[Gaius46]

I was thinking the same thing but that sounds a little spendy for his budget. If he wants to cook with heat, he can get a camp stove of some kind or a small bbq grill for much less money. The induction burner doesn't do anything a camp stove does.

The slow cooker was the best idea. Rice and beans can be bought in bulk for cheap and can be cooked in a slow cooker. So can bread and the ingredients for that are cheap too.

Agreed. I'm just addicted to my induction cooktop. Only downside to a camp stove is having to stock up on butane but that's really not that big of a deal either.

I've never tried bread in a slow cooker. Gotta give that a shot.

 

[sangha]

Lean cuts of beef are not bad for you. I don't understand why people insist on saying that. If you pass on the butter and go easy on the oil beef is high in protein and relatively low in fat. And there are low priced cuts available. As long as you're not a gavone about it you can get 3-4 meals out of a pound. You probably don't want to eat it every day but there's no reason to completely banish it from your diet.

Mushrooms have a meaty flavor on their own but you can enhance it by using tomato paste and /or worchestire sauce.

I agree

WRT losing weight, I think the low-fat diet is not only not the way to lose weight, it's a good way to gain weight if you're not careful about it. Many people who cut meat out of their diet replace it with carbs, particularly refined carbs which I believe are the real cause for the obesity epidemic we're seeing.

It's better to eat reasonable portions of meat (as you indicate, around 1/4 per day) and replace the meat you don't eat with unrefined carbs (beans, whole wheat, etc) and increase the amount of fruits and veggies you eat. Such a diet is also cheaper than one with a lot of meat.

Also, learning about cuts of meat that are cheap will be helpful. Prepared properly (and a slow cooker is a great way to deal with many of these cuts) they are tastier than many of the more expensive cuts