Making do with Food Pantry food isn't
easy while the VA system rips you
off on your disability case. This
Blog column is to help you find
ways to find food that is cheap
and easy to make without being
strapped to a cook book and still
make something decent out of
what your food stamps can cover.

Rice A Roni brand name runs around
$1.00 a box, but often there is
an equal store brand that runs
as cheap as 60 cents a box like
WalMart.

If the food pantry has offerings
of Rice A Roni or the store brand
equivalent then do what ya can
to bring it on home.

Savory flavored Rice A Roni are
the best choices as it will
help you overcome your craving
for meat.

I recommend either the Fried
Rice flavor or the Oriental Rice
flavor of Rice A Roni because
when it is all done, it's a
good full plate serving for a
meal and you don't really miss
the fact that you didn't have
any meat to go with it.

Most all Rice A Roni variations
cook the same, just read the
directions on the back of the
boxes. Melt some butter in a
fry pan and dump the rice envelope
into it and fry it up on low
heat until the rice product is
golden brown. ( don't get distracted
being put on HOLD on the telephone
from the VA while you are calling
about your case or your rice
could actually burn).

When the rice is a nice light brown
color, add in 2 cups of water
and the flavoring envelope which
is a powder. Stir up and continue
to simmer it on low heat until
the water is completely gone.

You can add a vegetable on the
side such as corn or green beans
or chopped spinich. You can
drink hot green tea to make it
a little more chinese.

Whatever you can mix and match
together will usually go well
with the Rice A Roni product.
A salad, cottage cheese on the
side, sliced tomatoes, olives,
pickles, whatever floats your
boat and the food pantry just
happens to have.

It makes up in about 15 minutes
and it's a full plate serving
type meal for under $2.00

This message has been edited. Last edited by: McClellanVet,

This article was actually written
by me while logged in as CEO.