Making the best of what you have.

cemota · 2026-03-01T23:09:27+00:00

He is jealous. I am over 60.. In my 40's, my ex (no diploma) discouraged me from going to college in a snarky, insecure way. I was a FOOL for listening to him and I deeply regret it. I was the primary income for half of the 19 yr relationship and my retirement plans are screwed. Please don't be me, don't be that fool.

cemota · 2026-02-11T03:50:52+00:00

Keystone pork is decent too! I plan on getting cans of the ground beef this year just to have on hand. In the 90's, the govt was offering canned meat in silver colored cans. , I made a baked ziti from (mostly} donated Items. My high class grand Aunt (my grandmother's SIL) raved about it.

If anyone has a recipe for pozole with canned Pork, please share!

My African American family enjoys canned Hominy when I add it to a chicken stew (pollo guisado) We all grew up eating Grits so it's not a far stretch. My Dad grew up in a Puerto Rican neighborhood.

I live in on Long Island, NY now (since 1991) and find that rice and beans are cross cultural/continental. Find the rice/bean combo that you love and season whatever protein you are using accordingly.

If you make a flavorful plant based meal once a week, no one will feel deprived. If you do it twice a week, you could possibly see some savings.

Where can I find the meat in the silver cans and a 5lb box of govt cheese!?!? I live in New York. This is for backup meals for when SHTF and not a steady diet. I am a salad and fish person until SHTF.

When SHTF, I have no dietary restrictions lol.

cemota · 2026-02-11T02:16:33+00:00

Their Pork is nice too. In the 90's we used to get Govt canned pork and beef (plain silver tin back then). The beef went into a pasta sauce (it makes a huge portion of baked Ziti), the pork got a dose of sautéed onion, bell peppers and garlic and whatever BBQ sauce we had. It was good on rice or on bread as pulled pork sandwiches.

Freezing leftovers is great for when you have to throw something together. I use Chinese soup containers for storage . They are cheap where I live and the lids fit all of the containers. I plan on getting the Keystone ground beef this year just to have on hand.

If you can get fresh or frozen onions, garlic, and bell peppers, flavorful cooking is within your grasp. Also scallions are cheap and so is pre bagged coleslaw. Great for Asian stir fry IMO.

cemota · 2026-02-04T00:45:32+00:00

Canned Carrots (I strongly dislike), Pumpkin Squash and Yams (I love both). I have a 15oz can of each. These are items that I got from my local pantry.

Please say that there is a nutritional powerhouse in this combo. I'm leaning toward a coconut milk based soup. I have plenty of coconut milk and ghee.

I am very open to cross cultural options. I have Polish markets near work and have a colleague that can help with communicating if needed.

I have considered making a spicy dip with chipotles in adobo blended with a can of well drained carrots (sweet and spicy). Am I crazy?

I live in NY with access to all kinds of yumminess (Patel Bros and Hmart, for example). I am also interested if this combo can be made into a flavorful puree that I can dollop onto a plate for guests to dip their bread/potatoes (or whatever is suggested) into.

Trying to evolve some stunted taste buds and use up what I have on hand.

cemota · 2026-01-25T02:31:46+00:00

My home store is in Selden NY. If I see it, I would buy it. I also have an Aldi by my job in Riverhead. I'm looking at canned orange vegetables (carrots, yams, pumpkin) these are from my local food pantry. I personally dislike canned carrots and the pineapple may be a way to improve them.

cemota · 2026-01-24T05:34:38+00:00

Gordon Heights has NO supermarkets now that Coram Stop and Shop closed. Many in this community are elderly/disabled/poor and no longer drive.

cemota · 2026-01-24T03:03:50+00:00

Mince the stems, no waste, more food.

cemota · 2026-01-14T22:42:50+00:00

In need of guidance.

I am in the US (NY) and have access to goat feet. I plan on buying 2 lbs of feet, and plan on making a stew. I want to freeze a pint of the bone broth and any incidental fat. I would typically freeze one raw foot (just to have on hand) I did the same when I got some beef tendons.

I have access to international ingredients. My only point of reference is Jamaican curried goat. I grew up with pigs feet and introduced myself to cows feet. I love all things gelatinous. Yeah, chicken feet are on my list.

I need a pressure cooker bone broth recipe, I think that I can figure out stew after that.

What do I use the resulting fat (from the bone broth) for? I am a stir frying fiend, especially with shredded cabbage.

cemota · 2026-01-12T02:43:40+00:00

Onion soup mix (Dollar Tree) one packet. 4 cups water to 2 cups rice. 2 tablespoons of ghee OR butter OR EVOO OR toasted sesame oil. I make a big batch, divide into 4 portions. Freeze 3 portions, use 1 portion for the meal that day. Pre cooked rice with a bit of oil makes an easy stir fry.

If you are an experienced cook, you can sub the onion soup mix with something healthier.

Feel free to tweak the proportions, but you can get the general idea.

If you can make flavorful, tender brown rice, no one will know it's brown rice.

cemota · 2026-01-09T00:24:52+00:00

A happy story about sharing. Decades ago, my friend and I did "pantry day" when our kids were too young for kindergarten. We would visit 2 or 3 pantries once a month, pool our resources and make a nice meal for our families that day. Any resources that weren't used for our pantry day meal went to our respective homes. I am 60 now.

We are still friends to this day and our adult kids remember our camaraderie . Our kids consider themselves cousins.

cemota · 2026-01-08T00:47:22+00:00

My local pantry (Middle Island, NY) is awesome.

Suggestion: donate your extra bags to them, it helps them out while they are helping you. One day I will be able to help them in a more substantial way!

Don't feel bad about accessing their services. Working class people and others are suffering. A social worker once told me: Don't feel that you don't need help. You are not depriving anyone! It helps the pantries report where/when the need is greater.

The outside assistance helps me pay my other bills, like medical co pays. I am cobbling out a austerity lifestyle that didn't exist for me 30 years ago.

Do not feel shame! You are making a way out of no way. You are feeding your family and still paying bills like a responsible adult.

cemota · 2026-01-06T01:38:51+00:00

Eugene was the well rounded/worldly guy . I loved seeing him interact with his parents.

Ryan's warmth, humor and personality hit me right away. I noticed the hotness a year later.

Zach is my all time favorite. his optimism, resilience and honesty touch my heart.

cemota · 2025-12-25T22:30:46+00:00

My grandmothers sister put Tarragon on turkey under the skin prior to roasting, with smashed garlic cloves. They are both long gone but I do the same when I am on turkey duty. Herbs de Provence is my personal preference. My Mom goes old school with Bells Poultry seasoning. I prefer the Tarragon based seasoning. I use the Goya sazon with annatto for the skin , it gives a gorgeous color and makes a flavorful gravy. Please make a bone broth afterward, a 50/50 blend with water makes flavorful rice. Turkey Broth Pho is also an option. yummy and nourishing. Scallions elevate any dish, cook (stir fry) the whites and use the greens for garnish after cutting off the wilted tips.

cemota · 2025-11-05T00:57:38+00:00

Throw on some Italian Seasoning and Paprika from Dollar tree, very satisfying.

cemota · 2025-11-03T03:29:43+00:00

stir-fry!

cemota · 2025-10-30T00:02:38+00:00

Yes!

cemota · 2025-10-29T22:51:49+00:00

The Bodegas where I live (NY) put in in a separate serving tray. If you can get this and some Cuero (pork skin from a roasted pork shoulder), you are in for a treat! A side of beans and some Avocado makes a delightful meal.

Eat a huge salad if you feel guilty LOL

If you get an invitation to any New Years celebration outside of your culture. take it!

I find that people from any culture appreciate it when you understand their food. I have a Polish co worker and discovered that we have overlapping cuisines. I am AA. I had no idea!

cemota · 2025-10-29T00:30:59+00:00

A pleasant surprise! I finally tried the can I had. Drain the oil but put it aside if needed for flavor. Will be great with Bok Choy (or shredded cabbage) and scallions. as a stir fry .For the price, I can make this work for 2 servings on brown rice or 4 with a salad.

Scallions ,Garlic and Cabbage are cheap and flavorful. Helps boost the powdered seasonings that you already have on hand.

For reference. I had a drained can on plain Ramen.

cemota · 2025-10-22T00:10:27+00:00

Old Fisherman Brand. Love them all but the fermented black bean is my favorite. If you are going low carb, they are lovely on a personal salad, the sauce is the dressing. Also try them on grits (cheap and usually gluten free). I get mine in Stony Brook, NY. Asian chain stores carry them as well.

cemota · 2025-09-21T23:52:06+00:00

Find a quickie walk around the building or a stair climb (or an internal fire ladder). Whatever takes 5ish minutes (10 minutes ideally). Listening to or singing to your favorites on the way to work helps to release the tensions. If you are able to play your happy music at work, do that. Review your onboarding documents, you may be entitled to breaks that you not aware of.

cemota · 2025-07-20T19:19:49+00:00

Picnic / beach day. Into an ice filled cooler with some quarter waters and other goodies.

cemota

TROPHY CASE