Sloppy Joes, Peas, and Twice-Baked Potatoes.

Now this was a meal I’d been looking forward to all week! There’s just nothing like a sloppy Joe. Paired up with peas and topped off with a twice-baked potato (which I’d never made before), it was a great dish.

But the potato. Oh, the potato! I’d never known how to really make a twice-baked variety until a couple of weeks ago, when I stumbled upon this recipe. Instantly, my mind shifted to our makeshift “root cellar” (really the cabinet under the counter), where three bags of potatoes sit waiting to be used (and used often). And I knew that I’d have to give this rendition a try!

Truth be told, it wasn’t hard work at all. Sure, it took time to bake seven potatoes (!) and then let them cool enough to where I could scoop out the insides and prepare the filling. But the actual work took upwards of 10 minutes, tops … and with that, I had restaurant-quality potatoes right here in Chez Recessionista. To add to my bliss, I was able to freeze five of the potatoes for use later (more on my latest freezing craze in another post, I promise).

So, in short, the meal turned out great. And now LeeLee has leftover sloppy Joes for tomorrow’s lunch, too. But I’m taking the leftover potato. Sometimes, generosity just doesn’t pay. J

The stats:

Buns: $0.99/eight ($0.12/person)
“Beef”: $4.29 ($2.15/person)
Pizza sauce: $1.85 ($0.93/person)
Mushrooms: $2.49 ($1.25/person)
Peas: $1.69 ($0.85/person)
Potatoes: Prepaid.
Sour cream: $2.29 ($0.57/person)
Cheese: $2.99 ($1.50/person)

GRAND TOTAL: $16.59 … or $7,37 per person.
BUT WAIT! This dinner made enough leftover for a couple of additional meals, AND the potatoes made enough to freeze for at least four more servings. So the per-person price goes down even more!

:)