u/Disastrous-Wing699

This recipe more or less requires a blender of some kind, but is a great way to whip up a no-cook, no heat meal (or accompaniment) for a couple of dollars.

No-Cook Budget Borsch

1 398mL can cooked, sliced beets

1 398mL can diced tomatoes

1 C water or broth

Drain the liquid from the beets*. Add to a blender, along with tomato and water/broth, and blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve hot or cold.

*I saved this liquid and mixed it with 45g iced tea powder (or other drink mix powder), about 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, then topped it up with enough water to make 2L. Mixed well and refrigerated, this makes a lovely, refreshing beverage, similar to a switchel or an unfermented kvass.

Found someone's cat deceased by the bus stop in front of the armory on Sterling Road in Glace Bay. Black cat, medium length hair, stumpy or missing tail.

If you live in the area and are missing a cat matching this description, I'm sorry for your loss. This may also have been posted to Facebook by my mother-in-law, because she has Facebook and I don't.

Just made some of this today. It takes 200g of dried soybeans, which is a total of $0.76 CAD where I am, some water and basic seasonings, a mechanical blending device, and time. It makes 4-6 servings over rice, especially with the addition of greens, which I consider optional depending on availability.

Lazy Tofu (recipe from Chinese Cooking Demystified)

200g dried soybeans, soaked overnight, drained and rinsed

1L (4C) water

2 tsp chicken bullion powder

1 tsp each salt and sugar

1/4 tsp white pepper powder (optional. don't go buy this just for this recipe)

2 C leafy greens of choice (I prefer frozen chopped kale)

Blend the soaked beans with water. I happen to have a blender, but this can also be done with a stick/immersion blender. Using a larger pot than you think you'll need, heat the bean mixture, stirring continuously. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES LEAVE THIS POT UNATTENDED. The mixture starts off quite foamy, and boils over quickly and easily. When the surface begins to steam and/or you can see the liquid begin to bubble, turn the heat down to low. Keep stirring, gently but continuously. The mixture needs to cook this way for a minimum of 20 minutes. I usually do 30*. If, for some reason, the mixture gets too thick/dry before the 20 minute mark, add a bit more water and keep it cooking.

Once it's been more than 20 minutes, wait for the mixture to achieve the texture of porridge, polenta or dal. The bubbles should be 'borbles' or 'burbles', and your stirring implement should leave a distinct 'wake' as you pull it from one side of the pot to the other. Now is the time to season and add in the greens, if you're using them. Give it another few minutes on the heat - no more than five - then remove it to cool. You can eat some right away, but I always like it better the next day. Always serve over hot rice.

This dish is so cheap, but so tasty and satisfying. When I went to double check the price of beans (because I just used up my last few), I couldn't believe HOW cheap they are.

Enjoy!

*I have a stool I can pull up to the stove so I'm not standing the entire time.