Western Bagels make "Professsional" Meals

The other day I was eating ham and swiss on an onion bagel, with chips on the side. A co-worker walked by and said "where did you get that, did you make it?" I said that I made it with stuff from the dollar store. He said it "looked very professional," and I definitely took that as a compliment.

I was reminded of the Fred Armisen character "Fericito" on Saturday Night Live, the hammy drum playing Latin host who would instruct his guests on the fine art of comedy timing and trademarks, and exclaim "Eeees more pro - fessional!"

So get you some Western bagels, add ham, swiss, and mustard - serve with some potato chips and lunch is served!

Drunken Soup

Last week (while drinking) I threw together a soup with stuff mostly from the dollar store and 99 Cent only store. It was pretty good when I finished, but the next day it was even better. Unfortunately, I can't really remember what all is in it, or the exact quanities. But, because it is so delicious I will try to reconstruct the recipe, or at least list the ingredients --

Chicken
Chicken broth
red onions
mushrooms
potatoes
Brocci-flower
golden raisins
beer
garlic pepper salt
cumin
sour cream

I probably browned the red onions in butter, then added the mushrooms. I usually cut up my potatoes and give them a head start in the microwave, I might have cooked the Brocci-flower (looks like cauliflower but has a green tint as broccoli is mated with it) with the potatoes. The cumin is what really gave this soup a wonderful flavor, I might have added some paprika or chili powder as well. Everything came from the dollar store except the chicken, beer and sour cream. The sour cream gave it a more creamy texture as opposed to a broth base. This conconction produced quit a bit of soup, and days later I am still eating it. The golden raisins give this a touch of sweetness and a sort of middle eastern feel. This is especially good with garlic bagel chips (not from the dollar store) or you could make garlic bread or bagel chips with dollar store staples.

This soup is really different and delicious, and I wish I could give you exact measurements but the drinking obviously clouded my judgment to keep the exact recipe for posterity. I therefore dub thee DRUNKEN SOUP, and urge you to hoist a few and go at it.

Lunch for a Buck!

Here is one of my favorites, straight from the 99 Cent Only Store. Nissin Thai Peanut Chow Mein instant noodles http://www.nissinfoods.com/chowmein/ and a handful of Beer Nuts http://www.beernuts.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?PROCFUN+WORDPR01+WEBFUNC+M37-- yum yum!!!

But hey, you say -- that costs $1.98, not a buck! Well, if you are not a total hog, and can control yourself, you will only eat one of the two servings in your plastic tub. Refrigerate the other half for later, adding a tablespoon or two of Luv Yu brand (I don't make this stuff up) Rice Vinegar Garlic flavor from of course, the 99 Cent Only Store. Toss in some cucumbers (also available in 3 packs from the 99 Cent Only Store) and Voila! (or however you say "presto chango, check it out!" in Indonesia) you have a cold noodle salad to rival any of the fancy Thai/Japanese/Sushi joints in town.