BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

Salted Fudge Brownies

  • Prep Time 0:30
  • Cook Time 0:20
  • Estimated Cost $14.50
  • 25 Comments

Salted desserts are trendier than teen vampires right now, and with good reason. Flaky sea salt crystals enhance the chocolate’s earthiness and balance its rich, sweet notes, resulting in a dessert that is not only more delicious, but more interesting to eat because it engages more of the palate. Serve these on their own or with a scoop of homemade ice cream.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 stick unsalted butter $1 for a stick
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips $2 for a 12-oz. bag
  • 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa $4 for 6 oz.
  • 1 cup sugar Pantry
  • 1 egg $1.50 for 6
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract $4 for 4 oz.
  • 1/2 cup flour Pantry
  • 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt, plus more for sprinkling $2 for 15 oz.

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease an 8x8" square pan. Set aside.
  2. Fill a small saucepan about 2" high with tap water. Cover with a heat-proof bowl to create a double-boiler. Turn heat up to high and melt butter and chocolate chips in bowl, whisking frequently. Carefully remove bowl from pot and turn off heat.
  3. Transfer melted chocolate and butter into a mixing bowl and whisk in cocoa, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour and sea salt. Add about 1/2 cup water and whisk until mixture is very smooth.
  4. Pour into prepared pan and bake 18-20 minutes or until top is shiny and few crumbs cling to an inserted toothpick.
  5. Cool until the brownies are warm or room temperature. Cut into squares and top each square with a few sea salt crystals.

 

Pickled Cauliflower with Chilis and Cilantro

When I told my friend Caitlin that Erik and I were having a pickle party on Saturday, she was understandably skeptical. “No, really,” I told her. “We’re spending the morning pickling stuff.” And we did. Erik has been encouraging me to get into pickling since I met him 2 years ago, and today it was finally realized in my kitchen. We made a simple and ridiculously cheap spicy cauliflower pickle (as well as a more complicated fermented pickle, which I’ll report back on after it’s spent 3 weeks fermenting in my storage room). These were quick, easy and fun to make. Give them out as gifts or use them to use up leftover produce (nearly any vegetable can be pickled in place of the cauliflower).

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cold water
  • 2 cups white vinegar $2 for 32 oz.
  • 2 tbsp salt Pantry
  • freshly cracked pepper Pantry
  • 2 tsp red chili flakes $1.50 for 1 oz.
  • 1 small bunch cilantro leaves, roughly chopped $1
  • 1 head cauliflower, cored and cut into florets $1.50

Directions

  1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Submerge 4 pint-size mason jars and lids (with lids and rims separate from jars) and boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from from water (use tongs and be careful) and allow to cool slightly. Keep water boiling.
  2. Meanwhile, combine water, vinegar, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Whisk to dissolve salt. Set aside.
  3. Pack cauliflower florets into jars, leaving a 1/4" space at the top. Cover with liquid and carefully put on lids, making sure they are fully closed.
  4. Submerge sealed jars into boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Remove and refrigerate until cold. Pickled vegetables are usually best after 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

Makes 4 pints pickled cauliflower in liquid.

Rustic Summer Tomato Tart

  • Prep Time 0:45
  • Cook Time 0:30
  • Estimated Cost $7.00
  • 3 Comments

Last night before bed, I watched an episode of True Blood, and I thought to myself that it’s a very good thing that vampires don’t exist (they don’t, right?), because I would probably be very easy to glamour. Gorgeous, ripe summer tomatoes, for example, currently have me completely seduced. I think about them all the time; how will I get more? When will I eat my next one? How juicy and delicious will it be? I guess this easy, free-form tart is my way of having my way with summer’s most delicious fruit.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour, plus more for rolling Pantry
  • 1 very cold stick butter, cut into pieces $1
  • salt Pantry
  • 1/8 cup ice water
  • 4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, halved lengthwise $2
  • olive oil Pantry
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces $1
  • 4 oz. crumbled feta $4 for 8 oz.
  • freshly ground pepper Pantry

Recipe Serves 3-4

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Lightly dust a baking sheet with flour. Set aside.
  3. Arrange tomato halves on a separate baking sheet. Drizzle liberally with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tomatoes are very fragrant and slightly shriveled. Allow to cool slightly (leave oven on--you'll use the same temperature later in the recipe).
  4. While tomatoes roast, combine flour, butter and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Pulse until mixture resembles small peas. Slowly stream 1/8 cup ice water with machine running, just until dough comes together (you may need slightly more or less--just pay attention to the dough). Remove dough from machine, dust ball lightly with flour, place in a bowl and immediately refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  5. On a floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll dough into a 10" circle. Transfer to floured baking sheet.
  6. Sprinkle half of the crumbled feta over the center of the dough, leaving a 3" border. Arrange the tomato halves over the first layer of feta. Sprinkle with more feta and top with the torn basil, a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Gently drape the border of dough over the crust to make a loosely decorative edge. Brush top of dough with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
  7. Bake tart for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees F, or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden. Allow to cool.
  8. Serve warm or chilled.

Mexican Scramble

  • Prep Time 0:15
  • Cook Time 0:08
  • Estimated Cost $8.00
  • 4 Comments

This is, without a doubt, my favorite thing to have for breakfast. It features soft scrambled eggs, spicy Mexican flavors (and you know I love Mexican), and creamy avocado (Sorry, Sheila. I know you’re over the avo.). All you need to host brunch at your house (or breakfast-for-dinner at your house) is this yummy scramble and some grilled, buttered tortillas, fruit and coffee. (Good friends can usually be coerced into bringing the last 3 items.)

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil Pantry
  • 3 scallions, sliced $1 for a bunch
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced $0.50
  • 6 eggs, lightly beaten $1.50
  • 1 medium tomato, diced $0.50
  • 1/4 cup shredded jack, pepperjack or cheddar cheese $3 for 8 oz.
  • 1 avocado, sliced $1.50
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 2-3

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add scallions and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Reduce heat to medium and add eggs, stirring frequently to avoid the eggs developing any color. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
  3. Gently stir in tomato and cook, stirring occasionally, just until eggs have finished cooking. Top with shredded cheese and stir once or twice, just to encourage melting.
  4. Divide between plates and top with sliced avocado.

Angel Hair with Wasabi, Peas and Mint

  • Prep Time 0:25
  • Cook Time 0:05
  • Estimated Cost $12.00
  • 5 Comments

It’s no secret that pasta is an inexpensive, filling pantry staple to have on hand, but seriously, you have to stop eating it with store-bought jarred sauce. You’re better than that. Just because you’re broke (or whatever, “frugal”) doesn’t mean that you should be subjected to such boring fare. Make this on a Sunday night and eat a gourmet lunch or dinner for the next 4 days for just $3 per serving.

Hint: Try batting your eyelashes and asking your local sushi joint for extra wasabi the next time you order takeout. They’ll likely give it to you for free.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dried angel hair (cappellini) pasta $1
  • 1 cup frozen peas, defrosted $1.50 for 12 oz.
  • 2 cloves garlic Pantry
  • 2 handfuls of fresh mint leaves $1
  • 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil Pantry
  • 2 tsp prepared wasabi $3 for 4 oz.
  • 4 oz. crumbled feta $4 for 8 oz.
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes $1.50 for 1 oz.
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 4

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions in salted boiling water. Drain and return to pot.
  2. In a food processor, combine half of the peas, the mint, the garlic, the olive oil and the wasabi. Puree until a chunky pesto forms. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss with hot pasta. Add remaining peas, feta, red pepper flakes and more salt and pepper if desired.
  3. Serve hot or chilled.