My friend Erik has been encouraging me to make pudding for awhile. I didn’t really see the point, as it’s plenty BrokeAss (not to mention way easier) to just pick up a 6-pack of Jello pudding instead. When I finally made it though, I understood what the big deal was: homemade pudding takes minutes but is waaaaay more satisfying than store bought. Even more exciting, I bet you have most (if not all) of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge already.

I meant to go grocery shopping over the weekend. I really did…but I just had better things to do. My friend Danny was visiting from Boston, and so there were drinks to be drunk and dance moves to be attempted…and I just didn’t get to it. So making dinner with a near-empty fridge last night was a bit daunting. Well sometimes a lack of options forces us to be creative (and thankful for a well-stocked pantry) and the stars align and the resulting dish is truly fantastic, as this one was. Serve it on its own or accompanied by a green salad.

If you know me well, you know that burritos are high on my priority list. They are the essential BrokeAss food: inexpensive, delicious, and quick—not to mention easy to eat, thanks to their handy shape. I really think that, if I were forced to eat one food for the rest of my life it would be a burrito…but I digress.

As nice as it is to swing by my favorite neighborhood taqueria, making burritos at home is relatively easy—and cheap. Better still, the ingredients last for days and translate nicely as lunches to take to work or school. Add grilled chicken, beef, or pork if desired.

The stuffed green peppers my mom made when I was growing would make my mouth water. Coming from a family of six, I can remember my parents were always looking for shortcuts to try to make ends meet. My mom would use simple and inexpensive ingredients when preparing meals for our family. Mom’s stuffed peppers were filled with ground beef, salt, pepper and brown rice. If she was feeling really snazzy, she might pour spaghetti sauce from the jar over the top of her peppers. Presto! Dinner made for pennies was served faster than you could say, “Cheap to make and really tasty.”

Sometimes I like making some of my mom’s old recipes, so this time I decided to slightly embellish from mom’s original stuffed pepper recipe. Instead of the traditional green peppers, I chose red, orange and yellow peppers. They look so bright and festive sitting on a plate. Instead of ground beef, I used black beans, and I also added a spicy jalapeno, and instead of spaghetti sauce from a jar, I chose a slice of cheese that melts into the stuffing and turns brown and bubbly after baking. Serve these peppers with a small tossed salad and a beautiful chilled glass of beer for a delicious and very healthy, BrokeAss dinner option. Oh, and hey mom? I think I’ve fallen head over heels in culinary love with my own stuffed pepper recipe!

This recipe is one of the best ways I know of to make a nice meal for someone for nearly nothing ($6!). It’s full of flavor, thanks to the fresh herbs and garlic, and at merely $3 per person (I’ll be impressed if you manage to eat it all), you can save your hard-earned cash for the bar.