Quickly Save Money by Cooking the Books

“Fettucini alfredo is macaroni and cheese for adults.” Mitch Hedberg

One benefit of the pandemic has been the number of people who took the time to learn how to cook.

People stocked up on ingredients and started baking bread. At one point there was a shortage of yeast.

I’ve always loved baking my own bread. Kneading the dough is a tactile exercise, somewhat soothing in its repetition.

In my past life, I was an accountant.

People think financial statements are cut and dried, but there’s always a grey area. It’s all in how you frame the numbers.

Cooking the books is what we called it when someone changed their accounting reports so things looked better than they really were.

Cooking at home can save you money, and that actually makes things better.

If you don’t have the time or patience to find a recipe, get the ingredients, and learn how to cook, cooking for yourself can be daunting. It’s easier to order take out and enjoy it in your own home.

Soon you are trapped in the ‘Fast Food Cycle’.

Benefits of breaking the fast food cycle:

• You save money — eating out (or take out) is expensive.

• You’ll eat healthier meals — fast food is full of calories and sugar.

• You will impress your friends with your cooking skills.

• You save time when you cook once and eat many times.

• You can break the fast-food cycle if you learn one new recipe each week.

Before you embark on this cooking adventure, here are a couple of tips.

Don’t make it too complicated.

If you are learning how to cook, the last thing you need is a recipe with tons of ingredients and complicated processes. This is one time that you want to Keep It Simple.

Try one new thing at a time.

This one’s self-explanatory. Mastering a new skill takes practice and you don’t want to become discouraged.

Don’t be afraid to substitute

Experimenting helps you learn how to cook with what is in your cupboard. It helps you be creative instead of needing exact ingredients. I always tell people not to be afraid to make changes to recipes. You can substitute different cheeses or use a bit of cream with water instead of milk. There are no rules when you are cooking for yourself and you might create a new specialty dish.

It’s a family joke.

I never prepare a recipe exactly as the directions state. I always make some change, even if it’s the first time I’ve prepared it.

Macaroni and Cheese is a family favorite.

This recipe for Macaroni and Cheese is the easiest one I’ve found and it doesn’t cost much. You won’t have a lot of cleaning up to do because you use just one pot.

There are lots of ways to personalize your macaroni and cheese, including adding vegetables such as broccoli or peas. You can also experiment by changing the spices, which will give this homemade dish your personal touch. Using different pasta is another substitute that’s easy to do.

Do You Have What You Need?

2 cups milk (maybe a bit more)

2 cups dry macaroni

1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or otherwise)

Optional ingredients- seasoning suggestions

A dash of salt

Several dashes of Worcestershire sauce (My secret ingredient. It makes cheese taste cheesier)

Pepper to taste

Sriracha sauce to taste

1 tsp Dijon mustard

A couple of dashes of paprika

Fried or chopped onions

Any other vegetable chopped fairly small

Be inspired! What’s in your fridge?

Homemade Comfort Mac and Cheese

Step 1. Gather your ingredients.

Step 2. Mix the following main ingredients in a pot.

2 cups milk (maybe a bit more)

2 cups dry macaroni

A dash of salt if you have it

(Add chopped broccoli or another vegetable if you want)

*This recipe uses milk instead of water so keep your heat at medium.

Step 3. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, and then turn your heat down to low. Put a lid on the pot and simmer 10–15 minutes until the macaroni is tender. Check it often, stirring to ensure the macaroni doesn’t stick to the pan.

Stir fairly often to keep the pasta from clumping and sticking on the bottom. You might have to add a bit more milk if the pasta seems dry — this depends on the type of pasta you use.

Step 4. Once the pasta is soft, add seasoning. (Be creative and try different combinations)

Step 5. Turn the heat off and stir in 1 cup shredded cheese. Serve immediately.

Adapted from Miracle Mac n Cheese by BudgetBytes

Learning to cook will save money and keep you healthier. As a bonus, it will impress your friends.

I used to be an accountant in another life and I’m full of advice about money — just ask me.

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This story also appears on Medium by Tree Langdon, the author.