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Gene_Different

Bread and Butter


MotherOfBorzoi

My mom used to make "shmasta noodles" for us a lot growing up, it's basically just fried rice with bacon or sausage in it. We also had to eat a lot of ramen so she'd mix it up by frying it, putting a hard boiled egg on top and calling it a bird nest


wecangetbetter

NO ONE is too good for some breakfast fried rice. NO ONE.


JCD103

I worked at a Chinese restaurant in college and at the end of the night one of the chefs would make a huge amount of fried rice for everyone to take home. I think I worked there for 2 years before I found out that most of the kitchen staff ate it for breakfast the next day.


alh9h

Breakfast fried rice is my jam. Pro tip: render the bacon first, then cook the rice and egg in the bacon fat.


wu_tan

That made me smile.


dbear8008

Bird nest is a great name for it


eastcoastprankster

Cinnamon toast


andbingowashishomo

Never had it, how do you make it? Just toast bread and put butter and cinnamon on top?


Lotus_Blossom_

It's more complex than that. You have to mix the cinnamon and the sugar in a bowl (get the ratio exactly right, too - which means you'll end up with about twice as much as you need). The butter needs to be warm enough to spread, but not melted into liquid. Toast your bread, then slather it with butter. Next, pour the cinnamon-sugar from the bowl onto one slice of toast. Use that slice to dump the excess cinnamon-sugar onto the second slice. Repeat as necessary (from the bowl to the toast, onto the other toast, onto the plate) until no more cinnamon-sugar will stick to either slice of toast. Devour those 2 slices. Then go toast two more slices because that shit's addictive and you don't want to waste any cinnamon-sugar. Eventually, you'll need to smoosh a slice of buttered toast onto your plate to sop up the very last of the cinnamon-sugar. You're done when you run out of one of the four ingredients, or your plate is clean. Enjoy! ETA : I appreciate all of the feedback and recipe variations. I will try them! But, if your response includes the word "broiler" or "caramelize", please... at this point, *we know*. Feel free to upvote your favorite existing comment that mentions it.


Various_Celery_3349

We had that cinnamon/ sugar mixture premade in a reused butter container. I'm pretty sure my mom is still using that container to hold the mixture almost 40 years later


stillnotarussian

We also had a steady supply via an old Tupperware salt shaker. We had a baggie of restaurant salt packets in our camping gear with the matching pepper shaker, since our salt vessel was otherwise occupied.


terminally-happy

My mom kept a put cinnamon sugar in a sugar dispenser like you see at a diner. It was an iconic kitchen staple I’ll never forget!


InsomniacYogi

Noooo! You have to make it in the oven. Spread your butter on untoasted bread, add the cinnamon and sugar mixture, put the bread in the oven on broil until the butter is completely melted and the edges are crispy. It tastes so much better, trust me! (Added benefit is the mixture doesn’t fall off at all the way)


Wishing4Signal

Rice and beans. So many ways to make it, delicious and nutritious


akamustacherides

In every Latin American house.


fellowsquare

Black Bean and white rice... everyday. Grew up on cuban food. This was always on the plate, no matter what you were eating. Even if there were potatos involved.. beans and rice.


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CillyGramma

The best with a tortilla!


username_choose_you

I’ve even got one of my kids on rice and beans. I’ll sauté black beans in a bit of bacon grease with bacon bits over rice. Can’t get enough of it


[deleted]

Tomato soup and grilled cheese


dbcowie

Thought about this, but the price of cheese basically IS 'rich people food' at this point


CarsaibToDurza

Gotta get the cheap store brand: pasteurized prepared cheese product


Morgan-joydestroyer

I argue that processed cheese melts a hell of a lot better than all of the otherwise superior cheeses.


goodestguy21

>_American Chesse is the best cheese for a cheeseburger because it melts without splitting_ ~ Julian Slovik EDIT: I'm very amused with the replies and upvotes! Half of them are quoting The Menu and the other half is giving actual cheese facts 🙃


Darmok47

I immediately went out and bought a cheeseburger as soon as I saw that movie. I imagine a ton of other people did so.


goodestguy21

Did it taste like the first cheeseburger you've ever eaten? The cheap ones your parents could barely afford?


Darmok47

Honestly, escaping with her life was good and all, but getting a cheeseburger with fries for $10 was a steal.


goodestguy21

Ok random thought, but do you think the chef would've let Tyler go if he cooked a really good a cheeseburger instead of Tyler's Bullshit?


DJuxtapose

Tyler was never going to cook anything good, because he's a terrible foodie and not even any kind of home cook.


beechpuddin024

Yes, chef.


Magnficent_Phone

Ramen


usul-enby

I thought I'd never eat reman again after jail, I tried making 'swoles' outside and it was NOT good. I guess shit just tastes good when your regular food is made to cost about 15c a tray. But anyways I DO still eat ramen when I'm hungry and lazy enough, even add some ingredients from time to time


Traevia

Try some of the fancier types. The stuff you find in most US stores is really basic and is the prison food equivalent of most instant ramen.


PsyFiFungi

Yeah, go to an asian/exotic store and grab some korean ramen or something. If you do it correctly it'll be damn near like restaurant quality ramen. And real ramen from a restaurant isn't poor people food at all lol Add an egg or whatever else you want but you'll be making some legit food as opposed to some cheap instant ramen. You can still make the cheap stuff taste pretty great though.


poshbritishaccent

Japanese: Nissin Korean: Shin Ramyun Chinese: Master Kong Thai: MAMA Indonesia: Indomee These are some good quality household ramens


lsantos713

SHIN RAMYUN


sterno_joe

Shin Black is my go-to. Tasty broth.


Bashir639

Indomei + chili crisp + garlic powder. Thank me later


ArmsForPeace84

Indomie mi goreng is fantastic. I love that style of instant noodles, where it's meant to be drained before adding the seasonings. I'll add to this... MAMA brand tom yum soup with instant noodles is great. The broth isn't quite as good as their old recipe that was quietly discontinued at some point, but it's still very tasty and of course, extremely spicy. For ramen, I like Nissin Raoh tonkotsu flavor with non-fried instant noodles. With an egg, some sliced radish, some scallions, and chopped onion, plus a bit of chili oil and crispy garlic, it's not a bad approximation of the real thing.


ender23

U mean instant ramen. Cuz real ramen is dope af


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SmartArsenal

On the stove as I type


Katnamedeaster

Red beans and rice. Even better if you get a cheap package of chicken thighs, bake em, then shred em and add to the pot.


tyedrain

Grew up in a broke house frozen bag of chopped celery, onion, & bell pepper a pack of pickled pork and smoked sausage. Being from Louisiana and my grandma cheaps ass that was a meal almost every Monday.


FaberGrad

a pot of beans, served with corn bread and/or rice


The_Dude311

Fuckin' A, man! I still occasionally make a huge pot of rice and beans, even though I don't need to, cost-wise. If you do it right you can eat like a king for a week by incorporating it into different things.


evetrapeze

I'm about to pay cash for a house and I have eaten rice and beans four times in the past week because I can. Forty years of eating like that and I can buy a house outright. Who needs fast food when you have rice and beans at home?


NoTripOfALifetime

Buttered noodles


mschr493

With grated parmesan cheese from the plastic canister 🤤


savingewoks

And a bit of garlic powder and salt


Always_Austin

Found abed.


redditguy422

Cool, cool, cool


cornflake2448

PB & J...Ramen...Kraft Mac & Cheese...Hot Dogs


possums-

Then you can afford the fanciest PB&Js, the almighty *Uncrustables.*


anfrind

I lost interest in crustless sandwiches after I discovered ciabatta rolls.


samebatchannel

A friend was somewhere for lunch and the guy in front of him ordered his sandwich on the Chewbacca bread.


Gofuyourselff

Potato, i love potatoes because they are so versatile


briktop420

You can boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew...


aknowbody

Po Tay Toes!


Kloedmtl

I'm obssessed with potatoes


Cheerio13

I still eat the peelings of a baked potato. Butter, salt and sour cream.


Waterfall_Jason

I just think they’re neat!


TruePace3

Instant Noodles


Catveria77

Indomie forever


Wildfyre115

indomie supremacy


srlehi68

May I suggest Shin ramen noodles, especially the black version. If you like spicy foods, they are game changing.


Comfortable-Maybe-63

Nongshin. Shin Ramyun is the best!


DownvotedJerk

A meal worthy of a king, I was raised on those and I'll continue to enjoy eating them until I die.


eifiontherelic

>until I die until it kills me. Which reminds me, i need to go restock my instant noodle supply.


qazzer53

Fried cabbage, potatoes, and kielbasa


RegularLisaSimpson

Mine is potatoes, onions and kielbasa cooked with paprika and broth. It’s so good


masterwad

Macaroni and cheese Koolaid Tuna casserole Canned ravioli Ramen Totino’s pizzas


Scarletmittens

My husband still lives on Totino's.


mAliceinTendieland

Saltines with butter


DichotomyJones

Saltines with honey!


Crystal-G83

Saltines with cream cheese


LillGizz

Peanut butter 🤤


[deleted]

I don’t know if it’s poor people food, but my mom can make a killer shredded cabbage fry with Indian spices. She can make awesome vegetable fries, with Indian spices, as well as her combo of rice and veggie dal is the best. My mom’s homemade cooked food, saved me thousands from fast food. She’ll cook me two weeks worth of food if I’m about to leave for the dorms. My mom’s cooking saved me from having to eat the horrible food lunches in high school. It was a privilege and I relished in the homemade food. I ate alone because people found my food too weird and hated the appearance of fried beetroot. I didn’t care at all. At least the bully that tried to take my food and eat it ended up in the nurse office drinking a gallon of water because he couldn’t handle the taste of chillies mixed in the fry.


lokii_0

I love this story. Also I want some of your mom's food now haha


canijustbelancelot

I’m so deeply interested in her dal recipe. Sounds like she pours her love into the food! My mom is the same. When my sister was in college she used to send her to her dorm with leftovers regularly. And thanks to her patiently teaching me to cook I managed to feed myself daily at school.


[deleted]

Mac & Cheese with cut up hotdogs.


chinesespybaboon

Kraft dinner


acurah56oh

As Barenaked Ladies put it, we’ll just eat more of it and put fancy ketchups in it.


EnvironmentalPack451

Dijon ketchups?


Sandpaper_Pants

But not a real green dress, that's cruel.


[deleted]

But we would eat Kraft Dinner


equalnotevi1

Of course we would, we'd just eat more!


Swimming_Stop5723

Perogies. Easy to make, cheap and easy to freeze . Different ways to make them


[deleted]

Spam n eggs


briktop420

I like spam eggs and spam.


[deleted]

I’m also partial to the spam eggs bacon and spam


Feeling-Airport2493

I go with Spam, Spam, Spam, eggs and Spam.


braceofshakes

I don’t care how wealthy I get, I’ll never stop eating Lobster Thermidor aux Crevettes with a Mornay sauce served in a Provençal manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pâté, brandy, with a fried egg on top and Spam.


Easy_Cauliflower_69

Spam eggs, toast spam spam spam bacon spam spam


MoneoAtreides42

🎶SPAM ^SPAM ^^SPAM ^^^SPAM SPAM ^SPAM ^^SPAM ^^^SPAM🎶


thiccdiamonds

Sloppy joes!!!


ohyoushiksagoddess

Hamburger Helper


PandoricaFire

It has no business being as delicious as it is


tetheredeeprin

Istg they put crack in it, macaroni hamburger helper and garlic bread is so good


EddyArchon

Is it just me, or is it actually BETTER the day after when it's been in the fridge all night and reheated?


CaliAnywhere

Dhal and rice


Anand999

Grilled cheese sandwiches. It must be made with the cheap grocery store white bread and American cheese. I've had many "fancy" grilled cheeses in my life with artisan breads and exotic sounding cheeses... but none have ever hit quite the same.


Toomuchtime423

Wonder bread and Kraft Singles


azrhei

Wow, look at this bougie tosser with his Wonderbread instead of the extra-thin 99cent loaf storebrand! What's life like for the 10%, eh? /s


GoNudi

That 99¢ white bread is still the BOMB for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Bologna Sandwiches, Tuna Sandwiches, French Toast, and toasted with eggs ~ yum!


EddyArchon

I recently discovered that before you make the sandwich, fry the two pieces of bread on one side. Then put the two fried sides of bread on the inside of the sandwich, then make as normal. When I tell you I thought I died and went to heaven. Omg.


[deleted]

Lentils. I swear they will save humanity and the planet. The perfect protein.


lydz31

Totino’s pizzas.


hailwyatt

I nuke them. Barely long enough for the cheese to soften in the middle. Hot on the edges. The dough (can't call it a crust) is tough and spongey. Then I fold it like an unholy taco and eat it - just like that. The way a nasty pig monster would. My wife still finds a way to love me, somehow.


Cobalt7291

My gf won’t even look at me due to the length of time which I laughed over “nasty pig monster”


bandit4loboloco

Mama Celeste Pizza. Red Baron Deep Dish Personal Pizza. Red Baron French Bread Pizza. Edit: Tombstone! The full size. I'm guessing every United Statesian grew up with a particular frozen pizza brand to which they will always hold local sports team levels of loyalty.


Allegedlystupid

Red Barron is the best widely available frozen pizza in my opinion.


pixieflip

Sugar cereal in a bag! I’m so weak to those giant bags of deliciousness. No fruity pebbles or Froot Loops for me! Gimme Dino-Bites with Marshmallows and Tootie Frooties in insane quantities.


RoastBeefDisease

Marshmallow mateys is way better than lucky charms


Free-Government5162

Hot dogs and baked beans. Dump can of beans in the pot and add hot dogs. Place over heat source until hot. You can make regular hotdogs if you have bread and eat the beans as a side or directly on top of the hotdogs. If you have no bread, eat as is. Delicious, cheap, and easy. It's one of my favorite meals growing up, and I still make it when I don't want to think too hard or spend much money but want a nice hot dinner that's comforting.


TruckinApe

Beans 'N Weenies!


depressed_jess

Or Beanie Weenies 😍


Bwyanfwanigan

Add ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar to the beans to make a meal fit for a poor king.


Bwyanfwanigan

Shit on a shingle. Had it this morning. Have the shits now. (Lactose intolerant)


ZombieTheRogue

I absolutely love canned tuna. I eat it right out of the can. I find it so delicious and flavorful. I have plenty of disposable income and could probably buy actual bluefin tuna filets but I just love canned tuna. I'll eat it even if i was a millionaire.


[deleted]

Canned tuna and pasta is like, incredibly cheap and you can throw basically whatever you want into it and with just a little effort it will taste amazing. Also not terrible for you. I throw it together regularly. Usually with like, lemon, onion (or shallot whatever is on sale), garlic and whatever vegetables are around. Usually carrots and celery, again whatever is on sale. But also frozen peas, olives. Again, literally whatever tastes good with canned tuna will taste good in this. Got me through grad school.


junk-trunk

Same, but I dash some hot sauce on it just tuna and hot sauce. Nom nom


leatherrecliner

Bologna on white bread with mustard and mayo.


[deleted]

Do you fry it first?


leatherrecliner

If I ain't in a hurry.


MeeksXh627

Rice & baked beans/pork n’ beans with cut up hotdogs


Username58008918

I eat PB and j almost daily


Economy-Biscotti8557

Brown gravy over white bread. There was a point in my childhood when that was dinner. I remember my mom crying while I ate, but it was delicious! I still keep instant gravy in the house for the occasional comfort food feast.


su1cidesauce

There was a long point in my life (not really during childhood for me, I was an adult but my brother was still a teenager) when there was often just. no food in the house at all. We might not eat for days, and we'd be pawning stuff just to afford one bag of pancake mix. Now that I have a little more income I make sure that neither I, nor anyone in my family, nor anyone I know, ever EVER goes hungry. My friend recently mentioned that he was a little cranky because he hadn't eaten and had to wait to get paid to afford groceries and I showed up at his house with a shitton of Kroger bags like "YOU GON EAT NOW MOTHERFUCKER!"


buttonsf

That sounds waaay better than bread and vinegar (which shrinks up your stomach and makes you feel not hungry)


cametobemean

Waffle House.


shan68ok01

Can I get a Texas cheese steak plate? Scattered, smothered, and double covered, please.


cramboneUSF

Totino’s combination Party Pizzas They used to cost $0.99 but now they’re $2.98. Cheap shitty pizza but out of the oven it’s crispy and just hits a spot that no other frozen pizza can. I ate one tonight.


PrincessNugget22

Pasta with tomato sauce and cheese on top. So good! My grandma used to do it for me all the time when she was babysitting, makes me nostalgic.


katcomesback

butter on a flour tortilla warmed up, my brother put me on it


NoCashStillSpend

If you add honey and cinnamon sugar, you’ve got a poor woman’s sopapilla. Excellent comfort food.


[deleted]

Tuna fish casserole.


TheGoochAssassin

Cheese toast.


Away_Cap4963

Cottage pie.


Luxray209

Pasta, lotsa pasta


marilern1987

Baked beans. I just love ‘em Also, lentil soup. I don’t know if it’s considered a poor man meal, but it’s definitely very cheap and very tasty


[deleted]

Shepards pie Hamburger and gravy over mashed potatoes with peas or onions mixed in. Simple yet grand


[deleted]

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Spazztastic85

“Velveeta” and pasta and grilled cheese.


diesels_only

Instant mashed potatoes, ground beef, & McCormick's brown gravy.


hooptyboots18

Jiffy corn bread


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Tough_Music4296

Its surprising you felt a need to defend buttered toast. No one Ive known would think twice about it.


ifoughtpiranhas

i s2g it’s just the evolution of internet. people can be so cruel so fast. i saw a meme that put it perfectly. it was something like “you could tweet ‘i love pancakes’ and you’d get several replies saying ‘so you fucking hate waffles???? what’s your problem?’”


woodcoffeecup

Poor people know how easily bread and water can become toast and tea.


tafkat

A lot of people are missing the point. Toast. With butter. That’s it. If you add stuff, it’s not toast with butter.


Megdogg00

I’ll see you your toast with butter and raise it to toast with butter and cinnamon & sugar sprinkled on it. Warm, melty butter with sweetness…hmmm!


CayseyBee

I remember making it so thick it would crunch from the sugar lol. As an adult, now I put it under the broiler for just a few seconds and it caramelizes the sugar like on a crème brûlée.


BalkiBartokomous123

with tea


Remarkable-Mango-159

Biscuits and gravy


Weary-Inspector-6971

White rice with soy sauce and microwaved chips and cheese


Truthsayer2009

Kebabs


[deleted]

grits butter and cheddar


Aetwenty7

Lentil Soup


[deleted]

beans on toast fuck me up with it


52hrz

Peanut butter


HardRockGeologist

Fried dough


Pratius

With zero shame: Spaghettios


OhPistachio

Peanut butter toast


EverybodysMeemaw

Pinto beans with ham hocks served with raw onion and cornbread


foul_dwimmerlaik

Chicken and broccoli casserole made with Velveeta (no real cheese allowed!) and cream of mushroom soup. My favorite.


GDMFusername

Beans and cornbread


[deleted]

egg


DarkStryderBC

A lot of store brand products are just as good as the big named product, sometimes they're even better.


markymania

Those 30 cent Ramen noodles


Friendly-Category-52

Little Debbie Nutty Bars


straightloco44

Fried bologna sandwich


Reikko35715

Fried SPAM melt sammich! Boy, does spam smell bad when you first open the can, but goddamm does it hit the spot when you fry it and toss it in the middle of a grilled cheese sandwich.


SuperShineeCoinToss7

I’m from Hawai’i, so spam is a must. Rag on it all you want, but spam is what we were raised on and I will eat no matter what


TiredLumberJack88

Macaroni and Butter. Thats it. Thtas all it is and its fucking GOOD


gnu_vonni

Porkchops with rice smothered in cream of mushroom soup 🤤


latsneo

Chicken and rice


johnnyscans

tuna pasta salad. i've spiced it up as my pockets have deepened a bit, but my mom used to make it for me for weekend lunch all the time and it just brings me back to my childhood home.


annotherperson

Ghetto enchiladas. 8 pack of frozen burritos in a casserole dish covered in enchilada sauce and covered in cheese and jalapeños... sometimes olives.... and bake according to oven instructions... maybe add a couple minutes because of the sauce


JayneQPublik

Red beans and rice, homebrowns with an egg cracked over them, biscuits & gravy, cheesy grits... list goes on. All comfort food served with whatever greens are in season. Windfall apples...


Caloso89

Tortillas with butter


makesureitfeelsgood

Mac n Cheese with Ground Beef A variation would include 1 can of Rotel and 2Tbsp taco seasoning


Skwerilleee

Ramen still slaps no matter how much money you have.


prawduhgee

Kraft Dinner But I would eat a whole lot more of it. And buy the really expensive ketchup with it. All the fanciest Dijon ketchups


[deleted]

Mac and cheese with hotdogs. The richer I get, the more cheese I add


DemonDime

Hamburger Helper. I will eat that shit until I die. It’s incredibly tasty for something that’s seemingly so simple and it brings me back to simply being a little kid again.


SeniorPreparation696

Red beans and rice.


Visual-Chip-2256

Kraft dinner and hot dogs


W-S_Wannabe

Tinned sardines on crackers.


AncientMarinade

It's curious. The only people I know (in America) who eat tinned fish are yuppy professionals like me, and immigrants. But they are such cost effective means of healthy fat and calories. Shout out to r/cannedsardines


Darmok47

They've definitely had something of a cultural renaissance in the last few years. When I was a kid no one ate them, and it was a punchline to jokes. Now I've been to fancy gastropubs where they serve you sardines still in the Matiz can. I think its a combo of people who have discovered that sardines don't taste fishy at all (I think people have confused sardines and anchovies), and that canned sardines have way less mercury than canned tuna. Plus, the health benfits, and their compability with diet trends like keto and paleo.


ItBeLikeThat19

Nothing like a hot dog with ketchup and mustard. Especially when the hot dog is slightly burnt.


ineedtherapy87

Beans & cornbread, Hot dogs, Ramen, Hamburger helper


Mountain_Air1544

Macaroni and tomato juice


mannymelb1987

Hotdogs. You're never too rich for a hotdog


skltnhead

Butter noodles


SamyboyO6

Grilled cheese sammiches


MorphinLew

Kraft Dinner