I wrote a little bit last week about a project I’m working on that would offer educational and nutritional information as well as some really great resources to SNAP (food stamp) recipients in my community. THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING and HAPPY and HEART-WARMING. You guys are so great.
I’ve started outlining plans, listing resources, playing with standard pantry lists and menus and I am enjoying every minute of it. In the coming weeks I’m going to try to feed my family on a SNAP budget, which is about $31.50 per person per week. Could you eat 3 meals a day for 7 days for $31.50? This is gonna get tricky you guys!!
I had a really enlightening meeting last week with the woman in my area that is heading the effort to make the farmer’s market here available to SNAP recipients. She is up to her eyeballs in a mess that is much bigger than it seems like it should be. We plan on collaborating in the future.
I have had a lot of you offer up help and for that I am so thankful because this is definitely not the kind of thing that would or could ever get accomplished alone. I hope the effort grows and grows — I hope to come up with a sustainable model that could be duplicated because everywhere there is need.
There are mission statements that have been drafted, ideas scribbled on all available surfaces, and lesson plan lists that just keep growing. But first things first: this baby needs a name!!! I’ve been mulling over acronyms and names and clever phrases that are probably not so clever for a couple of weeks now, but I’ve decided to tap into your collectively creative brains and ask for help with naming this initiative. I feel like awesome names are borne of caffeine (or wine) fueled conversations and silly dialogue that happens in the moment.
A name is something you have to bounce off of someone else (and Lucy doesn’t count). I need your help!!! Lest we end up with another naming disaster like “Sugar Dish Me”.
Crock Pot Philly Cheesesteak Quesadillas ARE NOT something that require a second opinion because everyone likes them. Eh-vur-eee-one. Unless you’re vegetarian, in which case, I apologize and hope that this White Pizza with Cauliflower and Kale makes up for things.
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3-4 pound chuck roast
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- pinch of salt
- ⅓ cup distilled vinegar
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- 8 whole wheat tortillas
- 8 ounces provolone cheese
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- shredded lettuce and sour cream to serve
- Place the sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker crock. Nestle the chuck roast right on top. Sprinkle the garlic all over.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dried parsley, dill, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and distilled vinegar. Pour it over the roast.
- Sprinkle the green onions over everything, cover, and cook for 5-6 hours on high, 7-8 hours on low.
- When the meat is fork tender, gently remove it from the crock pot and shred it. Return the meat to the crock pot and stir to evenly incorporate the meat, onions, and sauce.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle (medium high heat or about 375 on the griddle). Place a tortilla shell down, cover with ⅛ of the cheese. Spread some of the beef over the cheese (about ¼ to ½ a cup). Add ¼ of the sliced bell peppers, ¼ of the sliced mushrooms (you can heat these in a small skillet with a little bit of non-stick cooking spray before-hand if you like your peppers and mushrooms to be a little more cooked and tender), and another ⅛ of the cheese.
- Continue cooking until the cheese is good and melty, place another tortilla on top, flip, and cook until the second side is toasty.
- Remove to a cutting board.
- Repeat with the other 3 quesadillas.
- Slice them like pizzas and serve with shredded lettuce and sour cream.
I’m reading this after literally two hours of sleep so sorry if I’ve missed the point…. you are looking to name your effort of creating meals on a SNAP budget? Well, the concept has a name, the ‘SNAP Challenge’, Mario Batali has some interesting information on it. But maybe a menu plan for this challenge could be called “Frugal Feeding”. Sigh. Creative juice expelled, and it’s not even 9:00 am.
Erin’s DC Kitchen recently posted…Snowquester, or, Experiments on a Rainy Day
Hey, Erin! I probably should have been more specific. I wrote a post last wee HERE: http://www.sugardishme.com/2013/03/05/meyer-lemon-oatmeal-cookies/
about an initiative I’m trying to coordinate in my area that would include cooking classes and healthy menu planning for SNAP users. It also includes making the farmer’s market and fresh foods out here more accessible for SNAP users and HOW to use all the goodies you can get! It will be free (obviously) and I am trying to pull things together strictly on donations (class resources, materials, kitchen use, etc). And it needs a name!! Frugal Feeding is good! Get some sleep & keep ‘em coming! Thanks!
Awe, I’m your inspiration!
This looks amazing! I love anythings that’s in a tortilla.
Meghan @ The Tasty Fork recently posted…Slow Cooked Corned Beef with Guinness Gravy
Your sandwiches were on my brain like nobody’s business. You have no idea. I never have packaged seasoning on hand though so I had to scratch it up. Thank you, Meghan!!
I have yet to make a Quesadilla. Yours look fantastic Heather!
Simply Tia recently posted…Smoothie Time
Like grilled cheese on a tortilla. The possibilities are endless. Thanks!!
I need more crockpot meal options! Yay for a delicious looking quesadilla. Thank you!!
Your program is going to all come together, Heather, and I’m so excited for you. Hmmm, name?! Some thing with “home”. Does that help? Ha! I’ll vote on a favorite once you have some ideas you want to throw our way.
The Foodie Affair recently posted…Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
I thought something with home in it too, or something with healthy and home in it – all about the alliteration
I’ll keep pondering! (Meantime you missed out the fact that these quesadillas are for everyone except veggies and weird cheese avoiders 
They LOOK great though!
thepinkrachael recently posted…Miserable and MIA
It’s beef, Rachael! Eat the beef! Also, I think that cheese on quesadillas is the same as cheese on pizza– you gotta make an exception.
And please put your creative mind to pondering on this one– I’m stuck!
Thanks, Sandra!!
It will come together. I’m working it all out
I’ll let you know when I come up with a few options!
This looks brilliant my firend, I feel a craving
Cheers
CCU
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Thanks!!
SO happy for you and all your efforts that’s fantastic!!! And I bet if you were really smart with your money you could make that $31 work, if you get rid of snacks and don’t overeat!!!!! Next time I go grocery shopping I will try to do that haha I’ll see what I come up with!!! These look delish btw!
I can do snacks. And not overeat. It’s the rest of my household I worry about. These guys can put away some food for real.
Mmmmm…cheesesteak….
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