Frugal Cooking: Getting by with a little help from my friend, Marga

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Before Honey died, I found a huge package of chicken thighs on sale for very little money. I do not remember the cost per pound, but I do remember that it ended up being $0.20 per thigh. I packaged them in two, and that was the meat that I would boil up and cook for her food. I do not typically care for that piece of the chicken, but I know that they can make several meals for me. If I eat one of the thighs, it is a meal, or I can cook the meat use it for two or three portions, mixed with other ingredients. Marga sent me a recipe for "pollo escabechado" (marinated chicken) that she likes. It is very similar to other recipes I have eaten and/or created. I especially liked it because of the onion, garlic, and vinegar in it. It is not unlike much of the way I cook. I adopted her recipe to suit me and what I had in my refrigerator and freezer. I estimate the cost of the pot of four thighs and the vegetables I used to be $0.80 for the chicken, $0.50 for the onion, garlic, and peppers, and just a few cents for for the other ingredients. Rice is fairly inexpensive, and I used up the last of some greens, avocado, and radishes I had for a salad. Tonight's dinner cost for four servings: ~$1.50 (not counting salad), or ~$0.38 each serving. Still not my favorite cut of the chicken meat, it was nice to bring together the flavors with a bit of help from Marga. Photo is my own.