Remember your college days? They were fun weren't they?

One of the best things about college is learning how to cope on your own. Sometimes we did it well and sometimes we just messed up entirely.

Like most college students, I had to scrimp on the food bill.

Being in college meant those cheap and easy meals were so necessary. You had to eat but the budget just wouldn’t stretch that far.

One of the things I managed to do well was improvise.

These are the staples I survived on and eventually learned many many ways to make these few things into a somewhat tasty meal.

• Kraft Dinner
• Hamburger
• Spaghetti
• Soup

I recently had a day off from work and was doing some research. I tend to get side tracked (as I am sure I have mentioned), and before I knew it the day had gotten away from me. I knew that only because my stomach started loudly protesting the absence of sustenance. Apparently coffee doesn’t count.

I have a husband who generally takes care of me like I was a Duchess or something *smile*. I don’t often use any of my grey matter on what the stomach requires because he generally takes care of that for me.

Aren’t I just the luckiest of Duchesses?

Being a generous soul, once in awhile I deign to give him some time off. He does so like his time on the ATV or snowmobile, and for some reason enjoys sitting at a lake with a fishing pole in hand. Every man deserves a break from his regular routine, time away from the misses. Time to “bond” with his buds, enjoy a brew, and kick back and relax.

I figure, if I give him the occasional time off, he will look forward to returning to taking care of me with all the enthusiasm I have become accustomed to.

Gentlemen, I don’t want you feeling sorry for him, and ladies, don’t be jealous! Neither of those emotions are good for the digestive system.

I had to fall back on those memories to prepare food on my day off. As DH was away, grocery shopping had not been done either.

I know! I can hear you all!

The available food supply looked like my basic college stash so I reached way back into the memory banks to come up with a dinner idea.

One trick I learned was the versatility of hamburger and soup! Hamburger is a relatively cheap meat. And soup is even cheaper.

Adding soup to a dish can often enhance the yum factor to lip smacking tasty! Here is proof, try it. Its, fast and cheap and delish.

• Brown and drain your hamburger
• Open a can of cheddar cheese soup
• Pour over the cooked, drained hamburger
• Let simmer for 5 minutes

Now, if you are lucky and can add a side dish to this here are some suggestions

1. Boiled potatoes don't even require butter-just mash them and pour this hamburger soup over top.
   
2. Perogies are quick and easy too. Boil some water (add oil or butter). When it’s boiling add perogies for about 5 minutes. When they are floating they are ready. Especially tasty with a little sour cream and salt and pepper to taste.
   
3. Vegetable of choice - fresh, steamed, baked nuked or boiled
4. Salad
5. Dinner Roll
   

Variation:

Substitute cream of mushroom soup and serve over rice.

And just to prove my point, that hamburger is versatile, here is a variation of the above mentioned college staples

• kraft dinner
• hamburger
• spaghetti sauce

Brown and drain 1 lb hamburger using a large pan.

Add:

• 2 cups of water,
• Kraft dinner noodles and cheese sauce
• 1 can of hot and spicy spaghetti sauce.

Let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Variations.

• Spices to taste
• Substitute spaghetti sauce with tomato soup
  
• Add canned tomatoes
• Serve with Vegetable of choice - fresh, steamed, baked nuked or boiled

I was just kidding about giving the hubby some time off - just in case you all think I'm some sort of evil wife. (mwa ha ha)

I’m not a hard task master, and I don’t make him do these things. Lucky for me, he enjoys it.

You know what they say, "Happy Wife, Happy Life"

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