So, about that bread line...

Aren't our bowler hats stylish?!

Well faithful readers, it looks like the US government is about to shut down until the crybabies (ahem, or one crybaby in particular) on Capitol Hill get their acts together and pass a continuing resolution for the budget for fiscal year 2011. Being a life-long DC-area resident and avid policy wonk, I know many, many Federal government workers who will be, in effect, furloughed (aka, vacay without pay).

Now, while one of my friends (a staffer for a House member from the Midwest, and who shall remain anonymous for fear of the guillotine), laughed heartily and said "LET THEM EAT CAKE", I'm thinking that many of these Federal employees are living a fairly meager existance in DC, the city with the third-highest cost of living in the country (behind Manhattan and San Francisco).

I feel for you, my friends. Having been, until recently, among the long-term unemployed, I understand the feeling of having a depleted savings and paying for groceries in spare change. Thus, I have decided to bring you some inexpensive edibles, all tasty, and all costing less than 20$ for 2 servings at DC supermarket prices.

Now, I will not be providing my recipe for my world-famous gruel (that's a joke, folks), but I will be exploring some great food staples that are also inexpensive (for example: eggs, chicken thighs, flank steak, and rice). And don't worry, I promise everything will be tasty!

N.B.: I will not include spices in the pricing of my meals, so if I use one you don't have around the kitchen, write me, and we'll work out another option!

Please sir, can I have some more?

PS: None of these recipes will involve tea in any way, shape, or form. I promise.