Delicious recipes and ideas for under $25

In the 21st century dating has become a dull and boring technique used in meeting the opposite sex. It has become more about who can spend the most money than being a romantic act of sincerity. Plus if you're broke, its a double whammy.

STREET FAIRS

Almost every city has a weekly or monthly Street Fair. These events often include free admission, live music, and lots of fun booths selling food or interesting trinkets. It’s a fantastic place to bring someone special  without spending much dough. The food at these events are massive, well worth feeding 2 people for under $20. And just because you don’t have money to afford anything, it doesn’t mean you and your date can’t have fun browsing. Vendors are loud and hilarious with their marketing tools to lure you into buying their product. The atmosphere at these events can almost be described as romantic with the live music and companionable crowds enjoying themselves and the food.

　
 No money means you maximize your existing assets.

　
　
　
　
Make em dinner

I’m sure you’ve probably used this one before and you’re probably thinking this won’t be much help. Think again. I’m going to describe how to make a gorgeous dinner for less then $20 bucks, and it will still impress anyone. Not a gourmet chef? No problem. If you can read, and I’m assuming you can, you should have no trouble cooking up this wonderful recipe as well as setting up the romantic scene. This certain recipe is a mexican taco dish that is DELICIOUUUUUUUSSSSS!!!!

First, start off with buying the candles and table cloth for your table at the $1 store or Michael. These places usually have very nice items in this department for very cheap. You don’t need scented or expensive candles to set the mood. You can use plain long white ones or whatever you have around the house.
Second, if you don’t already own these ingredients, go to the grocery store and pick them up.
Ingredients include:

-Cheese (Mexican, pepper-jack)
-Lettuce
-Roma Tomatoes
-sour cream (optional)
-Canola oil
-Chicken breast (as much as needed)
-cumin, chili powder, and salt OR just taco seasoning
-Corn tortillas

Ok step ONE:
Begin with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cut them down the center lengthwise, then cut each half into bit-size slices.

Step TWO:

Throw in the chicken, spreading it out in the pan.

Step THREE:
Crack open a couple of cans of diced green chilies…And dump it into the pan with the chicken. Season the chicken with things like cumin, chili powder, and salt…or you can just use taco seasoning. Spice it up with some cayenne if you can handle the heat. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until it’s totally done. Then turn off the heat and set the chicken aside while you get the other taco ingredients ready

 

Step FOUR:
You’ll need finely grated cheese. This is the pregrated stuff—it’s a cheddar/jack mix—and it actually works just fine in this recipe. You’ll also need some diced Roma tomatoes……And some thinly sliced lettuce. This is Romaine—I just lopped off the top and sliced away.

Step FIVE:

TO FRY THE TACOS

Heat a couple of tablespoons of canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. *Use caution when frying with oil, please.*

Grab a spoonful of the chicken/chili mixture

Step SIX:

Flip the tacos when they’re light golden brown. Then cook the other side.And scoop it into a tortilla. Fold up the tortilla, then clasp the taco shut with a pair of metal tongs.Use the tongs to set the taco into the oil, then use the tongs to hold the top half down to “form” the taco.After a few seconds, it will stay put and you can assemble and fry a couple more tacos.

Step SEVEN:

A note about the oil/frying: I’m always surprised how UNgreasy these tacos are. If you remove them from the oil sideways and let the excess drip out, and if you do the little shaking trick, they don’t have a greasy/oily quality at all. When they’re done, lift each taco out of the oil, holding it sideways and shaking lightly to get the excess oil to drip out. Have a stack of at least 5 to 6 paper towels nearby, and place each taco on top of the stack. Fold the corners and sides of the paper towels tightly around the taco…Then gently shake the taco three or four times to get out the excess oil. You’ll want the paper towels to be snug around the taco so the chicken won’t fall out!

Step EIGHT:

Place the tacos on a plate after shaking, then carefully pry open the tops of the tacos and stuff in some cheese. (You can use tongs, a fork, or your fingers; the tacos will be a little hot.) Then let them sit for several minutes before serving. The cheese will quickly melt inside the hot tacos, and they’ll be good to go when you serve them.Then add several dashes of your favorite hot sauce

NOTE: It’s ideal if you can keep going with the frying process and have a friend standing nearby who can take care of the cheese-stuffing step. That keeps the tacos moving through the assembly line more quickly.


Next comes plenty of lettuce…And tomatoes…And that folks……is a plate of chicken tacos. 

 Making these tacos can really impress anyone and if you’re able to pick up, or steal from a friend, a couple Mexican or domestic beers it can put the finishing touches on this magnificent meal. This is just one of thousands of recipes one can make on a budget. You don’t have to be Rachel Ray or Lee Drummonds to make a quick delicious meal.

　
　

　

Get your date on for under $25

DOUBLE-DATING

　Obviously this middle schooled method of dating isn’t going to impress anyone, but with a limited amount of money this may be a great option to get more with your buck. Double dating helps make cheap unappealing places look fun and adventurous. I know strolling into a dingy smelly bowling alley or screaming kid infested boomers isn’t your typical idea of a first or second date, but when you insert another couple it makes it fun, exciting and creative. It’s the only time wearing clown shoes and drinking beer can make you seem out going and likable. Plus most bowling alleys have cheap food which helps not starve your date or break your bank
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HAPPY HOUR

Don't be this guy

　
　


Dating with alcohol have been around since men realized it works. Its like milk in your cereal rather than eating it flake by flake. Yeah both will get the job done, but its more enjoyable having the milk. The only problem is alcohol is EXPENSIVE. The first two drinks of the night can bring your dating budget to a screeching halt. This is where a broke man must become creative and happy hour can work in your favor here. Happy Hours are usually between 3-7 so its perfect for mid day casual dating with a bang. Not to mention it also works for those quick after work drinks, with a little more cash for food. Pool tables, Televisions, and juke boxes are added bonuses for the dating experience. I highly recommended googling happy hours or calling beforehand before walking into an unknown place where the happy hour just ended and you’re explaining to your date why she should order the house vodka instead.

Netflicks

Ordering movies from Netflicks through our Blu-Ray player is probably the most genius thing I've witnessed in my short time period on this planet. I thank the heavens above me for this invention.


I need to start writing on here more and get into the swing of things.

My sugar plum's birthday

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY MAMA

I've realized that women in relationships don't have just a single day birthdays anymore. One day has turned into a week filled with festivities that result in a climax of presents, dinner, and sweet delicious desserts. Don't get me wrong, I love my little "K" more then anything and would give her the world on a string if I could.....but I can't... or atleast not at my financial state now. Now if I could use my credit card, thats a different story.

This post is for the primary purpose to explain how happy this little blue eyed girl makes me. I've never had someone who cares so much about me and literally knows how my weird mind works. I can say I've found my true love and my best friend. Besides all this sap, we do fight and I was tempted to push this huge cupcake in her face.

Catch of the day

My first bachelor party was a success. Even though it was a diet bachelor party, with no drugs or hookers, it was probably one of the best weekends I've had with my friends. With all of us on different schedules we knew times like this weren't going to be very accessible in the future, as Mike lives in Chico with his girlfriend, Nate is pretty much married, Jon is basically married without the title, and myself am busy with my love muffin. So being miles from nowhere, in a rented out cabin by the lake we did what any other men our age would do......Drink! and drink some more. Vacationing somewhere remote is enjoyable and pleasant, but it blows to having only one store thirty minutes away and  paying $30 for a 30 pack of beer. Plus, they didn't sell liquor in this "convenient" store but they had $8 frozen pizzas.

"The one that got away"

  Is it just me or irony that on his bachelor party, while fishing, the groom-to-be gets a accidental fishing hook to the mouth? I definitely believe so. Hook, line, and sinker.

Getting started

Maybe its because I'm in a great relationship with someone I've known for a long time. Maybe its because thats what people start to do with their life at my age. Its probably both, but I swear like everyone around me is getting married. In addition, (Thanks to my wonderful girlfriend) I've seen a ton of wedding blogs, tv shows and websites recently on such topics as rings, venues, catering, and overall pictures. Even one of my best friends, who is about to get married in March, has a wedding photography business with his bride to be. The marriage bug just seems to be everywhere the older you get. I think once people hit 25 or 26 the thought of becoming old and alone hits them like a louisville slugger and they take the plunge. Or maybe its just a new fad. I have no clue but being in my own relationship, thoughts of  marriage have come into play recently. It typically consist of "what the hell is all this going to cost?" and maybe a little "hope I don't get too drunk at the reception" but mostly "I know I've finally found the right one."

This week is my friend's bachelor party at this lake side cabin getaway in Monterey. It's going to be a great time but on a costly dime. Not expensive but when you're broke, everything seems like too much money. I couldn't believe the price it costs to rent a tux these days. Even with a coupon, like the cheap ass I am, it cost $170 dollars. But the thought of  marriage is also probably what evenually led me back to returning to school. Plus not finding work and running out of money helped a lot as well.

Ok back to the bachelor party. It has been declared it will be a three day drinking and fishing binge as we live out our friend's final days before shackling himself to the bars of marriage. This being one of my best friends, since High School, I figure this trip is going to set the bar of bachelor parties to come. It's going to be strenuous with my financial downfall as of lately, but with enough friends going I should be fine. As in fact actually, this will be my first ever bachelor party! When I was younger I thought these events were all about escorts picking up quarters with their ass cheeks and drunk binges in Vegas. I've seen plenty of movies where that happens and I've heard all the mystic of this celebration but never experienced it.

But with girlfriends come responsibilities, and this won't be that kind of celebration. Plus Valentines day and her birthday are coming up. Instead, we've taken the mature approach and decided a escape in nature should do the trick. No hookers and cocaine like the movies, only good beer and fishing. With 7 dudes packing the car for the road trip, things are sure to get interesting..... Someone mentioned doing mushrooms but I'm not sure.

Well hello there

Back in the day I used to think blogs were a fag way of saying journal or diary. I used to also think college was unnecessary and my farts didn't smell. Trust me when I say I was wrong on both. It wasn't until recently I realized just how important school and education really are.

At 26 years of age I felt like my life was going in the right direction. With minimal job experience I was able to retain a job as a field surveyor for Verizon making as much money as my mom did with a Masters. I felt like I had hit the jackpot. Plus, I had done it all without paying an arm and leg to go to college.

It was hard to have a worry when, with the swipe of my debit card, all could be taken care of. It was clear sailing for me until about mid July when I was given my 2 week notice and told I was being laid off.

"Sorry kid you're a contractor so you're the first to go," barked my supervisor over my company phone. "Don't worry this layoff will only last till the first of the year and you'll be back in no time." You could tell by the tone of his voice he was full of shit. I can still remember my first thought after hearing him break the news to me, "What a shitty way to end a monday."

So after months of the same repetition of sending cover letters and resumes to job openings and being denied I've resorted to plan E.....Going back to college. Guess I've realized the importance of having a "Bachelor Degree" on your resume. It couldn't hurt right?