Best Cheap$kate Food Finds of 2017

Deals Deals Deals - come and get 'em! Well, if you are a frequent visitor, you have seen some of these photos illustrating my delish recipes, and special Deal of the Day reviews like below (click on names to see the original review.)

 Egg & Smoked Gouda Breakfast Sandwich

Chipotle Lime Chicken

Ultimate Dessert Bar

I get comments all the time how awful dollar and 99 cent stores must be. I can't argue that, there's an abundance of dross and Frankenstein food stuffs -- hey, you get what you pay for. But I am a bottom feeder on a budget, with over a decade of blog experience picking out the best for less.

Click on any photo to see larger.

I gotta give it up to my local 99c only Store and Dollar Tree. Without them, my food blog would be anemic and barren. When I'm low on food, I will go to a regular grocery store for coffee and freshly baked bread, fresh seafood and specialty cuts of meat, but I always make time for a quick stop at my fave cheap$kate 99 cent and dollar stores for food deals.

99 thanks and keep stocking the shelves for starving students, hardworking minimum wage earners, retirees on a budget, single-parent families, and everyone else without much change to spare.

This is a case where you want to be an impulsive shopper - walk past one of these cheap$kate deals below, and by the time you get home, change your mind and head back to get the deal, well, it will likely be gone.

Here's what you're missing all you naysayers and snooty gourmands. Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet. But don't worry all my fellow penny-pinching gastronomers, the 99 Cent Chef has your back, or at least your stomach. So check out my:

Best Cheap$kate Food Finds of 2017

White Asparagus

It's Smoothie-time!

I love cherries the most, especially for 99.99 cents per pound!

Dollar Tree is strictly second string. Mainly they lack a deep bullpen of fresh veggies and fruit. But they do get on base often and sometime even hit a chintzy home run. Round the bases below for some of the budget finds  that will have you cheering from the cheap dinner table seats.

Looks like these great minds do think alike.

Biscotti & Coffee --  I sometimes satiate my sweet tooth in the morning.

Dollar Tree crackers and 99c only Store vegan cream cheese -- can we all get along? It's only a tenth of a penny that separates them. And these crackers by Greta would also pair nicely with my Homemade Clam Dip.

I've heard it said 99 cent Stores don't carry "organic" - well, eat your words.

  Happy Hour!

Mmmmm....chocolate.

And keep checking back for another year of scrumptious blog postings!

Snow Peas, Tofu & Ramen Stir Fry

Light and economical the latest recipe from the 99 Cent Cuisiner is a delicious vegetarian stir fry.

Snow peas have been showing up lately on sale. You could substitute with regular frozen peas as well. And tofu is one cheap protein. I lightly browned the tofu in a little oil for extra flavor, but you could skip it if you are in a rush.

Snow peas are tender enough to be stir fried whole in the shell -- unlike regular peas. I saute them for only 3 minutes, so there is still a slight crunch. Snow peas are even sweeter than regular peas, and more subtle in taste.

I wanted to serve my Snow Peas and Tofu Stir Fry over ramen noodles this time, instead of rice. It turned out perfect. This is a yummy dish any college dorm room dweller or paycheck-to-paycheck living proletariat can do!

Ingredients

• Snow peas - small 5 ounce package (about 1 cup.) Okay to use frozen or fresh. Regular frozen peas are cheap substitution.
• 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic - fresh or from jar.
• 1 package tofu - firm or regular drained. About 12 ounces.
• 1 pack of dried ramen noodles - I used lighter baked ramen noodles.
• Water to boil ramen - enough to cover.
• 1 tablespoon of oil - veggie, sesame or olive oil.

Stir Fry Sauce

• 2 tablespoons of Oyster Sauce - Okay to substitute with favorite premixed stir fry sauce, or even a teriyaki sauce.
• 1 teaspoon of Soy Sauce
• 1 teaspoon of honey - or any favorite sweetener.

Directions
Add one tablespoon of oil to a frying pan over a medium heat and coat bottom of pan. Drain tofu and cut into 1 to 2 inch cubes. Carefully add the tofu cubes - they may cause the oil to splatter.

Lightly brown tofu on at least 2 sides, about 4 minutes each side. Don't move tofu around as it browns as it may crumble apart, although some brown pieces will separate. Remove and set aside when light brown. (If you are really in a hurry, just go from draining the tofu to adding it directly to your stir frying snow peas.)

Start water to boil for ramen noodles. Add dried ramen noodles to boiling water. Remove and drain when soft, according to directions, about 3-4 minutes (or follow package directions.) Add a serving amount of ramen to your plate. Should be done about the time when stir fry is done.

Remove any long stringy snow pea stems. Pour stir fry sauce ingredients into frying pan, over a medium heat. Add snow peas (or regular peas) and chopped garlic. Mix well. Cook peas until desired tenderness, about 3 minutes.

Finally add browned tofu to stir fry. Carefully mix together. Heat tofu for a couple more minutes. Scoop snow peas and tofu with sauce onto plate of noodles. Okay to substitute ramen with brown or white rice -- also tasty on it's own.