Baking with Boxes: A Paycheck-to-Paycheck Feast

When I moved out here, one stipulation I put on myself was not to revert to starving student status. Living in Queenspoint isn't worth eating 2-minute noodles and oatmeal for every meal -- I'm not 19 anymore (or 23, since I was still doing that for my first job -- but hey! It's non-profit! At least you feel good about your work as you ration your white bread and peanut butter to last all week).

So when I found myself attempting to live JUST on my paycheck for the first time since I moved out here, I also found myself with...well, a less than desirable amount of money in my bank account to get me through the weekend. And this wasn't just any weekend -- when is it, when it's the empire of New York? This was Northside Festival weekend, a self-inflicted barrage of shows, wanderings, Mr. Jameson, 16+ bars, and making new friends.

My fiscally sound solution: it was time to bust into the emergency food.

Luckily, I'm more creative than I used to be in my younger years. I made a veritable feast -- and everything (well, mostly) came from boxes. It wasn't healthy, it wasn't pretty, but it was most definitely edible.

First course: Asparagus Spears, Albacore Tuna, Elbow Noodles with a Light Cheese Sauce


Second Course: Dense Yellow Cake with Creamy Chocolate Pudding Fosting, served with a teacup of cold milk




And now: the ingredients (prepare yourself -- it looks like an aisle in Safeway)

I would like to note that items used were Key Food brands -- none of that high falutin' Kraft or Duncan Hines stuff for this girl!



Class. Pure class. Luckily I've since gotten paid -- enough to restock the emergency food!