The Connector
The Connector
Photo by Acquille Dunkley
Photo by Acquille Dunkley

Like most people, I enjoy hosting a Super Bowl party. However, with a $20 weekly grocery budget, I had to make due with what was in the fridge instead of ordering out. Last week’s grocery shopping left me with sweet potatoes, corn, cilantro and a little kale from the previous week. Super foods don’t naturally translate into football snacks, but I couldn’t let these vegetables go to waste and I had to make enough snacks to feed three people. My solution: southwestern egg rolls with apple black bean salsa and sweet potato fries.

Southwestern egg rolls

Ingredients:
1 pack of egg roll wrappers $2.67
1 can of black beans $0.79
1 cup of corn (I had frozen corn on hand from last week)
2 jalapenos chopped $0.78
1/2 cup of fresh chopped cilantro
1 cup of cheese $2.00
1/2 cup of chopped kale
1 chopped chicken breast $2.75
1 tablespoon of cumin, cayenne pepper, and chili powder
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup of chopped green onion $0.78

Cost to make: $9.77

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. Cube chicken and cook on medium high heat until thoroughly cooked.
  3. In a pot on medium low, heat corn and black beans. Add kale, green onions, jalapenos, spices and chicken. Mix, then take off heat and let cool slightly.
  4. Add a tablespoon of black bean mixture. Most packages of egg roll wraps include instructions on how to properly roll the wrap.
  5. Once rolled, brush each wrap lightly with oil. Be careful not to use too much oil or the wrap will tear.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes, turning rolls over half way through bake time.

 

Photo by Acquille Dunkley
Photo by Acquille Dunkley

Apple black bean salsa

Ingredients:

1 large sweet apple (such as a gala, jazz, or fuji) $0.33
2 tablespoons of freshly chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons of lime juice (1 lime) $0.33
1 diced jalapeno (included in price above)
1/2 cup of diced onion (I used a onion purchased the previous week)

Cost to make: $0.66

Directions:

  1. Mixed black beans, chopped apple, cilantro, jalapeno and onion.
  2. Add lime juice and chill.

 

Sweet potato fries

Ingredients:
3 medium to large sized sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of chili-powder
1/2 tablespoon of seasoned salt

Directions for sweet potatoes fries

  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. Peel and slice potatoes into 1/4 inch fries.
  3. Coat fries evenly in olive oil. Add seasoning.
  4. Arrange in a single layer on cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are soft with a crisp exterior.
  5. Broil for a few minutes on both sides for desired crispness, Be careful not to leave them to long or they will char.

With vegetables leftover from previous shopping trips, I managed to make Super Bowl snacks for the average price of a large pizza.