The absence of large amounts in your wallet is not a reason to refuse delicious homemade dishes. You can feed your family with a very modest amount of money left before your paycheck. Buy milk and bread, examine the contents of the refrigerator and kitchen cabinet. From the supplies you find, you can probably concoct a good dinner.
Canned fish soup
If you have a can of canned fish in your buffet, make a delicious and quick soup. Boil water, add 2-3 peeled and diced potatoes. Peel the carrots, grate on a coarse grater, finely chop the onion. Place vegetables in a skillet with heated vegetable oil and fry until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Add canned fish in your own juice or oil to a pot of potatoes. Boil the soup for 5 minutes, then add the fried carrots and onions to it. Stir the contents of the saucepan, season with salt and ground black pepper. If desired, you can add a little dry spicy herbs: parsley, celery, dill. Serve with croutons or fresh cereal bread.
Pasta with vegetable sauce
This dish can be prepared with a variety of vegetables. Use bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. But the cheapest and most affordable option is carrots. Peel 3-4 root vegetables and grate them on a coarse grater. Place the carrots in a skillet with heated vegetable oil and fry for 5-7 minutes. Add tomato paste and minced garlic. Stir the mixture and simmer until soft.
Boil pasta in salted water and discard in a colander. Add a spoonful of vegetable oil and stir. Put the pasta in a skillet with carrots, stir, heat for a few minutes under a closed lid, then put on plates.
Kissel from jam
From the jam found in the refrigerator, you can make delicious jelly. Boil a liter of water in a saucepan. Add 5 tbsp. spoons of jam, 3 tbsp. tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of citric acid. Boil the mixture for 5-7 minutes. Dissolve 2 tbsp in cold boiled water. tablespoons of starch and pour it in a thin stream into the hot syrup, stirring constantly. When the jelly thickens, remove it from the stove and pour it into glasses. Let the drink cool. To prevent a film from forming on the surface, lightly sprinkle the jelly with powdered sugar. Instead of jam, fruit syrup can be used to make jelly.
Custard cake
You don't need to bake this delicious dessert. Cook it a few hours before serving to give the cake the desired consistency. Cook the custard first. In a saucepan, mash an egg with 5 teaspoons of sugar and a pinch of vanillin, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of flour. Pour in a glass of warmed milk in portions, mix everything and place on the stove. Cook the cream over low heat, constantly rubbing the lumps. Make sure that the mixture does not burn. When the cream is thick, remove from heat.
Place a layer of sugar cookies in a flat container and cover with hot cream. Lay another layer on top and cover it with cream again. Repeat layers. It will take 200-250 g of cookies to make a cake. Press the top layer lightly with your fingers and let it sit for an hour at room temperature. When the cream is completely cool, place the dessert in the refrigerator. Cut the cake into slices before serving. If desired, sprinkle with a little cocoa powder on each serving.