Ep 9. Frankie & Flour

Frankie & Flour is the ninth episode of the second season of Struggle Meals, a cooking show that aims to help people cook delicious and affordable meals with ingredients commonly found in their pantries. Host Frankie Celenza, a self-taught cook and food blogger, shares his tips and tricks for creating tasty dishes on a tight budget.

In this episode, Frankie uses flour as the star ingredient to create four different dishes that are easy to make and won't break the bank. He starts off by making homemade tortillas, showing viewers how to create a simple dough with just flour, salt, and water. The tortillas can be used to make tacos, quesadillas, or simply served with guacamole or salsa.

Next up, Frankie shows us how to make a classic Italian dish - pasta. He makes a simple egg pasta with flour, eggs, and olive oil, and uses it to create a delicious and creamy Carbonara sauce. He also shares a neat trick for creating long noodles without a pasta maker - by rolling up the pasta dough and slicing it thin to create spaghetti.

For his third dish, Frankie makes a sweet treat - churros. He creates a choux pastry with flour, water, and butter, and fries it until golden and crispy. The churros are then dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with a decadent chocolate sauce. Frankie's version of churros is a great alternative to expensive desserts found in restaurants and cafes.

Finally, Frankie shows us how to make empanadas, a savory pastry filled with meat and vegetables. He makes a simple dough with flour, salt, and butter, and uses it to create a pocket for the filling. The filling can be customized to your preferences, but Frankie uses ground beef, onions, and bell peppers in his version. The empanadas are then baked to golden goodness and served with a side of salsa.

Throughout the episode, Frankie emphasizes the importance of using flour as a versatile and affordable pantry staple. By making your own tortillas, pasta, churros, and empanadas, you can save money and create delicious meals at home. He also shares tips for storing flour correctly, and how to determine if your flour has gone bad.

Overall, Frankie & Flour is a great episode for anyone looking to cook affordable, homemade meals. Frankie's simple and easy-to-follow recipes are perfect for beginners and experienced cooks alike. With his creative and frugal approach to cooking, Frankie proves that you don't have to spend a lot of money to eat well.