Stretch Your Batch Of Scrambled Eggs With Just A Can Of Tomatoes

Once upon a not-so-long-ago time, eggs themselves were a budget staple and you could scramble up a carton to feed a crowd for just a few bucks. In more recent days, though, inflation has sent the cost of eggs soaring and as we all know, when it comes to prices, what goes up doesn't always come down. In light of this, it suddenly makes a lot more sense to stretch out those scrambled eggs with less-expensive mix-ins.

One idea is to stir in a can of diced tomatoes – no need to go for a fancy kind, since generic tomatoes are just fine and will likely be your cheapest bet. One 14.5-ounce can will work for half a dozen eggs, so count on two cans if you're scrambling the entire carton. Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice for adding to rice or soup. If you add liquid to your scrambled eggs (the jury is still out as to whether this is a good idea), you can use a little of the drained tomato water for this, as well. Whisk the eggs, with or without liquid, then season them. You can either stir in the tomatoes right now and scramble them together, or you can start cooking the eggs, then stir in the tomatoes once the eggs are almost (but not quite) done.

If you like your food on the spicy side, you might want to use the kind of canned tomatoes that comes with diced green chiles. While Ro-Tel may be the best-known brand, supermarkets may have their own store brands, as well. You'll prepare the tomatoes and eggs as above, although you can also add some chili powder or taco seasoning to the eggs before you scramble them. (If you're using the latter, skip adding any additional salt since taco seasoning can be quite salty.) You could also add a can of drained black beans for an extra-large, extra-economical batch.

Once your tomato-slash-chile eggs are cooked, top them off with chopped cilantro and/or green onions as well as a generous handful of grated cheese. Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole all make great condiments, should you have any of these on hand, and you might want to set out some hot sauce for those who prefer their food muy caliente. You can serve these spicy Mexican-style eggs with warm flour or corn tortillas on the side or wrap them in tortillas to make breakfast tacos or burritos.