Get Skilled

Back in June we realized that having a set of skills, especially uncommon ones, are helpful in surviving a recession. Duh.

Well your opportunity has arrived, my underskilled friends. On Saturday, October 10th the Brooklyn Skillshare offers a fun-packed day of getting schooled in getting skilled.

Do you want to learn how to fix your own bike, make your own butter and kombucha, prepare raw food, or tap dance? All of the above?? I thought so!

All they ask in return is a suggested donation of $10, and the schedule can be found here.

Recipes for the Recession #4: Cheap Chana Masala

Chana Masala is one of my favorite go-to dinners. It is easy, healthy, deliciously fragrant, and most importantly, cheap. Assuming you already have a decent spice collection, this recipe shouldn't run you more than $3 a serving.

If you don't, keep in mind that the seasoning in this dish is somewhat variable. If you don't have some of the spices listed, just work with what you've got. Season to taste. Doing just that is one of my favorite things about this recipe.

The chick peas, as I mentioned back in January, are cheap in the can but even cheaper dry. But, since I personally seem to have a genetic defect that prevents me from soaking and cooking dry chickpeas without either burning the beans, overcooking them, or, somehow, both, I would feel like a hypocrite if I asked you to achieve the (seemingly) impossible. So, for this recipe, we use canned.

what you'll need (this recipes serves two)

• a tablespoon of vegetable oil
• a clove of garlic
  
• 2 onions
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 3 tomatoes
• 2 large carrots
  
• 1 cupwater
• 4 cups chickpeas. That's two cans.
  
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon garam masala.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tsp red chili flakes.
• 1 tsp ground ginger (or 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger)

what you'll do

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet, then add the garlic and onions, both chopped and minced, and sauté over a medium heat until browned (3-5 minutes).
2. Turn heat to medium-low and add the spices. Stir for a few minutes.
   
3. Add the tomatoes and carrots and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat.
   
4. Add chickpeas and a cup of water and stir. I like to add a little bit of flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot to thicken up the mixture at this point.
   
5. Cook covered for 10 minutes or until the chickpeas are at a desired consistency. That's right, this is that requisite annoying vague step in all recipes where I shrug off all responsibility for your end result.
   
6. Uncover, stir and cook for about 2 minutes.
7. Serve with rice and, if you're feeling rich, a dollop of plain yogurt.

Cost Count:

garlic and vegetable oil: $.15
3 tomatoes: $1.50
2 carrots: $.60
2 cans chickpeas: $2
2 onions: $.50
fresh ginger*: $.20
1/2 cup plain yogurt*: $.60
all spices, total cost:
*optional

Total cost: $4.75, or 5.55 with the yogurt and fresh ginger.

Death is a Debt We All Must Pay

At least that's what Euripedes said, way back in the day.

But during the recession many families are realizing that the extent of this particular debt is somewhat negotiable. For years, U.S. families have broken the bank to plan and execute nice funerals for their loved ones - according to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average funeral costs about $7,300, and that's not including the cemetery plot and burial fees!

This clash of this hard-to-manage expense and a down-the-drain economy is leading to two changes in the industry. One, cremation is up. Funeral homes often see an increase in cremation requests during a recession, and they certainly have this time around, with some funeral homes even reporting that interest in cremation has surpassed rates of earth burials. The former can save a family up to $4,000 or 5,000. Still, the U.S. has one of the lowest cremation rates in the developed world -

But also, many families are choosing home funerals. In all but six states no law requires that families consult a funeral home regarding their family member's burial. So, like the family profiled in this New York Times article, many are handling the arrangements themselves. The family profiled spent a total of $250, dressing the body themselves, holding a "wake"of sorts in their home, and using a homemade coffin.

A DIY funeral - very recessionista.

Be Cool To Your School?

Not if you're Trina Thompson, a woman who is suing her college for its failure to find her a job after graduation.

Thompson received her degree in information technology this past May from Monroe College in the Bronx, finishing with a 2.7 GPA and a "good attendance record." She now charges the school's Office of Career Advancement with putting "insufficient effort" into assisting her in her job search.

According to her complaint, "the office of career advancement information technology counselor did not make sure their Monroe e-recruiting clients call their graduates that recently finished college for an interview to get a job placement. They have not tried hard enough to help me."

She also complains that, "they favor more toward students that got a 4.0."

Sounds like maybe Ms. Thompson shoulda gone to law school.