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Here's another of our Fast and Frugal Student Suppers, based on a 'healthy' dish from Northern Africa:

TUNA WITH CHICKPEAS AND TOMATOES

1 bunch green onions, washed, trimmed and chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 can tomatoes drained and diced
1 can chick peas, rinsed and drained
half cup frozen hash brown potatoes
1 can chunk-style Tuna in spring water, drained

Cooking Oil
Butter or Margarine
Black Pepper

1.. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and stir-fry the onions and garlic over a low to medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Push to one side and lightly brown potatoes.
2. Add the chickpeas, mashing them slightly with your spatula, and stir in the tomatoes.
3. Fold in the Tuna chunks, and gently heat through. Add just a little butter or margarine to give the dish some “shine�, and dust with Black Pepper. Serve warm.

This is great with crusty bread and a carrot-cabbage 'slaw'�. If you're good at making wraps�, this is an excellent filling!

Anna M, Winnipeg

Dear Lynn, Love the strip...but please, more about Ted. He is just unreal and so very true-to-life in alot of cases. Too funny! Thanks for all your hard work.

Kate, NJ

I didn't grow up in a traditional family at all. I was 7 yeas younger than my next sibling and my mom was a single mother. I really started reading FBoFW when I was a teenager. I fell in love with the characters because I saw what a full family was like and it was normal lol. Now I am married and have children and I relate to the clips. I really am enjoying reading all the ones I missed when I was still a child. Thank you for rereleasing them

Norah R, Fort McMurray, Alberta

We had a couple of simple pork chop recipes that my son loved to make (and eat).

1. Pork Chop Stew
4 pork chops
2 cans Chicken with Rice soup
2 medium potatoes
small bag of baby carrots
water

Brown pork chops in a skillet and place in the bottom of a 9x9" casserole dish. Cover with 1 can of soup. Cut potatoes into bite-sized pieces and add to casserole along with the baby carrots. Add the second can of soup and about 2/3 can of water. Cover and bake at 450 for 1 hour. Uncover for the last 15 minutes. Serve with warm bread.

2. Pork Chop Scallop
4 pork chops
1 box Scalloped Potatoes
Pimento (if desired)

Brown the chops in a 10" skillet. Add the potato mix using the recipe on the box (leaving out the butter/margarine) Add pimento for color (if desired). Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes until chops are tender. Uncover and simmer to desired consistency.

Jan C, Victorville CA

If I would have gone to visit my mom, without bringing the babys, she would have sent me home to get them. Grandmas are like that.

David C, Austin TX

Barb from Oregon makes a valid point.

On March 10, Elly says that she put a week's worth of meals in the freezer. On March 18, however, we have John serving Michael a can of beans and something white (perhaps a piece of bread).

As I see it, there are two possible explanations for this:

1. The author of the comic strip does not make a sufficient effort to maintain continuity of the story line; or

2. The author has a radical feminist bias that requires her to portray husbands and fathers in a bad light whenever possible.

It works like this:

On March 10, Elly gets credit for preparing a week's worth of meals. This carries the strong statement that she does not believe that John is capable of providing food for himself or for the children unless she prepares a week's worth of dinners in advance. John, in Elly's view, is totally helpless, and cannot fend for himself.

On March 18, John (and by implication all husbands and fathers) are portrayed as incapable of providing an adequate nutritious meal for their children. Apparently, according to the author of the comic strip, men are so clueless they cannot even remember that there are a whole week's worth of meals in the freezer.

The coup d'grace will probably come when Elly returns, as the author of the comic strip may have them say derogatory things about the way their father cared for them in their mother's absence.

John, Scottsdale Arizona

Dear Elly/Past "Me":

Ah, so now you are on cooking! To be honest, I've reached a stage in my life where I only worry about pleasing myself when I cook. Sure, I still have a teenager in the house (until she finishes high school this coming June), but April has a become a vegan, so I don't understand her at all anymore and don't even try!

So, I'll share one of my favourite recipes, something that goes with my philosophy that if you make something from scratch, it can't be called junk food!

Elly's Greaseburgers

1 LB hamburger meat
4 lettuce leaves
2 medium slices raw tomato
2 thin slices raw onion
2 giant (plate-sized) hamburger buns

Divide your meat into two large patties. Optional: grease your pan with a "thumb" of lard. Fry up each patty to your desired doneness. Place burgers in buns with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Serve to self and train-loving husband.

Actually, though, I forbid you to eat these, past "me," just in case what's happening to you is like Back to the Future, and I might wake up thin one morning like Lea Thompson did because of what Michael J. Fox did when he went back in time. (You might have to wait a few years to understand my reference--definitely seek out this movie when it comes out in the theatres!)

Fondly,

Future Elly
Future Milborough, Future Ontario