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The 3/16 strip with John, Michael and those now infamous beans does not say anything about the beans being from a can. It is entirely possible that a nice dish of homemade baked beans was among the things that Elly cooked ahead. I have done it myself, and it works very nicely. After a bit of effort up front, you have heat & eat beans that are much tastier (and probably better for you) than anything out of a can.

Kitty K, Boston MA

Here are a couple more cheap and easy recipes for Michel and the rest of you:

Chili and Chips

2 cans your favorite chili (we use walla walla sweet onion chili)
1 16oz bag Fritos Corn Chips
2 cups Cheddar Cheese

Warm the chili on the stove in a large pot. Add corn chips and mix carefully. Add cheese to the top and let melt. Feeds 4.

Rice,Soup and Corn

2 cups cooked rice
1 med can tomato sauce
2 cans of whole kernel corn

Make rice as normal. Add tomato sauce and corn when rice is done. Mix together and serve. Feeds 4.

Anne W, Everett WA

Kids will just love helping you make this "no bowl, no mixer" cake!

WACKY CAKE

1 and one-third cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons vinegar
5 tablespoons oil
1 cup cold water

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees.

Pour flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking soda directly into a greased 9 x 9 baking pan. Mix with spoon. Now make one large and two small grooves in this mixture. Pour oil into the large groove, vinegar into another and vanilla into the third. Pour liquid (tea) over all. Mix with spoon until you do not see any flour. Don't be afraid to scrape the bottom of the pan when mixing. Bake for 30 minutes.

MARSHMALLOW MERINGUE:
Cover surface of cake with plain large marshmallows. Slip under broiler just until mallows start to brown and bubble. Remove from oven and "smoosh" mallows slightly with a broad knife blade dipped in cold water. Sprinkle with gratings of chocolate from a chilled candy bar.

Anna M, Winnipeg

I make sure to prepare meals for my family when I leave, not because I do not believe my husby to be incapable, but I do think he may forget abou eating sometimes until baby is screaming and his tummy is growling. And when it gets to that point, dear John, ANYBODY pulls out a can of beans (or some quick fix). Sometimes my husband takes advantage of the meals I have prepared, and good for him, sometimes, he cooks on his own, and sometimes he forgets to do either. If he doesn't eat the food, I think it is wonderful, because now I have one less meal that I have to prepare when I return home. NO Feminism, here, mind you.

Michelle, Mora LA