Ham Hock and Mixed Grain Stew
It's no secret that the economy sucks right now. In the past few months, I have been making a conscious effort toward more frugal consumption (except for those days when I'm too lazy to pack a lunch... which is actually fairly often, unfortunately). This includes cooking with cheaper cuts of meat and bulk dried grains. Dried grains are an excellent source of protein and have a shelf life of approximately 532 years. Hence, they come in very handy during major blizzards, nuclear holocausts, and other such apocalyptic events -- provided one still has access to potable water. Here is a loose "recipe" (read: anecdotal account) for a simple, hearty stew that promises to warm the soul and ignite a stock-buying frenzy.