Well, one of the dominant themes of our time in Tokyo is how to live very very cheaply in Tokyo.  We’re living as lightly as we can, trying to cushion the blow of Tokyo against our wallets.  One of our goals is to eat at home for less than 100Y/meal…it’s actually quite sad how far 100Y won’t go.  Even a convenience store corndog is 105Y =(  So managing entire meals on 100Y lets us save for more exciting forays into Tokyo.

The first step in enjoying these delectable meals is shop at Don Quijote, the bizarre “buy-everything-for-cheap” discount store.  You can buy bright underwear, pastries, barbells, shampoo, santa hats, cell phones, and dog food, to name a few – it’s like a Wal-mart, but with too many colors and Hello Kitty-ish music.  Wandering through a Don Quijote is an experience in and of itself…and while you do it, buy basic groceries!  99Y for a loaf of thick white bread.  150Y for 10 eggs.  Sometimes, 10Y for a processed and packaged donut…

The first cheap recipe we made was French Toast Bites – admittedly not Japanese, but nonetheless cheap, delicious, and easy.

For one person:

• 2 eggs: 32 Yen
• 2 slices of thick bread: 30 Yen
• 2 tsp oil (well, a splash really – I don’t measure): ~5 Yen
• 2 splashes milk: ~10 Y
• Many splashes of syrup: ~10 Y

Total: 87Y/person for breakfast.

Cut the bread slices into small squares.  Beat the 2 eggs, adding in the 2 splashes of milk.  Heat a skillet on medium heat with a splash of oil, until the oil runs easily around when you tilt the pan.  Soak the bread in the beaten eggs, then plop onto the pan.  They won’t need long to cook on the first side, so after about 60 seconds, flip them and turn the heat a little lower.  They should be golden brown, like good roasted marshmellows…mmm marshmellows…anyway, let them cook for awhile on lower heat – ah hell, everyone knows how to make french toast.