I’ve always been different when it comes to cooking. Most people now days are all about the Air Fryer which we’ve had several of but I’ ol school and like for crockpot and my electric skillet that is why todays dinner used I used my electric skillet.

The Pinto Beans would have worked out perfectly in the crockpot, but I used the stove and dinner was slap yo mama good and clean up was fast and easy. Come and join me for our dinner this evening as Ish share time from 🍳🌾 3–7 PM — SOUTHERN SURVIVAL IN THE ELECTRIC SKILLET.

This post brings us a real look at the 3–7 PM stretch of time that allows me to share — $5 meals, electric skillet cooking, honey‑dos, and family chaos. You know I’ve always washed my electric skillet by hand, but David and my dad put it int the dishwasher. Isn’t that crazy?

By 3 PM, the compound wakes up like a storm. Joseph is calling Charle for him and Bradley to come over as he is circling on the golf cart. Kids yelling in the Townhome next door. Dogs barking. Neighbors drifting toward the smell of fried taters.

And me? I’m starting the $5 Southern Survival Meal in the electric skillet:

beans
rice
cornbread
fried taters & onions for Gerald and me
frozen hamburger patties stretched three ways
government cheese if we’re blessed

David takes over around 5 PM — cleaning, cooking, muttering dad‑isms, sipping Beer, worrying about hours cut and layoffs. Dinner feeds whoever’s here. Or it gives us leftovers for lunch tomorrow and sometimes another dinner as well.

Now its 🍽️💵 3:15 PM — $5 MEAL POST: SOUTHERN SURVIVAL BEANS, RICE & CORNBREAD will feed 2–3 people on $5 using pantry staples we keep on hand for days we have no, money, brought to us from the food bank which is a blessing, and an electric skillet David bought me years ago.

This is the meal that has saved David and I more times than I can count. Not only that this meal has saved my parents when I was a child and even saves David’s mom granny Sherry as her and dad live on Social Security which isn’t much.

Beans from the food bank. Rice from the pantry. Cornbread from Dollar Tree. Seasoning from whatever is in the pantry and whoever didn’t use it last. This meal feeds 2–3 people and it stretches leftovers. It comforts souls.

Glenda, this is pure Southern survival cooking at its finest — the kind of meal you can pull off in an electric skillet while Bear guards the doorway and C wanders in asking if there’s ranch. Let’s build it porch‑style: Frozen Hamburger Patties, Fried Taters (half with onions, half without), and Sweet Cornbread for four hungry folks.

🍽️ Southern $5‑Style Supper for 4

In our home we use Frozen Hamburger Patties even though #Homemade is better because a package makes more than one meal. C’ likes to make Hamburgers for Lunch and they taste good and are #budgetfriendly •

Fried Taters (With & Without Onions) because David thinks Onions are going to be the death of him and Gerald and I love Onions. I would take Bell Peppers as well but they might kill the guys or at least they think they will.

• Sweet Cornbread because Cornbread without Sugar is just gross ask Charlie if you don’t believe me. No, not Homemade from Scratch Cornbread which is cheaper and might be better, but I will stick to Jiffy Cornbread in the blue box like I grew up with.

🍔 Frozen Hamburger Patties (Electric Skillet or Stove)

Simple, juicy, and stretchable — perfect for nights when you need dinner to behave.

Use your favorite Seasonings and cook them low and slow. For extra flavor add Onions.

Ingredients

4 frozen hamburger patties
Salt & pepper
Optional: garlic powder, Worcestershire Sauce, or Lawery’s Seasoning and sliced Kraft American Cheese but no, cheese for me

Instructions

Heat skillet to medium‑high.
Place frozen patties straight in — no thawing.
Season the top side.
Cook 5–6 minutes, flip, season again.
Cook another 5–6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Add cheese in the last minute if you want meltiness.
Remove and keep warm.

🥔 Fried Taters for 4 (Half With Onions, Half Without)

Gerald gets his onions. David gets his plain taters. Everybody wins.

Ingredients

5–6 medium potatoes, peeled or unpeeled I like both, but the guys think peelings will kill them
1 Large Onion, sliced (for the onion half)
Salt, pepper
Oil or Crisco we

Instructions

Slice potatoes into thin rounds or half‑moons.
Heat oil/Crisco in skillet over medium‑high.
Add half the potatoes to the skillet — this is the no‑onion batch.
- Season and fry until golden, flipping occasionally.
- Remove and keep warm.
Add a little more oil.
Add the remaining potatoes + sliced onions.
- Season and fry until taters are tender and onions are caramelized.
Serve both batches separately so nobody fusses.

Tip: If you want them extra crispy, don’t stir too often — let the edges brown.

🌽 Sweet Cornbread (Skillet or Muffin Tin)

Soft, sweet, and perfect with beans, rice, or a patty on top. Just plain Ol’ Cornbread with Butter for me. If time is callin your name Jiffy Cornbread works in a pinch.

Ingredients

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
⅓–½ cup sugar (your sweetness level)
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 egg
⅓ cup oil or melted butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (or use an electric skillet with a lid).
Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.
Mix wet ingredients in another.
Combine and stir just until smooth.
Pour into greased skillet or muffin tin.
Bake 18–22 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Electric Skillet Method: We haven’t done this, but I can’t wait to try it we use the Oven for the Cornbread

Pour batter into a greased 8‑inch pan that fits inside the skillet.
Place pan on a couple of jar lids or a trivet inside the skillet (keeps bottom from burning).
Cover and “bake” on medium for 20–25 minutes.

🍽️ Serving Ideas

Plate patties over cornbread with a drizzle of ketchup or gravy. Not, for me.
Serve taters in two bowls: “Gerald’s Onions” and “David’s Plain Taters.” Lord if the two should meet.
Add beans or rice if you’re stretching the meal to a $5 Sunday revival.
You can break the Hamburger Patties into the Beans

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates