Forkonomics

Part of the “5 Meals for $50” series

Ingredients

• 9 eggs
• ¾ cup diced ham
• 6 slices American cheese, chopped or torn into pieces
• ¾ cup water
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder (assumed pantry staples)
• Butter or margarine for greasing
• 6 slices Italian bread (for toast)

Instructions

To make 6 servings:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter or margarine.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Stir in diced ham and chopped American cheese slices.
5. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
6. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until center is set and top is lightly golden.
7. While the egg bake is cooking, toast bread slices in a pan or toaster.
8. Slice egg bake into 6 portions and serve with toast.

Cost Breakdown

Ingredient	Portion Used	Estimated Cost
Eggs	9	$1.80
Ham	¾ cup	$1.50
American Cheese	6 slices	$1.50
Water	¾ cup	$0.00
Italian Bread	6 slices	$0.45
Butter/Margarine	1 tbsp	$0.10 (est.)

Total Estimated Cost: $5.35

Ingredient Philosophy

Forkonomics recipes are designed to be practical, flexible, and budget-conscious. While fresh ingredients are preferred when available, frozen or pre-packaged options are used here to reduce prep time and support affordability.

Each recipe assumes the following pantry staples are on hand:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Butter or margarine

Any additional spices or specialty ingredients will be listed in the shopping guide.

Serving Suggestions

This egg bake yields 6 servings and pairs well with fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated for breakfast or lunch.