Jase Watford - Elegantly Slumming

10/24/2026

Rock around the clock (Chicken Stock Edition)

I didn't use any filter. Finally got the color right with a combination of turmeric and paprika

Breaking down the chicken, will separate the bones and add the juice to the soup portion for thickness

10/20/2026

In light of how poorly our library friends are being treated. I am posting the Walleye article I wrote about how important the library is to marginalized and vulnerable populations are. It's a shame that nothing changed since my articles, but have gotten worse.

Anyway please share in your networks

Elegantly Slumming (Advocacy Edition)

Community Builds Capacity — The Walleye https://share.google/sRts3LLV6BwIzlyir

By Jase Watford I used to be homeless. I came to Thunder Bay after several hard years living on the streets of Vancouver’s upper east side. Wanting to change my fortunes, I found myself on a Greyhound bus heading across the country with no destination in mind. Addicted, lost, and alone, I exited

10/19/2026

Elegantly Slumming (Meatloaf Edition **Bat Out of Hell lol**)

Tomorrow is food bank day, so I took today to splurge a bit. First time making meatloaf, but I found the cutest Pyrex at the thrift shop for meatloaf.

It wasn't a cheap dish. The meat was 8 bucks, all the ingredients to make the coconut rice was straight forward. Minute Rice Basmati with coconut milk which was on sale. But to make the bearnaise, I had the w**e vinegar, but the chives, butter, milk and shallots I had to buy. It serves 4 meals for roughly 20$ spent to make it.

I know most people do ketchup or BBQ sauce with their meatloaf, but I wanted to elevate the dish and it didn't disappoint.

10/13/2026

I love watching cooking shows for inspiration. Recently been watching Bobby Flay On the Line. Over my life I have spent some time in the restaurant world.

Before I ended up being homeless, I worked on cruise ships. Now I came from an intergenerationally poor family so I had very little food experience. Seeing how a massive cruise ship kitchen brigade works in real time to feed 1600 to 2500 people (per meal) it blew me away. So for me that show is fantastic, I love seeing the behind the scenes aspect

Today I made chicken soup, should have added more turmeric as I lost the color half way. But it will be good for 5 to 6 bowls and it cost me about 16$ for all the ingredients. I seldom use more than 3 items for a meal but you shouldn't skimp when making a soup.

10/12/2026

Happy Tom Hanksgiving everyone!!!!!

I don't usually celebrate holidays but do enjoy meatloaf and a couple Tom Hanks movies

10/11/2026

Elegantly Slumming with Jase (Potato Chip Edition)

This is my original hack, I haven't met anyone else who does this. Did I originate it, I don't know?

Freeze your chips before eating.

10/02/2026

My friend Bon Bon gave me an air fryer and it gets mileage out of it. I love nothing more than mixing bbq sauces with chicken.

The sauces aren't cheap but they last, and the 4 pieces of chicken. Costs 4.50$ so like 7$ for 2 meals roughly?

10/02/2026

Total cost 30$

The popcorn was 8$ and a byproduct of tariffs. The Gatorade stayed the same 3.50$ each.

Balderson cheese was also 8$ which is a good price but the packaging was almost half the usual.

Prices are getting so out of hand.

09/30/2026

This is 30$ at Dollarama.

The peripheral cost of life. Things that get stuffed to the side when you are on a shoestring budget. I got used to sitting in the dark, to conserve energy and life on lightbulbs. Cleaning supplies aren't cheap. Toothpaste you skimp and buy the cheapest but not the best for your teeth.

Cat treats aren't essential, but if you are a cat dad, treats are essential, thankfully they are 2$ each which is cheap and lasts a couple of months.

Needed new oven mitts and better lighting because I am doing social media stuff for food and I need proper lighting now.

30$ doesn't go very far anymore. This would have been under 20$ before Covid.

09/29/2026

It is cheque day!!!! For people on OW and ODSP in Ontario and I have some suggestions on how to access food banks and groceries for your monthly plan.







https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd4NRh8x0pn/?stkn=ZWVwN3hkY3Fzd2I3