This week’s feasting for fewer dollars requires a team effort. It’s time to gather your buddies and put those Pepperdine grills to use because even though we all walk by them without considering them anything more than a part of the scenery they are perfectly functional and convenient.

Living in George Page where people actually use the grills inspired me to save the gas of driving through the canyon to a restaurant this weekend and don an apron instead. It was time to start putting to use all those cooking skills my mom and aunts had tried so hard to instill in me from early on in life. (I’ll say it. I’m not a feminist.).

The smoky smells drifting in through my window made my mouth salivate so I grabbed my keys and headed to Ralph’s determined to conquer my next challenge with eating food not funds. On the way to my car I caught a glimpse of juicy steaks and grilled veggies and made a mental note to pick up similar items.

After grabbing a friend to help me with my meat choice we perused the aisles of the market looking for dinner appropriate items. Because the pre-marinated carne asada we chose came in around $8 by itself and was more than enough for one person it quickly became evident that it was essential for a group to participate in this meal.

As we hit the produce section the sunny yellow bell peppers caught my eye. Next to find their way into my bag were the deep purple onions. I tossed in some garlic and a few potatoes because they were cheap and I figured I could make something of them. After weighing my options for another side dish I finally decided on a spinach salad but don’t underestimate the numerous side-dish options available to you at your local grocery store. Boxes of rice (think that San Francisco treat you enjoyed as a child) that come with their own seasonings are easy and cheap (usually about $2) and come in pasta varieties too. If you’re looking for a healthier option Ralph’s also offers regular and sweet potatoes wrapped in plastic making them easy to cook in the microwave. Just add butter salt and pepper and you’ve got yourself a baked potato in less than 10 minutes (fast and delicious? Yes please.).

To accompany my spinach I picked up some dried cranberries a tomato and a light raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Naturally I spent the most time deciding what to get for dessert. I skipped the premade packages of brightly frosted sugar cookies and after cruising the baking aisle and bypassing the varieties of cake and brownie mixes opted for a box of Krusteaz peanut butter cookie mix. Granted this would require ingredients from home like an egg and some milk but baked goods are always better hot off the cookie sheet (even if they’re not made from scratch).

At the checkout I spent a good 10 minutes listing every phone number I’d ever connected myself with to the cashier before he finally asked me if I would just fill out the one-sided form to get a new Ralphs card. The point here is invest in your free Ralphs card and try not to forget it (the option of typing your phone number into the keypad when you don’t have your card on you doesn’t work for the first three months after you sign up).

Finally with all my ingredients in tow I made my way back to campus but before I went back to my room I stopped outside Smother’s Theater and picked some fresh rosemary from the bushes there. This fragrant herb can be found all along upper dorm road as well as other locations around campus and it really is a beneficial asset to have in your kitchen (or that nifty CoolWave Unit). Three cheers for free flavorings!

Once back in my apartment I sent one of my friends out to the grills to cook the meat and put myself to work slicing potatoes bell peppers onions mushrooms and garlic to sautee together. I put them all together in a pan with a little olive oil and let them do their thing. OK here’s where I have to admit I got a little distracted by the TV and as a consequence had some pretty well-done veggies. Oops. But they were still (mostly) edible.

The steak came in hot off the grills tender and delicious (although a little salty but I can thank the pre-marinade for that). Not bad for being cooked on a grill that had only one of the three burners functioning properly. I quickly tossed together the salad with the tomatoes and dressing threw some dried cranberries on top and served up four plates of a home-cooked meal.

For less than $7 a person there was enough food for dinner and dessert for four people and what’s better we had a good time putting it all together and being able to sit down and enjoy a meal together. There’s just something about good friends good food and boys that grill in your roommate’s flowered apron that makes for a memorable evening.