Wild oysters are free for the picking.

Today’s Wall Street roller coaster reminded me of my financially tough college days, when I ate very frugally, to say the least.

To get into the spirit of the times, I recreated a meal from that inspirational period:

I first poured myself a glass of jug wine, to get into the proper mood. Next I patted out half a dozen corn tortillas, heated them, spooned refried beans onto each, and sprinkled each strip of beans with cilantro, comino, and a dash of jalapeño sauce, before I rolled up the tortillas to make skinny tacos, which I nuked for a minute. Washed down with another glass of jug wine, they were quite delicious. For dessert I had the last of the season’s figs from my garden.

The meal was simple, but delicious. While I do agree---to some extent---with Sydney Smith, who said somewhere, “Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today,” I have to consider my supper. One day a meal just will not do. But supper, too shall be frugal. (I may be on to something.)

Perhaps an oyster omelet? Or smoked salmon potato salad? Or ....

I better climb out of my catbird seat and put on my chef’s hat.