Archive for the ‘PASTA’ Category
Bacony Egg Noodles with Green Beans
December 29, 2015 Lee
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Bacony Egg Noodles with Green Beans

Simple and easy dish that is inexpensive as well.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 can tomatoes, 565 gram can, diced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
  • 500 grams yard beans, cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 300 grams egg noodles, OR use Fettucine

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until golden, about 8 minutes. Push the bacon to the side of the pan and add the onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onion is softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 15 to 18 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
  • Meanwhile, add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beans to a colander; season with salt and pepper and cover to keep warm.
  • Return the water to a boil, add the noodles and cook until tender, about 9 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Toss the noodles with the sauce, adding the pasta water if needed to thin the sauce; season. Divide among 4 plates; serve with the green beans.

Notes

4 slices of bacon is minimal, about 20 Baht for a bundle of yard beans, and about 55 Baht for the can of tomatoes. Easily under $1.00 per meal per person.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,PASTA
One Skillet Cheesy Taco Pasta
December 19, 2015 Lee
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One Skillet Cheesy Taco Pasta

This is a one skillet pasta dish, just a few steps to prepare this, that's it. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 500 grams ground beef, OR minced pork, OR ground chicken
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
  • 2 1/2 cups water, divided
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup whole kernal corn, fresh, frozen, or canned
  • 1 packet taco season mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, add ground beef or pork and cook completely through, drain any fat.
  • Add in one cup of water, salsa, corn, taco seasoning, and corn starch. Stir well and add in the pasta. Bring to a boil and then lower to low-medium heat and cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 5-7 minutes, stir occasionally, then add the last amount of water and stir again. Return lid on the skillet and simmer on low heat until pasta is tender, about another 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  • When pasta is tender, remove from heat and cover with cheese, let it melt for a few minutes then gently mix. Serve and cover with optional toppings, such as chopped spring onions, sour cream, diced tomatoes, even diced avocado.

Notes

Minced beef or pork, plus cheese will be the most expensive items here. Minced pork is about 108 Baht/kilo, 500 grams would be 54 Baht (I'll estimate 500 grams of beef is 100 Baht). Cheese, real Cheddar will run about 180 Baht per 250 grams (which should be enough). For 6 people, the major cost is 350 Baht, or $1.75 each serving.
Shortcut: Taco Seasoning.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,PASTA
Cottage Cheese Pierogies
November 29, 2015 Lee
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Cottage Cheese Pierogies

This is an Old World classic that can be tailored to any taste and is not only easy to make, but very low cost as well. This will be a must try for me. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Polish
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

Filling

  • 2 cups Cottage cheese, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • salt, to taste

Pierogi

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • 3/4 cup warm water

Instructions
 

  • Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl. Add the egg, oil, and water to make a medium soft dough. Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth. Caution: too much kneading will toughen the dough. Divide the dough into 2 parts. Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
  • Combine the cottage cheese with the egg and season to taste with the salt.
  • Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board. Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a drinking glass. Put the round in the palm of your hand. Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers. The edges should be free of filling. Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
  • Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
  • Once you have all the pierogies made, drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water. Do not attempt to cook too many at a time. Stir gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. When they float remove them with a slotted spoon and place in a colander and drain thoroughly.
  • After all the pierogies are boiled and drained, pan fry in butter or bacon fat until golden brown. This dish can be served as a stand alone meal or paired up with kielbasa sausage.

Notes

If making these with store bought Cottage Cheese, the price per person would be high. If making this from our Cottage Cheese recipe on this site, use 2 liters of milk to make the cheese, yield should be 2 cups of cheese, cost would be about 120 baht for 2 liters, for 4 people, cost is about 90 cents per meal per person.
The great thing with this recipe, is that is just a base to start from, for fillings you can also use minced meat and onion (beef, pork, chicken), sauerkraut and or mushrooms, mashed potato and Cottage Cheese.
Shortcut: Cottage Cheese.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,PASTA
Skillet Ziti
November 27, 2015 Lee
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Skillet Ziti

Quick meal when served with a salad would be an excellent dinner. I adjusted the measurements I found on the internet to easier amounts, I increased the amounts. If you like cheese, go heavy with the cheese, that is the beauty of these recipes. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams minced pork
  • 250 grams Penne pasta, uncooked, about 3 cups
  • 3 cups tomato pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 cup Cottage cheese, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta in pot with unsalted water until tender, drain well.
  • Meanwhile, cook ground pork over medium-high heat in large, nonstick skillet about 3 minutes or until pork is no longer pink, breaking pork in to 3/4-inch crumbles. Drain off fat.
  • Add hot pasta to ground pork in skillet. Stir in pasta sauce and Cottage cheese. Cover and cook over low heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with grated cheese and serve.

Notes

Minced pork runs about 120 Baht per kilo, recipe calls for 1/2 kilo so the cost is 60 Baht. The Ricotta cheese, if purchased will put this meal well over $1 per person, use the shortcuts on this site to make Cottage Cheese (a very good substitute) or Ricotta Cheese, then the cost is some milk, still not a show stopper. With the milk in a shortcut and the minced pork, this is still $1 or less per serving.
Shortcuts: Tomato Sauce, Cottage Cheese.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,PASTA
Basil, Lemon, and Garlic Chicken Pasta
November 16, 2015 Lee
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Basil, Lemon, and Garlic Chicken Pasta

Sounds very good! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into strips
  • 2 tablespoons basil paste, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 lemon, juice and zest
  • 1 1/2 cups dry Penne pasta, cooked and drained, or any amount you desire
  • 6-8 zucchini, sliced
  • 1 cup cream
  • Parmesan cheese, shredded, to serve

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan, add garlic, chicken pieces, and courgettes for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Stir in the basil paste, lemon juice, lemon zest, cream, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.
  • Serve over Penne pasta and top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Notes

This is a low cost but great sounding meal. Until I make this, I will say easily under $1 per serving.
Shortcut: Basil Paste.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,PASTA
Macaroni Salad I
November 5, 2015 Lee
1 Comment

Macaroni Salad I

Lee
Easy recipe that I learned from my parents, I have been making this now for years. I often make this to provide several days of lunches and even an evening meal or two. This can be a side dish or a light main dish. Links to the Shortcuts are listed in the Notes section.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams elbow macaroni, (8 oz)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2-3 cans tuna, packed in oil or brine, drained, Shortcut
  • 3-4 hard boiled eggs, peeled, chopped, Shortcut
  • mayo, as needed
  • ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat a pot of salted water to boiling, add the macaroni, cook until tender, drain well. Return the macaroni to the same pot, we are going to use the cooking pot as the mixing bowl now.
  • To the macaroni, add the onion, tuna, and eggs. If using the Shortcut to prepare the tuna, use ½ cup cooked tuna for each can.
  • Gently mix together to minimize tearing apart the eggs.
  • Add the mayo, several spoons first and gently mix together. Keep adding mayo a spoon at a time until you get your desired consistency. Add some black pepper and give the salad another mix or two.
  • Transfer salad to a serving bowl, cover, and place in the fridge to chill until serving. s a great side dish, lunch, or even as a light main meal.

Notes

Low cost per serving as this makes a lot of salad.
Shortcut: Tuna.
#1 Go-To Recipes,Fish - Tuna,PASTA,Sides - Salads
Cajun Chicken Pasta
November 4, 2015 Lee
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Cajun Chicken Pasta

Sounds great, on my to cook list for sure! Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Penne pasta, uncooked
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 4 teaspoons Cajun spice mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 1 2/3 cups tomato pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Boil the pasta in the water for 8 – 10 minutes, reserve 1/2 cup of the water and drain off the rest. Toss the pasta with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Working on a plate, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Cajun spice over each chicken breast, drizzle and turn the spiced breasts in a little olive oil.
  • Heat a heavy-based frying pan and brown the oiled breasts on both sides without cooking them right through – about 3 minutes on each side, remove from the pan and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Slice the chicken breasts on the diagonal into strips.
  • Pour the reserved pasta water into the pan to deglaze it. Add the tomato and basil pasta sauce and cream. Return the sliced chicken to the sauce and cook gently for 5 minutes, toss the chicken and sauce with the cooked pasta, Add half of the grated cheese and stir through. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese and chopped herbs over the top when serving.
  • Serve with a green salad.

Notes

Low cost meal, 4 chicken breasts, and even the pasta sauce, if serving 2 people 2 times, less than $1 per meal per person.
Shortcuts: Cajun Spice Mix, Pasta Sauce.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,PASTA
Pasta with Alfredo Sauce
October 26, 2015 Lee
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Pasta with Alfredo Sauce

Homemade Alfredo sauce with chicken and pasta of your choice.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 packages Cream cheese, 250 grams per package
  • 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 block of 227 gram block of butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3-4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cubed
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta of your choice, spaghetti would be good.
  • Melt cream cheese and butter in a saucepan, stir in the milk and ground pepper, and salt if you like.
  • In another saucepan, heat up 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, then garlic and cook for a minute or two then add the chicken cubes and cook until just before the chicken is cooked through then add the red bell pepper and cook for a few more minutes, chicken should be tender and bell pepper crunchy. Do not over cook the chicken.
  • Pour the sauce over the chicken and mix, simmer for just a few minutes, at this point, add a handful of chopped fresh mushrooms.
  • Sauce will thicken, spoon over fresh pasta and top with grated Parmesan Cheese and ground black pepper.

Notes

All the ingredients makes this less than $1 per meal per person.
This is an easily adapted recipe, for the photo which I cooked on 6 Dec 2015, I omitted the chicken, and just added several large handfuls of fresh mushrooms, and then added fried bacon and ham.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,PASTA