Supper for Six

Tuesday 4/27 "Pizza at church"

We had a training at the church. We got pizza king and the kids got sandwiches!

Monday 4/26 "Hamburger Helper"

Daddy made dinner tonight, and it came from a box.

Hamburger helper $1.61
Meat $2.99
Total: $4.60

Sunday 4/25 "Bell festival"

Nathan and I played in a community wide bell festival all afternoon. We got a boxed lunch from McAlister's and the kids got pizza!

Friday 4/23 "Bowtie pasta"

This is a Rachael Ray recipe.

Bacon ($2.98)

1 1/2 c. Breadcrumbs (previously purchased)

Parmesean cheese($2.18)

1 red onion ($0.55)

4 cloves garlic (previously purchased)

2 pints cherry tomatoes ($3.00)

red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper (previously purchased)

Bowtie pasta ($1.00)

arugula ($2.98)

basil ($2.88)

Chop bacon and cook in a pan (with lid) with some EVOO. Remove bacon to plate to cool. Add breadcrumbs to same pan and cook with parm cheese. Remove bread mixture and add a little more EVOO. Cook onion and garlic with red pepper flaks and salt and pepper, then add tomotoes. COver pot with lid and cook until tomatoes start to burst. Reserve 1 cup of pasta's cooking water to add to pot. Drain remaining pasta and add to sauce. Add arugula, basil, and bacon to same pot. Stir well and then garnish with breadcrumbs.

The verdict: $15.57 to make. I wish I had used Panko breadcrumbs b/c apparently those are the new healthy carb to use. I always cook with turkey bacon, so there is not as much cooking grease. It was a little dry for me, but I think that is because I didn't add enough pasta water. I could also have added a little chicken stock. The pasta shape is fun, though!

Thursday 4/22 "Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli"

This is a Rachael Ray meal.

1 box penne ($1.00)
1 pkg. frozen broccoli ($1.00)
3 tblsp. butter (previously purchased)
2 cloves garlic (previously purchased)
3 tblsp. flour (previously purchased)
1/2 c. chicken stock (previously purchased)
2 c. milk ($3.98)
2 1/2 c. cheddar cheese ($2.98)

Cook pasta according to package. Either add broccoli at end of pasta cooking time or microwave it. Melt butter over medium high heat. Add garlic (minced or finely chopped). Add flour and cook for one minute. Add chicken stock and milk (note: this is going to work a lot better with whole milk. Skim does not thicken up as well.) Add in 2 c. of cheese when mixture is boiling. Pour into a serving dish and top with 1/2 c. cheese and garnish and broil until cheese is bubbling.

The verdict: I love making mac and cheese from scratch. A lot of times I will add random veggies that I have left over. I think this time I added a few chicken nuggets that hadn't been eaten! Total cost to make: $8.96.

Wednesday 4/21 "Frozen pizza"

2 Frozen pizzas at $5.75 each = $11.50