Lunch Recipe:
With the $25/wk Food Budget Challenge, I’m always looking for new frugal recipes and was so excited to check out a copy of The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook: 200 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, and Nourishing Meals. I chose the Southwest Pasta Salad above because I had all the ingredients in my pantry. Author Erin Chase claims she could make it for $3.95 and, of course, I had to test that out for myself:
- 1 – 16oz pkg pasta shells – $0.50
- 2 cups cooked black beans – $0.52
- 1 can corn – $0.34
- 1 – 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (I did not drain according to her directions, in fact, I think you could add more liquid such as tomato juice) – $0.53
- 1 c shredded cheese (I substituted (2) 100 calorie packs Pepperjack cheese cut into smaller pieces) – $0.30
- 1 teaspoon cumin – ? I’ll go with her $0.05 estimate
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder – $0.05
- salt/pepper
Total for me = $2.29. Verdict = Good. Easy lunch. I added a bit more spices for my own taste, and after a night in the fridge it could definitely use more liquid. Other than that, it’s a cinch to prepare.
Overall, I’d say this cookbook is a great resource. The recipes use simple ingredients that are easy to prepare. Next week, I’ll share my experiences with one of the breakfast recipes!
