Ways to Prepare for Food Stamp Denial
May 14, 2013
No matter how much you keep up with the proper paperwork, maintain your records with your caseworker, or try to maintain your food stamp benefits there are times when food stamps may be denied.
« Back
Cheap Recipes #4: Italian Night
March 21, 2012
Pasta dishes are amazing for family dinners. Not only is there a lot to go around, but you can also have a lot of leftovers for the rest of the week. In addition, it doesn't take a lot of work to make a good pasta dish and there are some really cheap recipes, including this week's "Like-A-Lasagna," because it's almost like a lasagna and will cost you much less to make than the traditional recipe. This recipe also can be altered and you can add in some other ingredients or substitute for what you like, such as changing the meats or adding in different cheeses. If you simply add some bread and a salad, you've got a good idea for Italian dinner night.
Ingredients List
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked (any small shell or macaroni type pasta will also work)
- 1 lb. ground turkey, beef, chicken, sausage or tofu
- 1 jar of pasta sauce (26 oz)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 lb. ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 cups of your choice of veggies (zucchini, sliced carrots or broccoli are good selections)
- Salt and pepper
The first thing you want to do in this recipe is cook the meat. Start by browning it in a pan and draining it well. As you cook the meat, get a separate bowl and crack the two eggs, mix in the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste. Remember that you can choose your own cheeses and meats so you may have different cooking times.
Mix the cooked meat in with the macaroni, sauce and veggies, then add your cheesy egg mixture. Stir the two together to make sure that they blend nicely. Now you're going to bake the dish.
Use cooking spray to coat a 9-by-13 inch baking pan. Olive oil will also work. Spread half of the macaroni mixture evenly over the bottom. Top with a cup of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Then pour the rest of the mixture on top. Add the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan to the top. You should have two layers separated by cheese. Cover this with foil.
Heat your dish in the oven at 350 degrees F and bake for about 20 minutes. You can also uncover and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes if you want to make the cheese crispier and browned on top. You can also add Italian bread crumbs to the top if you desire.