Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Frugal Farmer's Kitchen
I was too Don't get me wrong. I love cooking. I really do. It's just that sometimes I don't feel like it. Ever have one of those days when you wish someone else would do the cooking? That's how I felt yesterday. If only I had a personal cook. If only I could just get take-out. If only we could go to a restaurant. If only. Ha! It's not busy season on the Island yet and the closest restaurants that are open are about 15-20 minutes away by car! Plus, we're trying to be wise with our money.
I hadn't done groceries. I was waiting for next week to do our big groceries, since we have to be in "the city" for Little One's Neonatal Follow-Up. Plus, Hubby wanted me to work on a project which we're entitling "Project Live Out of Your Fridge". Basically, we are to use up everything in our fridge and pantry before we buy more groceries. Gah!
Armed with next to nothing in the way of ingredients, I grabbed some whole wheat Farfalle.
While I cooked the bow-tie shaped pasta, I tried to think of what else I could use. Making use of my meager supplies, I took some butter, flour, cheese, garlic, coarse black pepper, and milk. I made a quick and easy roux (the same one I use to make my homemade Alfredo sauce or cheese sauce for homemade macaroni and cheese).
I also sauteed some garlic and spinach and added a can of flaked tuna to the creamy cheese sauce. I drained the pasta and in a pan, I gently coated the pasta with the cheese sauce, tuna, and spinach. I garnished the dish with garlic bread crumbs, chopped parsley and green onion. I served the dish with salad.Little One and Hubby thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Not bad for something I just threw together from the top of my head. Super cheap and super easy too.
Farfalle - $1.99 (on sale and I used less than 1/2 the package) $0.50 for this dish
Tuna - $1.29 $1.29
Cheese - $4.99 (on sale and I only used 1/6 of the block of cheese)$0.70
Milk - $4.99 (used less than 1/2 a cup) $0.10
Green onion - from my freezer and originally from a friend's garden
Garlic - $0.69 (only used 3 cloves) $0.06
Bread crumbs - made from leftover bread crusts $0.02
Flour $0.01
Butter $0.02
Parsley - from my kitchen herb garden
I'm estimating that this meal cost me around $2.70 to make. Considering we had all the ingredients and I used only a fraction of each ingredient, it would be a fairly cheap dish to make.
**Hmmph. I guess Hubby is right. It is possible to live frugally and make due with what one has in the fridge and pantry.**
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City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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11 comments:
Good for you! It sure looks yummy!
Christine:
It's a quick and easy fix and good paired with salad. Amazing what one can throw together with things one already has in the fridge and pantry.
I always joke that this is our "poor man's dish".
take out pizza, that is what i would order all the time if i lived in the city.. which is really great that we don't... but i hear ya... oh, to pick up the phone and dial for food.... sigh....
Jackie:
Can I tell you that I was *just* telling Hubby how jealous I am that you live in the township you live in!?! LOL! Not that 'twang (is that what people nicknamed it?) is a busy, busy, happenin' place, but it's got more than my neck of the woods. I told Hubby "At least they have restaurants! It would be so nice to just WALK over to the grocery store to pick something up!". Then I think of the beautiful piece of land we live on and wouldn't be able to give it up for the luxury of being close to restaurants and stores. It would still be nice sometimes though! :)
k, i never walk to the grocery store, the only restaurant we go to is the golf course, and yes that is nice... i always say to bob, i wish i would have waited before buying cause i would love a farm, with all the privacy and no neighbours on top of you and NOT CLOSE to the wiki road.
guess the grass is always greener on the other side=)
Looks delicious. I get a respite from cooking, as hubby cooks, but he always seems to conveniently forget vegetables. Entirely.
Jackie:
So true about the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence :) You're absolutely right. I am glad we don't have any close neighbours. Not that anti-social or anything, because I'm not. I just like having my own SPACE and my own privacy...which is still a bit hard to come by when you live in a small town :) It's all good though!
Keely:
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting! I just checked out your blog via your comment and it is awesome! I'll definitely be back to catch up on more of your posts!!
YUM. Awesome job.
J:
Thanks :) Not bad for just throwing together whatever was in our fridge and pantry! I guess "Necessity *is* the mother of all invention"??
i have tried to use up all in the cupboards and fridge before going shopping next...but everyone- kids included- complains there is nothing to eat in the house- hmph!! Well i can't take the complaining so i just go and buy more groceries- really wish i could grow a decent garden and have SOME fresh produce instead of always having to go to the store to get it!!
your dish does look good!