Frugal festive fare: Pasta and hot dogs for easy dinners
Christmas and New Year’s are wonderful times, but they can also be quite costly. That's why quick and economical meals are especially handy between the holidays and right after New Year's Eve.
When I'm looking to make a quick and affordable dinner, I remember this recipe. It might sound like a student’s go-to meal, but the whole family will enjoy it. Even the kids won't complain, and you'll be using up leftovers from the fridge.
Always in the kitchen cabinet
The base of this dish is pasta. While the recipe suggests spirals, any pasta you have in your cupboard should work, except for very tiny noodles. The next ingredient is hot dogs, which can be swapped with sausage. By adding canned tomatoes and cheddar cheese, the dish gets an Italian twist.
Saves the day
Hot dogs and sausage aren't meats often recommended by dietitians. However, experts note that the composition is what counts. They should have as much meat as possible to offer better nutritional value and fewer calories. You can enjoy them occasionally if they meet this criterion. Hot dogs usually have a long shelf life, so if you picked some up before the holidays for breakfast, they might still be in your fridge. Just cook some pasta, and a quick dinner will be ready in no time.
Pasta with hot dogs: How to make a quick and cheap dinner dish
Ingredients:
- 150 g pasta spirals,
- 3-4 hot dogs,
- half an onion,
- a can of diced tomatoes,
- a piece of cheddar cheese,
- several mushrooms,
- salt, pepper, and paprika to taste,
- parsley for garnish.
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Peel and chop the onion, then sauté it in a bit of oil.
- Add peeled and chopped mushrooms, and continue to sauté.
- Add hot dogs sliced into rings.
- Pour canned tomatoes over everything and add the pasta.
- Mix and season to taste.
- Garnish the dish with grated cheese and sprinkle with parsley before serving.
