Saturday, April 15, 2006

Cost per Serving .72 Cents - Pantry Supper #1 - Zesty Vermicelli

I didn't stop at the grocery store yesterday because it's always a menagerie on Friday nights. I went out with a friend after work for a cocktail and then headed home.

Seventeen-year old boys have mighty appetites and Bo was looking for something for supper. He wanted to go out with friends and I wanted him to have something substantial if he was staying out late.

In a previous post, I claimed that 47 different meals can be made from a well-stocked pantry. Here I present Pantry Supper #1: Zesty Vermicelli (serves one voracious teen in 20 minutes--or two adults).

Zesty Vermicelli - Total Cost $1.45

4 oz Vermicelli (.25)
1 cup broccoli, chopped (.22)
1/2 cup chicken stock (.21)
2 tablespoons capers (.7)
2 tablespoons lemon juice (.3)
2 tablespoons olive oil (.11)
3-4 slices of pancetta or dry salami, slivered (.40)
Salt, pepper, oregano, red chili flakes (.05)
1 oz cream cheese (.11)

Boil vermicelli in salted water 5 minutes. Add chopped broccoli and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes. Drain well and return to pot.

While water is heating for the pasta, combine the remaining ingredients, except the cream cheese, in small sauce pan (I use the omelet pan) and warm on medium low heat until sauce simmers and flavors blend; stir occasionally. When adding broccoli to the pasta water, add the reserved cream cheese to the sauce and stir well until blended.

Add sauce to drained pasta and toss.

Bo enjoyed his zesty vermicelli and went out for the evening with friends.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Interesting little project - 47 recipes from your pantry. That's cool. $0.72 is pretty good. Keep up the great work!