Well, friends, it’s time for another week of Pantry Cleanout!
The last time we launched one of these weeks was about a year ago, upon returning from a long weekend to New York. This time around, there’s no special occasion; just a pantry that’s in need of cleaning out and a budget that’s in need of recalibration. Not spending money on this week’s grocery bill always makes a big difference, and we’ve certainly got the items in our cabinet and fridge to make things interesting in the interim!
Tonight, I whipped up a batch of skillet lasagna to start things off. I love Christy Jordan’s recipe over at Southern Plate; it’s a perpetual crowd-pleaser, and it’s easily made to boot. With simple, easily stored ingredients like egg noodles, cottage cheese, and diced tomatoes, it’s a cinch to whip up on the fly! And that’s just what I did tonight. Because friends, while we are cleaning out our pantry this week, we’re also restocking our bar in preparation for an upcoming Mardi Gras party. So between work and home tonight, I stopped off at good old Total Wine – clear on the other side of town – to stock up on all the favorites: Abita, Dixie Blackened Voodoo, and the like. So by the time I got home, time was short and my patience was even shorter. But my hunger was so very, very long. As was LeeLee’s!
And so I got to cooking. First, I put a big pot of water on to boil for the egg noodles, and then I diced an onion and browned it with a bag of Gardein ground “beef.” Once the egg noodles entered the pot, I added basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water to the beef-and-onion mixture, and let the whole thing simmer throughout the pasta’s boiling time.
Once the noodles were ready, I mixed them in with the beef, onion, and tomatoes, and then topped the whole thing with a blend of cottage and mozzarella cheeses. Once the cheese had melted, we dug right in! And, I don’t mind saying, each enjoyed two helpings. But even with four helpings gone, we still have plenty for lunch tomorrow! And I know we’ll each make good use of it. A quick meal that tastes great and has plenty of servings for lunch? It’s a win-win if you ask me!
:)