Monday Meal Planning and Cooking Pasta in the Microwave

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 Did you know you can cook pasta in the microwave?!? I thought you had to buy those special little pasta cups to do that, but No! You can cook regular, cheap, pasta in the microwave!

 It's easy peasy, but you can't just throw it in and walk away from it. You do have to stop the microwave every 2 minutes and stir until the pasta is cooked the way you like it.

Step 1-In a microwave safe bowl (the deeper the better) add 1/2 cup of pasta and 1/2 cup of water.

Step 2- Microwave in 2 minute increments, stirring after each (unless it starts to boil over, then stop it and stir) until the pasta is the softness you like anywhere from 4 to 8 minutes total

Step 3- Drain any extra water and add whatever you like to your pasta and cook another minute. You can stir in pasta sauce, milk and cheese, or just some butter and garlic. You can also add leftover vegetables and meat. What ever you have available.

A couple of hints, not all microwaves are the same, so you have to keep an eye on your pasta, and be careful, the bowl will be HOT when you take it out to stir it.

 When you start feeling confident, Here is a recipe for macaroni and cheese in the microwave and here is one for spaghetti with meat sauce all cooked in the microwave. You could also rinse your cooked pasta and use it to make a pasta salad.

Spaghetti Clipart Fork In A Bowl Spaghetti Royalty Free Clipart | Free clip art, Royalty free clipart, Royalty free

 How is the menu planning going? Are you working out the kinks? Have you figured out a way that works for you? I would love to hear if and how menu planning is working for you and if you are seeing any help in the way you use your food dollars or SNAP benefits. Here is this weeks menu plan

Monday-

  • Breakfast- Cereal and toast, 1/2 a banana
  • Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us leftover Ham from Christmas for sandwiches, pasta salad, orange
  • Dinner- Potato soup (add leftover ham if there is any), buttered toast

Tuesday-

  • Breakfast- Toast and scrambled egg, orange slices
  • Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us leftover soup and a sandwich, carrot sticks
  • Dinner- Sloppy Joes (made with half ground beef and half lentils, microwave baked potatoes, peas

Wednesday-

  • Breakfast- Cereal and toast, 1/2 a banana
  • Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us leftover sloppy joes, leftover pasta salad, peas
  • Dinner- Chicken and rice soup with lots of vegetables

Thursday-

  • Breakfast- Toast and scrambled eggs, whatever fruit we have left
  • Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us leftover soup and a sandwich
  • Dinner- Spaghetti and Meatballs, green beans

Friday-

  • Breakfast- Cereal and toast, whatever fruit we have left
  • Lunch- Kids at school, Us leftover spaghetti and green beans
  • Dinner- French bread pizza (made on those loaves of bread in the bakery section that cost $1) and celery and carrot sticks

Saturday-

  • Breakfast- Pancakes and sausage, cooked apples
  • Lunch- Hot dogs, french fries, whatever fruit or vegetables we have left
  • Dinner-  Black bean burgers, chips, roasted frozen broccoli

Sunday-

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