This week, it's a slight twist on 1 Cheap Meal Fridays. Pasta Roni has been making a huge push in providing affordable dinner options for families. Headed up by spokes-mom Kathryn Sansone (a mother of 10!), she gives some great money saving tips and recipes to use with Rice a Roni products.
One of their newest product is the Pasta Roni (retails for about $1.59). My son and I tried this for lunch this week and it tasted really good. Read the instructions first. I started to make it like normal mac and cheese. You don't cook the noodles in a big pot of water. You cook the noodles in 2 1/4 cups and the seasoning packet. Very easy to make and if you add simple ingredients, all of a sudden your side dish becomes a main meal.
Here is an idea:
Taco Mac and Cheddar
I box of Pasta Roni Cheddar Macaroni
2 1/4 cups water
1 cup cooked chicken
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 cup mild salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheddar/ jack cheese
Bring water to a boil in small saucepan. As pasta, mix thoroughly and return to boil. Reduce heat to a medium boil and boil uncovered until pasta is tender and most water is evaporated. Turn off heat and add special seasonings packet and stir. Stir in cooked chicken and cumin. Top with salsa and cheese. Let pasta stand covered for 4-5 minutes. Enjoy.
He was so proud (he made it himself!).