Kid Friendly Frugal Food

Kid-friendly food makes my life easy.  Frugal food is a near necessity.  To get both of those and have it be a healthy option is no longer impossible.  I will admit, I spent too many years feeding my daughter crap.  It's a sad reality that mac and cheese and hot dogs are so much more affordable that a home cooked meal, but that's not what this post is about...

As I've mentioned before, I recently purchased the Deen Brothers "Take it Easy" cookbook and I'm working my way through all of the recipes.  This was the first recipe I tried, and if the kid factor is any indication, this is a book well worth the price!

I am posting my slightly varied version of their recipe, found on page 105.

Creamy Spicy Sausage Pasta

• 1T olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup Newman's Own tomato sauce (I used the roasted garlic)
• 1 1/2 cup frozen peas
• salt and pepper (don't let the 4 year old help with the pepper!)
• 1 pound rigatoni

Cook the sausage, then add cream and tomato sauce.  Simmer until slightly thickened.  Add peas and cook until peas are hot.  Boil pasta according to directions and add to sausage and sauce mixture.  Serve with grated parmesan on top.

With using salt, pepper, and parmesan that I already had on hand, I was able to make this meal for 5.97 and it easily could have fed 6 people.  My husband, one of the biggest eaters I know asked why I made so much, and he only saw what was left after I had some and after Bug had 2 little bowls.

As for the kid factor, after screaming that she was going to hate dinner the entire 30 mile drive home from town, she decided to try it.  When I was feeding her brother, she "snuck" in to the kitchen to get a little more.  She asked for more after that and I gave it to her, but she didn't eat it.  Not only that, but she has turned to the picture in the cookbook several times since we made it last week and asked for it again!

Deen Brothers - Take It Easy

Some cookbooks offer a scrumptious meal on the cover to entice the reader.  Ballantine Books made a great choice with a different image to draw the wannabe cook in.  Seriously, what could be better than the Deen Brothers making a delicious dish as a way to get a cookbook noticed?

Since a family can't live on cupcakes alone, I decided a "real" cookbook would be good to work my way through at the same time I'm working through the cupcake book.  I chose "The Deen Bros. Take it Easy", a book that promises quick and affordable meals.  As a full time work outside the home mom helping to raise two little ones, quick and affordable are essential!

I'm going to be posting our family's reaction to different dishes as I go and occasionally posting recipes that are a huge hit with Bug and the oh-so-picky husband.