Comments on: A Very Cheap, Completely Homemade Meal Even Beginners Can Do http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:44:30 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sarah http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-62908 Sarah Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:44:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-62908 We loved the sauce - nice and simple. When tomatoes came into season, I doubled the recipe and wanted to freeze some; but we ate it all in a couple of days (on store-bought pasta). I need to try again before the tomatoes disappear from the farm stand. We loved the sauce – nice and simple. When tomatoes came into season, I doubled the recipe and wanted to freeze some; but we ate it all in a couple of days (on store-bought pasta). I need to try again before the tomatoes disappear from the farm stand.

]]> By: Jon http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-62874 Jon Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:52:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-62874 This looks like a nice recipe. I've been pondering how hard it would be to make home-made pasta, and it looks pretty easy. I've started rinsing my noodles in cold water after they cook and that works very well to prevent them from becoming sticky. This looks like a nice recipe. I’ve been pondering how hard it would be to make home-made pasta, and it looks pretty easy.

I’ve started rinsing my noodles in cold water after they cook and that works very well to prevent them from becoming sticky.

]]> By: Gayle http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-61962 Gayle Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:39:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-61962 I'd like to shop with you Trent. By my calculations it is at least a $7 meal if you just figure $3 for the meat and $4 for the tomatoes not to mention the other ingredients. The fact that flour eggs onions etc is probably already in the house does not make it free. And Farmer's market prices and store prices around here are roughly equal, the difference being in the quality. Of course feeding 4 people for $7-8 is better than 1 person at a restaurant. I’d like to shop with you Trent. By my calculations it is at least a $7 meal if you just figure $3 for the meat and $4 for the tomatoes not to mention the other ingredients. The fact that flour eggs onions etc is probably already in the house does not make it free. And Farmer’s market prices and store prices around here are roughly equal, the difference being in the quality. Of course feeding 4 people for $7-8 is better than 1 person at a restaurant.

]]> By: matt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-61562 matt Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:27:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-61562 I agree about the oil comment above, plus adding oil has a negative effect on the sauce sticking to the pasta! it's almost always better to drain your pasta, run cool water over it to prevent further cooking, and then warm the sauce and pasta together on the stove. I agree about the oil comment above, plus adding oil has a negative effect on the sauce sticking to the pasta! it’s almost always better to drain your pasta, run cool water over it to prevent further cooking, and then warm the sauce and pasta together on the stove.

]]> By: gabe http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-34291 gabe Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:59:43 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-34291 The oil in the water actually does very little to keep the pasta from sticking (cause it's not really an issue). But, rather, it keeps the bubbles (formed by the starch in the flour and the water) from piling up on one another and "boiling over." This is only really an issue when too small of a pan is used (which I almost always use). The oil in the water actually does very little to keep the pasta from sticking (cause it’s not really an issue). But, rather, it keeps the bubbles (formed by the starch in the flour and the water) from piling up on one another and “boiling over.” This is only really an issue when too small of a pan is used (which I almost always use).

]]> By: Thoglette http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-17721 Thoglette Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:21:36 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-17721 <blockquote> The dough was far too sticky and made a huge mess.</blockquote> As stated, add more flour! Eggs and flour are always variable, and recipes are just a starting point. I'll add few more comments a) fresh pasta swells up <b>a lot<b> when cooked. b) fresh pasta cooks very, very quickly - have your sauce ready to rock and roll c) you don't need a pasta machine - use a piece of dowel to roll really thin. Dust with flour, roll up and slice into thin ribbons. Again, practice makes perfect (sorry!) Or just had form little "cups" around the dowel or a finger - pasta pesano! On tomatos - these are a seasonal vegetable. Buy when cheap and pleantiful! They are best, vine ripened and warm from your garden or balcony. With basil. If they need skinning, drop in boiling water for about 10 seconds - this loosens the skins. If you have no tomatos (canned or fresh) just dress your pasta with good (cannot emphasise this enough) olive oil, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper. Dump the drained pasta into a skillet in which the oil etc has been heated. A touch of chilli or sausage is allowed! Add shaved hard vintage cheese (pecorino etc) If you're in a dairy area, use browned butter with sage or cream and bacon. Yum! I'll add another dish - cheaters' gnocci. Mash cooked potatos with enough flour to make a dough. Roll into a long thick pencil shape, slice into segments, press with fork (for tradition) and cook in boiling water until they float. Das Thog

The dough was far too sticky and made a huge mess.

As stated, add more flour! Eggs and flour are always variable, and recipes are just a starting point.

I’ll add few more comments
a) fresh pasta swells up a lot when cooked.
b) fresh pasta cooks very, very quickly – have your sauce ready to rock and roll
c) you don’t need a pasta machine – use a piece of dowel to roll really thin. Dust with flour, roll up and slice into thin ribbons.

Again, practice makes perfect (sorry!) Or just had form little “cups” around the dowel or a finger – pasta pesano!

On tomatos – these are a seasonal vegetable. Buy when cheap and pleantiful! They are best, vine ripened and warm from your garden or balcony. With basil.

If they need skinning, drop in boiling water for about 10 seconds – this loosens the skins.

If you have no tomatos (canned or fresh) just dress your pasta with good (cannot emphasise this enough) olive oil, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper.
Dump the drained pasta into a skillet in which the oil etc has been heated. A touch of chilli or sausage is allowed! Add shaved hard vintage cheese (pecorino etc)

If you’re in a dairy area, use browned butter with sage or cream and bacon. Yum!

I’ll add another dish – cheaters’ gnocci. Mash cooked potatos with enough flour to make a dough. Roll into a long thick pencil shape, slice into segments, press with fork (for tradition) and cook in boiling water until they float.

Das Thog

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-16733 Trent Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:09:17 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-16733 I typically grow my own tomatoes, so honestly I have little idea what grocery stores charge for them. As for "sticky" dough, once the dough is made and you're about to roll it, keep adding flour to the surface of the dough pile. If it sticks to your pin, stop and cover it with more flour. You almost can't overdo it. I typically grow my own tomatoes, so honestly I have little idea what grocery stores charge for them.

As for “sticky” dough, once the dough is made and you’re about to roll it, keep adding flour to the surface of the dough pile. If it sticks to your pin, stop and cover it with more flour. You almost can’t overdo it.

]]> By: briana http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-16732 briana Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:06:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-16732 My husband and I tried to make the pasta last night, and it was a miserable failure! The dough was far too sticky and made a huge mess. Any ideas on what we did wrong? Can you revise or update to add any missing steps or tips on how to correct if the dough is too sticky? My husband and I tried to make the pasta last night, and it was a miserable failure! The dough was far too sticky and made a huge mess. Any ideas on what we did wrong? Can you revise or update to add any missing steps or tips on how to correct if the dough is too sticky?

]]> By: mary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-15404 mary Wed, 04 Apr 2007 04:51:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-15404 Cool article but I take exception that it would cost $1 (or even $2) to make this. I think it would cost about a dollar just to buy the tomatoes! Cool article but I take exception that it would cost $1 (or even $2) to make this. I think it would cost about a dollar just to buy the tomatoes!

]]> By: Wallet Rehab - Ways to save money http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-14884 Wallet Rehab - Ways to save money Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:27:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/01/a-very-cheap-completely-homemade-meal-even-beginners-can-do/#comment-14884 Wow. Who knew you could make fresh pasta so effortlessly? I always thought that you'd need yeast to make it rise, like bread. Man, was I wrong! Wow. Who knew you could make fresh pasta so effortlessly? I always thought that you’d need yeast to make it rise, like bread. Man, was I wrong!

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