Budget-Friendly and Healthy, Too

I stumbled across an article about the Top Four Foods for Staying Healthy on a Budget. Want to guess what was on the list?

I’ll give you a second…

Tomatoes, Beans, Oatmeal, and Pasta.

My first inclination when I heard about this list was to try to come up with a recipe that incorporated all four ingredients, but the oatmeal bit proved tricky.

So I tried altering a baked pasta, such as Baked Penne, by adding beans, and voila, three out of the four ingredients made it into one dish.

So, here’s my crack:

“3 out of 4 ain’t bad” Baked Pasta

1 pound of whole wheat rotini pasta
2 cups (approximately one 15-oz can) Great Northern Beans
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
One 28-oz jar of spaghetti or marinara sauce
One 15-oz can diced tomatoes
One 16-oz container light ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan

Cook the rotini pasta according to the directions, being careful not to overcook.

While it is cooking, place the ricotta cheese in a large bowl and mix in half of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

In a saute pan coated with cooking spray or a touch of oil, add the beans, seasonings (oregano through onion powder), marinara, and diced tomatoes. Cook for 3-4 minutes.

Mix the pasta and marinara mixture in the pan or in a bowl.

In a 2-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish, pour about half of the marinara and pasta mixture, then cover with the ricotta cheese mixture.

Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cheese is slightly brown.

Serves 6-8.

Budget-friendly, healthy, and tasty, too…you’re a dinner superstar!
SPC