I have posted several times about how we are trying to reign in our grocery budget. One of the biggest temptations to overspend for me is when I come home after a long day at work, and there is nothing prepared for dinner. I don’t feel like cooking dinner, so its just easier to order a pizza.
This week we stuck to a strict cash budget, so when I came home from a 12 hour shift, and there was nothing for dinner, eating out wasn’t an option. I threw together this cheesy pasta bake, out of ingredients I had on hand. I didn’t have any marinara sauce, so I improvised, and we enjoyed the chunky sauce way more than a pre-made, runny marinara. Keep this recipe on file for a quick, delicious meal!
- 28 oz can whole tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 t basil
- 1/2 t thyme
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
- salt
- Peel and mince garlic into sauté pan and sauté in olive oil for 3 minutes. Add can of whole tomatoes, tearing tomatoes apart with your hands. Add basil and thyme, sauté until slightly thickened.
- In another pot bring salted water to boil and cook macaroni according to package directions. Once cooked, mix tomato mixture and macaroni together. Transfer into a 9 x 13" baking dish and top with cheese. Bake in the oven at 350° for about 20 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.
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