budgetbonviveur

When the chronology of your day off is: 1. consume enough frozen margaritas to fill a kiddie pool 2. pass out in a sugar/tequila-induced coma in the hot sun 3. wake up famished, disoriented and sunburned, craving a Big Mac (with extra Big Mac sauce) from McDonald’s, your life choices are questionable. I mean #1 and #2 are your own prerogatives, don’t get me wrong. But instead of opting for a Big Mac on this hypothetical (or historically accurate for some) day off, might I suggest a lighter, healthier alternative?

The days of fresh, light eating are upon us. I recommend a bowl of pasta with a dash of olive oil,  plum tomatoes from the garden, mozzarella, basil, rosemary, and prosciutto. It’s simple and cheaper than a few Big Macs that only a margarita hangover would drive a good soul to purchase.

Bring this pasta to the next barbecue you attend. Even if your drunken friends and family embarrass themselves before passing out from all the frozen margs, they will at least thank you for saving them from a potential McDonald’s binge.

Difficulty: Easy
Total recipe cost: $13.23
Servings: roughly 12 cups
Cost per serving: $1.10/cup
Cook time: 40 minutes

Chop plum tomatoes into quarters and rinse to get rid of excess juices and seeds. Set aside.

Chop mozzarella and prosciutto and set aside.

Heat a medium sauce pan with olive oil and add tomatoes. Cook over a medium flame until skin is blistered and tomatoes are very tender, about 20 minutes or so.

While the tomatoes are cooking, boil water in a separate pan for the pasta. Once the water is boiling, cook the pasta for as long as the directions say.

In a separate saucepan, cook 2 additional tbsp. of olive oil and minced garlic over a low flame for 3-5 minutes or until garlic is lightly browned.

For the pan with the tomatoes, reduce heat to low and add basil, rosemary, salt and pepper, stirring so all flavors combine. Add garlic. Cover pan with lid and let everything cook for a few minutes.

Take heat off, and stir mozzarella and prosciutto in with other ingredients.