Comfort Foods--Italian Style

As a budding frugalista, I take great delight in any dish that is inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Growing up in an Italian home, I loved all the pasta dishes. I especially liked those that provided comfort and warmth during the cold, snowy days of winter.

This past winter has been an extremely cold one, and I find myself gravitating towards the following two pasta dishes:

PASTA E PATATE
(Pasta and Potatoes)

Ingredients

4 medium potatoes
2 cups of pasta (ditali)
4-6 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt

Procedure

• Dice the potatoes.
• Boil water in a medium-sized saucepan and add potatoes.
• Cook for one minute.
• Add pasta and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is done.
• Drain some of the water.
• Add sauce, butter, and salt.
• Cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

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PASTA E FAGIOLI
(Pasta and Beans)

Ingredients

1 can (19 oz) romano beans
2 cups pasta (ditali, orecchiette or shell pasta)
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp tomato sauce
2 tbsp oil oil

Procedure

• Boil water and add pasta.
• Cook past for 7-8 minutes or until al dente.
• Drain any excess water leaving about 1" above the cooked noodles.
• Drain beans and add to the saucepan.
• Add oil, tomato sauce, and salt.
• Cook for an additional 7 minutes.

Makes 4 servings