The menu theme that I chose for this assignment was vegetarian. I've been a vegetarian for a year and a half now so it was easy for me to find recipes for this meal. The 3 components that I decided to include in this meal were an appetizer, entree, and side.
The ingredients I needed to purchase for these recipes were:
1. Appetizer- Parmesan Garlic Bread
After the appetizer was out of the oven, I started making the entree and side. The entree I chose to make was a creamy tomato pasta. This recipe also required just a few ingredients including yellow onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, penne pasta, heavy cream, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. I started making this dish by finely chopping the onion and garlic and sauteeing them a pan for about 5 minutes. Once the onions were translucent, I added in the tomatoes, salt, and pepper and let this simmer for 10 minutes. Finally, I added in the heavy cream and combined the sauce with the cooked pasta.
While the pasta was cooking, I also worked on the side dish. I found a recipe online for sauteed green beans that needed a yellow onion, garlic, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. I chose green beans because I already had them in my fridge from the green bean casserole I made last week for a Friendsgiving. These beans were going bad so it was good that I used them before they went to waste! I first had to blanch the green beans by boiling them for 2 minutes, straining them, and then putting them in a bowl of ice water. Then, I sauteed them with the onion and garlic and added the mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
The ingredients I needed to purchase for these recipes were:1. Appetizer- Parmesan Garlic Bread
- Garlic- $0.69
- French Baguette- $3.00
- Parmesan Cheese- $4.00
2. Side Dish- Sauteed Green Beans
- Yellow Onion- $0.66
3. Entree- Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Heavy Cream- $2.00
- Canned Tomatoes- $2.50
To begin the meal, I started by making the Parmesan Garlic Bread. The recipe I used for this was from delish.com and required few ingredients. First, I combined minced garlic, butter, parsley, and salt in a bowl. Then, I cut the baguette in half and spread the garlic mixture on top. After sprinkling on some parmesan cheese, I put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 425 degrees.
After the appetizer was out of the oven, I started making the entree and side. The entree I chose to make was a creamy tomato pasta. This recipe also required just a few ingredients including yellow onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, penne pasta, heavy cream, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. I started making this dish by finely chopping the onion and garlic and sauteeing them a pan for about 5 minutes. Once the onions were translucent, I added in the tomatoes, salt, and pepper and let this simmer for 10 minutes. Finally, I added in the heavy cream and combined the sauce with the cooked pasta. 
While the pasta was cooking, I also worked on the side dish. I found a recipe online for sauteed green beans that needed a yellow onion, garlic, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. I chose green beans because I already had them in my fridge from the green bean casserole I made last week for a Friendsgiving. These beans were going bad so it was good that I used them before they went to waste! I first had to blanch the green beans by boiling them for 2 minutes, straining them, and then putting them in a bowl of ice water. Then, I sauteed them with the onion and garlic and added the mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Overall, this meal was very successful. The total cost for all of my ingredients was $12.85. Considering this meal fed 4-6 people, this is a very good price (only about $2.50 per person)! I also did all of my shopping at Fresh Thyme, which has very affordable prices. This meal cost me a lot less than my normal food expenditures because of I most of the ingredients I already had on hand. Not only was it inexpensive but it was also very filling, delicious, and nutritious. I think that this dish is a great representation of how vegetarian food isn't just vegetables!
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