Food Friday | Pasta Alfredo & Kielbasa

I haven't done a Food Friday in an awfully long time, mostly due to the fact that I have once again moved across the country and have yet to get settled in. But I decided that I will start making an effort to redeem myself, starting with one of the tastiest dishes I have ever made. It's simple, foolproof, and delicious - perfect for those of us living on a budget or short on culinary expertise. I happen to be both!

Ingredients:

1 box of your favorite pasta (I like tortellini or shell)
1 can Alfredo pasta sauce
1 kielbasa (I usually wait until this item goes on sale to make this dish)

1. Cook pasta in boiling water for 7-10 minutes.
(Note: the best way to tell if its cooked all the way is to taste it!)
2. Strain pasta, stir in Alfredo sauce, and put on low heat.
3. Cut up kielbasa into 1/2 inch thick slices. Cut these slices into fourths.
4. In a separate pan, fry kielbasa on medium heat.
5. Stir kielbasa into the pasta and enjoy!

Food Friday: Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Welcome to the first ever Food Friday! I will be the first to admit: I am a terrible cook. Therefore, every week I will be posting a new, simple recipe that even I can cook with the hopes that I can begin to eat something other than bean burritos. Though, with the weather warming up, I thought I would start off this weekly tradition with a refreshing smoothie!

And isn't this single-serve Hamilton
Beach blender so handy?!

During my two years in college, I have learned that one of the hardest things to do is eat healthy and spend frugally. Fruit and vegetables can be so expensive, and sometimes it makes more sense to instead reach for the hot dogs and top ramen. However, I have set goals for myself to be healthier lately, so no more hot dogs for me. If you are pressed for time, money, and want to eat smarter, then try out this delicious smoothie!

Ingredients:

Note that I don’t measure anything, so these are rough estimates!

1 banana

½ cup fat free milk

1 raw egg* 

1 handful baby spinach* 

1 scoop Slim Fast chocolate powder (I use the cheap knock-off brand)

6 ice cubes

*Don't be afraid of these ingredients - you don't even taste them in the end!

Blend it all together and voilà, enjoy!