Bacon and Peas Penne Pasta on a budget 

$1.95 for 4 servings

I am a mom, a crafter, a couponer.  It's hard to juggle them all at once but I try hard to make it happen.  I have been blessed by great sales in my area lately and I made this yummy recipe (found on barilla.com) with a few tweaks to make it my own.  My first tweak was using Penne Pronto pasta instead of Spaghetti Pronto pasta.

Ingredients

I will tell you the ingredients and the prices I paid for them by couponing, all items were bought at my local Harris Teeter but a lot of them have been on sale at other merchants as well:

• 3 cups of chicken stock (Made from chicken on sale for $.25 or with FREE chicken stock from previous sales)  
• 1/4 c water (OPTIONAL)
• 1 Box of Pronto Penne Pasta  (FREE with this week's sales)
• 3/4 Box of Frozen Peas (FREE from previous sales) original recipe calls for 1 box but my daughter doesn't like peas so I wanted to make it easier for her to set them aside.
• 4 Slices of Bacon (I think I paid $2 per pack on our last Super Doubles, so $.40 for 4 slices, I would use 6 or more next time around)
• 1/2 Cup of Cream ($.25 I always buy it on sale or store brand to save $)
• 1 handful (about 1/4c) of Shredded Mozzarella ($.35 Bought in the B2G3 FREE sale)
• 1 handful (about 1/4c) of Shredded Cheddar  ($.35 Bought in the B2G3 FREE sale)
• 1 handful (about 1/4c) of Shredded Parmesan ($.35 Bought in the B2G3 FREE sale)
• 2 Tbs of  Cream Cheese (FREE with this week's sales)
• 1 tsp salt  (FREE from previous sales)

Instructions

I used the same pot I use to cook my regular pasta.  I just thought it was easier this way.  I didn't use my fast boil stove, instead I used my biggest stove (smaller after the fast boil one).

• Put the pasta in the pot making sure the chicken stock covers the pasta.  I had to add a bit of water to make that happen.  
• Add salt
• I set the heat on high and added the frozen peas.  
• I also set my timer for 10 min (watch your pasta as you may need less time).  You have to watch your pasta so you can add the cream an the rest of the ingredients when there's like a 1/4 of the liquid left.
• While you are waiting for your pasta to cook:
• set a paper towel on a microwave safe plate, the slices of bacon neatly spread on top, and cover with another paper towel.  My microwave needs me to cook for 1 min twice.
• Cut the bacon into desired size
• Measure the all the cheese and cream
• Once my timer rang, I added the bacon, cream, and cheese while stirring it all together.
• Add more salt and pepper to taste.  My daughter doesn't like pepper so I did not use any.
• Turn off the heat when it is all mixed.
• Server and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of each plate.

And Voila!  Dinner was ready in less than 15 minutes and for less than $2 for a family of 4.  We are just 3 but I use the leftovers for my husband's lunch the next day :)