Sandra's Money Saving Meals Season 4 Episode 5 Perfect Pasta

Sandra's Money Saving Meals season 4 episode 5, Perfect Pasta, follows the charming and resourceful Sandra Lee as she guides the audience through the steps of creating delicious pasta dishes that are also wallet-friendly. Sandra believes that pasta is one of the most versatile and accessible ingredients out there, and she is eager to share her tips and tricks with her viewers.

The episode starts with Sandra introducing herself and explaining the theme of the show. She encourages her audience to stay tuned, promising that they will not only learn how to make mouth-watering pasta dishes, but also save money while doing so.

Sandra's first recipe is an easy and crowd-pleasing classic: spaghetti with meat sauce. She starts by browning ground beef in a large pot, and then adds onion, garlic, and canned tomatoes. She adds a few secret ingredients, including Worcestershire sauce and red pepper flakes, and simmers the sauce for about 20 minutes. While the sauce is cooking, Sandra cooks the spaghetti according to the package instructions. She reminds the viewers to save some of the pasta water, as it will help thicken the sauce. Finally, she combines the pasta and sauce and serves it with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Sandra notes that this recipe is not only delicious, but also super affordable, as the ingredients are easy to find and budget-friendly.

Next, Sandra prepares a healthy and colorful pasta salad. She starts by cooking fusilli pasta until it's al dente, and then rinses it under cold water to stop the cooking process. She adds diced bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and feta cheese to the pasta, and tosses everything with a simple dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey. Sandra explains that this pasta salad is perfect for a summer picnic or a quick and healthy lunch, and that it can be easily customized with any veggies or cheese that the viewers have on hand.

For the main course, Sandra shows how to make an impressive and elegant dish: linguine with shrimp and garlic butter sauce. She starts by sautéing minced garlic in butter until fragrant, and then adds peeled and deveined shrimp to the pan. She sprinkles the shrimp with paprika and salt, and cooks them until they're pink and cooked through. While the shrimp are cooking, Sandra cooks the linguine in a large pot of salted boiling water. Once the pasta is cooked, she adds it to the pan with the shrimp, and tosses everything together with a squeeze of lemon juice and some chopped parsley. Sandra emphasizes that this dish looks and tastes fancy, but is actually very simple and affordable to make, especially if the viewers can find frozen shrimp on sale.

Finally, Sandra shares a fun and creative dessert idea: pasta frittata. Yes, you read that right - a dessert made with pasta! She starts by cooking angel hair pasta until it's slightly undercooked, and then adds it to a mixture of beaten eggs, ricotta cheese, and sugar. She pours the mixture into a greased skillet, and cooks it on the stove until the bottom is set. Then, she flips the frittata over and finishes cooking it in the oven. The result is a sweet and creamy dessert that's perfect for a brunch or a special occasion. Sandra notes that this recipe is a great example of how pasta can be used in unexpected ways, and how creativity can lead to delicious and wallet-friendly meals.

Throughout the episode, Sandra shares her tips and tricks for saving money while cooking with pasta. She advises the viewers to always look for sales on pasta and canned tomatoes, as those are staples that can be stored for a long time. She also suggests buying frozen shrimp and using it sparingly, as it can be pricey. Finally, she reminds the viewers that pasta dishes are great for using up leftovers, such as veggies, meats, or cheeses.

Overall, Perfect Pasta is a fun and informative episode that showcases Sandra's charm, creativity, and expertise in cooking affordable and delicious meals. And, as always, Sandra leaves her audience with a smile and a message of encouragement: anyone can cook great meals on a budget, as long as they're willing to experiment and have fun in the kitchen!