i am going to cook dinner for 4 people, what should i make?

Question

i'm cooking for my girlfriend, my roomate and his girlfriend. i'll spend between 20 and 30 dollars...of course the cheaper the better.

Answer 1

A nice mixed green salad, some garlic bread and pasta:

PASTA PUTTANESCA

1/8-1/4 cup pancetta, finely diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
5-8 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 large can (approx 35oz) whole peeled Italian tomatoes
1 dozen oil-cured black olives, pitted and chopped
3 anchovies, finely mashed (optional)
2 tabelspoons red wine vinegar
a pinch red hot pepper flakes
2 tablespoons each fresh basil and oregano
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (save a little for sprinkling)
1 bay leaf
Romano or Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
1 lb pasta, cooked according to package directions
salt and pepper, to taste

Note: If you don't have fresh herbs available, substitute 1/2 teaspoon each dry oregano and basil.
In a large skillet, sauté pancetta over low heat in olive oil until soft and translucent; bring heat up and allow to pancetta to brown slightly on edges.

Add garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, parsley and olives. Mash the anchovies well into the oil, using the tines of a fork. Tip: You can do this with the garlic after it's cooked, too, if you want to avoid having to mince them - just leave the cloves whole and mash them into the oil when they take on a little light coloring. Be careful not to let garlic brown or the oil with be bitter.

When garlic begins to take on the slightest color and herbs permeate the air, add the can of whole tomatoes (including the juice in the can). Submerge the bay leaf in the sauce.

Simmer over medium-low heat, with just the occasional lazy bubble surfacing for 20 minutes or so, until the sauce begins to thicken slightly. Stir in wine vinegar during final 10-15 minutes of cooking. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Meanwhile, as sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions and drain.

In a large bowl, combine pasta with enough sauce to coat. Add a little of the pasta cooking water if sauce is too thick, or a teaspoon of olive oil. Sprinkle pasta with a little fresh parsley and cheese before serving. (Remove bay leaf before serving).

Note: Always use a good quality wine vinegar, and don't substitute white or cider vinegar, although good balsamic vinegar or a full bodied red wine can be used for variation.

Chopped pork or salt pork may be substituted for pancetta, but with different (but still good) results.


Good luck!!

Answer 2

You don't say what level your cooking skills are at, but pasta with fresh tomatoes, garlic and olive oil is easy, inexpensive and delicious (it's a good time to get the vegetables fresh at your farmer's market if you want to really impress your guests). Add some fresh basil leaves if your market has them. A nice tossed green salad, some garlic bread, grilled chicken breasts if you are hearty eaters, and voila! A festive meal. Don't forget a nice wine too.

All you do is heat a good quality olive oil in a frying pan, saute the garlic and basil leaves, add the chopped tomatoes and heat through. Serve immediately over the hot pasta.

Grill the chicken in the same pan, before adding the garlic and oil, if you are using the chicken.

This can be done for $20 even with the chicken.

Answer 3

Ummmm, make some pasta with a pesto sauce, spinach, shrimp and tomatoes.

A box of pasta is like a buck or less. Try garden rotini for color. Buy the frozen (chopped) spinach. That is like 80 cents. You can find the Knorr creamy pesto mix. It takes milk and olive oil. That's like less than a couple bucks. Get a bag of frozen shrimp. I use uncooked. That might run you 5 to 10 bucks. And buy a couple tomatoes.

Cook the pasta, thaw the spinach and you can microwave that. (like 4/ 5 minutes) I chop mine up in the food processor. Peel and cook your shrimp in a pan on the stovetop in olive oil & some basil or whatever you want. The directions for the pesto are on the back of the packet. Mix the cooked pasta, cooked spinach, cooked shrimp in a big bowl with the pesto and chop up some tomatoes and throw them in there too.

I do this when I don't want to cook. It's cheap, like you want, and easy to make & one dish. Maybe serve it with a garlic bread & a nice shiraz. Try the Rosemont, it's like 8 or 9 bucks.

Answer 4

.Why not make something easy like spaghetti and meatballs, tossed salad and garlic toast. Or if you want to step it up a bit make lasagna instead of spaghetti. You could make lasagna the night before and put it in the oven a hour before party . have salad prepared and then all you need is garlic toast to pop in oven at last few minutes . That way you could enjoy your guests instead being in the kitchen For desert have a sundae bar for everyone to make their own. Just don't forget the cherries and whip cream.

Answer 5

4 chicken breasts
fetticcini noodles
heavy cream
parm cheese
spinich
red peppers
salt and pepper
olive oil or veg oil
butter
minced garlic

Bring water to boil for pasta

Heat oil in skillet on medium high. Make sure there is enough oil in skillet to cover chicken.
Once hot, place chicken in skillet and borwn on both sides until cooked thorough

In separate skillet, melt 1 stick of butter and 3 tbsp minced garlic

Once butter is melted, add 2 cups heavy cream

mix well with butter, bring to a light simmer (small bubbles) over medium heat.

add 3/4 cup parm cheese and salt and pepper
stir with whisk frequently

once simmering again, add 3 cups spinich and chopped up red peppers (about two peppers). cover and allow spinich to wilt

drain pasta

place pasta on 4 plates

spoon creamy parm mix w/ spinuich and peppers over pasta

add one piece of chicken over that

sprinkle with parm cheese

bon appetite!

Answer 6

For something that informal, try a lasagna, with rolls, and a salad. Get some wine or beer, and Ice cream for desert.

Answer 7

KD and a nice garlic breadgreen tossed salad...with a spicy.dressing red jello with whipping cream and Irish coffee for dessert

Answer 8

Well that leaves steak out!! :) How about some BBQ chicken legs or breasts? Salad, rice, corn on the cob,and some dinner rolls.

Answer 9

If you eat pork then pork chops, & applesauce, salad (your choice) mashed potatoes, veggies (i like cream corn) if not pork then try homemade pizza buy the mix for the dough and add your favs to it.