Since I've been on my own I've quickly learned that just because you're on a tight budget doesn't mean that you have to eat like it! I love to cook and the thought of living off of roman noodles and PB&J sandwiches sounds horrible to me! Shopping at Aldi can save a lot of money and still allow me to eat foods that I love. Here is one recipe that I find to be inexpensive, easy to make and delicious!

Shrimp Scampi (3 servings)

Ingredients

• salt
• 3/4 pound linguine
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
• 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined ( I got a HUGE bag of shrimp at Walmart for only $5!)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds

Directions

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon juice, and lemon slices. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

Dijon Vinaigrette for Salad

• 1 ½ Tbs of your favorite Dijon mustard
• The juice of one lemon
• 1 clove of garlic minced
• Salt and Pepper to taste     

Combine ingredients and stir. Mix well.  Pour onto salad right before serving.

"There is nothing like a dream to create the future".

- Victor Hugo

What are some of your favorite inexpensive recipes?

-Heather Ann