The $4 supper
Posted by
Aarti on
November 6th, 2009 . Filed under:
Uncategorized .
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, the meals are a little simpler in the McSequeira house these days.
We’ve been stretching one unemployment check between the two of us, as we look for work in our respective fields. Which reminds me! Need an incredibly-skilled comedic and dramatic actor? The most intelligent and vocabulary-rich writer I know? A witty, imaginative improv-er? A looker? Hire my husband, Brendan McNamara! He’s pretty rad, man. And in a dream world, he’d be acting on Saturday Night Live. See what I mean?
SNL REEL: Brendan McNamara from brendan “fireball” mcnamara on Vimeo.
So, yeah if you can make that happen, let me know. 
Where was I?
Oh yeah. FOOD!
So yeah, our meals are simpler — less meat, more carbs, more veggies. My recipes have always been pretty cheap to begin with, but these days, I’ve been trying to find even less-frilly ways to feed ourselves. You can look forward to some of those recipes in the next season of Aarti Paarti. But in the meantime, I found one that I just couldn’t wait to share!
I came across this recipe from Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali’s restaurant partner. As soon as I read it, I knew it was a keeper, and I KNEW I had to share it with you folks! It’s one of those dishes that you’ll make over and over, because it’s healthy, cheap (two of your ingredients are canned goods, so they’ll only cost you about $0.80 each!) and quick. In fact, this entire meal cost me about $4! hel-LO!
I made one adjustment of note; Joe (yeah, I figure we’re on a first-name basis now) boils his swiss chard, then squeezes the water out of it. I couldn’t stand the idea of losing all that lovely chlorophyll in the water, so I just cooked it with the rest of the ingredients and it turned out great! I can’t wait for you to try it.
Unemployment Dinner!
aka Swiss chard, tomato and Great Northern Bean sautee
(adapted from Joe Bastianich recipe)
Olive oil
1 onion, sliced thinly
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 15oz can whole tomatoes, chopped, juices retained
1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
1 big bunch swiss chard, washed, stems diced, and leaves sliced about 1/2″ thick
1 15oz can Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
Salt & pepper
1) Warm a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once shimmering, add onions, and a little salt. Saute until softened. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute 30 seconds until garlic is fragrant. Add tomato paste and saute another 30 seconds.
2) Add tomatoes, and a little more salt. Cook until tomatoes turn mushy, about 3 minutes.
3) Add swiss chard, tossing until well combined with tomato mixture. Add 1/2 cup water, bring to a boil, then turn heat down a simmer. Semi-cover and cook about 10 minutes, until chard is cooked through.
4) Add beans. Toss, and warm through. Taste for seasoning and adjust according to your taste. Enjoy, knowing that you’ve beat the system one more time! $4 dinner! Woohoo!
-x-
aarti
November 9th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Hey, Girl!
Love this! isn’t this the truth! My sweet thang had to sell all but one business this spring due to economical slump (as many small business didn’t have the cash flow to make it thru the slump) and the production co. i worked for Nashville closing down, too, we’ve been on unemployment since July. it’s a joke, tho. $300 bucks a week for our family. luckily we have a hefty savings. i was ruminating the other day the very topic you bring up…. ‘remember when’ we call it in our house… remember when we had all sorts of vinegars and oils and herbs and ingredients for cooking! now it has diminished to 2-4 ingredient dishes. ‘remember when’ we dined out. ‘remember when’ we went shopping! etc.
but, what we’ve found is that we’re happier than ever. as long as we have food and (now cheap) wine, and each other then we’re in want of nothing! there’s been a seismic shift and it feels wonderful. so, when you’re cooking from the unemployment cookbook remember many of us are, too, and that makes your theme all the more intriguing! xxx `S
November 9th, 2009 at 7:50 am
love this staci!!
November 9th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
We’re slightly employed, but just barely. This will come in handy!
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Hi Aarti! Love the new layout on your page. I also enjoy watching your cooking videos. I am also without a job, but to make matters worse I can not qualify for unemployment.. so I hear you on the cheap dinners. Glad to know that I am not alone in this. Thanks for the inspiration!
Alex
February 8th, 2010 at 8:53 am
[...] I was relieved to come across another blogger who is also feeling the financial pinch – Aarti of Aarti Paarti shared a filling recipe to fill you up for only $4! Along with her colorful blog, Aarti and her [...]
March 27th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
I am SO hungry now and it’s all your fault. I love you for it!
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:18 pm
[...] The $4 Supper (or, “Unemployment Dinner!”) from aartipaarti.com [...]
June 20th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
love your writing and recipes! And you are rockin Food NEtwork!
I would like to cook more and your blog is quite inspiring!
June 27th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Hi Aarti you are an absolute inspiration to me. You absolutely HAVE to win the next food network star for me and ALL of your other adoring fans! You have the greatest skill in cooking and in front of the camera. You HAVE to win!!!
July 6th, 2010 at 11:48 am
I made this dish to go along with my brother-in-laws brined pork loin (which it matched really well with)…and can I just say it was SUPER FAB! Simple ingredients, great price. Thankee!
July 6th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
love all your videos,recipes, songs ,extras and more…. such a treat to watch you in action and trying so many of your recipes, this is such fun and they’re all faaaab!!!
rooting for you on TNFNS and know you’ll shine … go girl! xox
July 17th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Aarti, love you show. I am so inspired. I tried all your receipes (literally). My mom love your show tooooooooooooooooo
keep smiling,and shinning
July 25th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Aarti!!! We are rooting for you on The Next Food Network Star!!! I wish I had discovered your blog sooner!!! It’s fantastic!!
July 26th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Hey Aarti!
Just tried this one tonight. LOVE IT!!! I am going to grad school, so recipes like these really help with my miniscule budget.
Keep ‘em coming!
July 28th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
If anyone is wondering how many people this recipe serves, in my case – ONE! It was do good I couldn’t stop! Yum!
July 29th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Reading these comments brings to mind that I remember hearing Bobby Flay admonish Aarti for suggesting that a dish could be made inexpensively. He said no one wanted to hear that. Ummm. Perhaps in his privileged universe but from what I see here Aarti is right on the money (or lack thereof as it were…) Keep rockin’ it real, girl.
July 31st, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Hey Aarti! I absolutely love your show…I didn’t even know you had an online cooking show until recently. You have such a warm, inviting, loving and adorable personality, I feel like I’ve known you for years. That is the kind of personality a food network star should have! I’m rooting for you!
In reguards to this recipe: it is fantastic. As a broke college student barely making it by, it is definitely refreshing to have affordable recipes created by someone who actually knows what it is like to be on a tight budget
Good Luck Aarti, you deserve this!!
From one of your lovelies,
-Ben
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:00 pm
If the judge saw how much the fans want you to win I bet it would change their mind a little.
August 10th, 2010 at 7:22 am
We are going through this too and I love, love, love this recipe. I’ll be making it this week!
August 13th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Hi Aarti, I too, am rooting for you on the Next Food Network Star. From the beginning, your warm personality showed through, and your cooking absolutely rocks! I, too, am unemployed, although I am praying that I will be accepted for this particular job that I applied for… I figure if the Lord wants me to have it, I will… Anyway, this is a great recipe! I have another one that is super simple, but tastes really good. Saute half an onion in evoo, add in chopped fresh rosemary (to taste), and one rinsed, drained can of Great Northern beans. Heat to bubbling; serve. Yum…although, I’ll be you can kick it up a couple of extra notches! Keep cooking and sharing.
August 14th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
You are my far my favorite on Food Netowrk. I can’t wait until you get your own show because you will.
August 16th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I have to say I LOVE your hubby’s reel. I was dying laughing! I hope he’s found some work. You two are fabulous!
August 16th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
First of all, congratulations! My fiance & I were cheering for you the whole way through.
Second, I tried this recipe tonight and it was delish! Looking forward to your show, Aarti!
August 18th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I made this for dinner tonight and it was wonderful! Unfortunately, my grocery store didn’t have Swiss chard, so I substituted kale, which seemed to work. I also added a little garam masala.
August 20th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Aarti-
WAY TO GO!! Loved you on the next food network star..knew you could do it!! Now take you passion and run with it..inspire people just not to cook..but inspire them to follow their passions without much money!! Again…CONGRATS!!
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:38 pm
WOW! unemployment dinner recipes to THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR!!! great job aarti! you were my pick and i think i screamed out loud when you won! just watched your sloppy joe show and think i might have to make every recipe on your show for my own food blog! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Congratulations Aarti, I was thrilled you won. You were the clear winner from the start!
You need to know that the night you won, my husband cut his finger and I had to take him to the hospital for stitches. Man was I mad. He did it 1 hour before the show aired and I had to keep my mouth shut and be understanding for over 5 hours. As soon as we got home from the hospital we stayed up late and watched you win (we taped it). I don’t think either of us will forget the night. He is fine and you won. All is well!
August 29th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Aarti, I love your focus on herbs and spices to enhance the taste of food, some that have languished neglected in my spice rack & are being used for the first time ever! Now that I know what to do with them in your recipes, I’m branching out & experimenting. Green cardamom pods were a revelation from God! How have I lived all these years without knowing about their ability to transform everyday food?
But I need your help on something we don’t get home from church until 1 on Sunday afternoon, & I’ve missed your first two shows. Is there any way, perhaps as a promotional strategy, to air those episodes on the Food Network website or on your website? Or can someone post them on Youtube for those of us who can’t afford a gizmo to record shows? I would be forever grateful.
Your Irish sister in Ohio,
Patty
August 30th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Congrats Aarti!
)
I am SO happy you won. Your sincere and genuine nature really come through the camera and you are just an absolute joy to watch.
My boyfriend is Indian so I like the fact I have you to watch that will incorporate Indian food into every day. I learned how to make daal, aloo gobi, etc and now I can get even more creative thanks to you!
I hope you know you have a fan in PA that will tune in eery Sun to watch and giggle along with you bc your laugh is truly infectious!
Good luck in your career and keep rockin’ the flower, you are too cute!
Cassandra