Spicy Peanut Ramen Noodles

Stumbled across this on Pinterest recently and had to make it immediately - my teenage daughter is obsessed with ramen these days, so I happened to have everything on hand.  Talk about a cheap, delicious meal!  If you have some cooked chicken on hand, the carnivore in your life will be a little happier. Many thanks to Martha Stewart for jazzing up something so basic!

Ingredients:
1 package ramen noodles (chicken flavor)
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. chunky peanut butter
2 tsp. Sriracha
Cooked chicken (optional)
Green onion, thinly sliced (optional)

Boil noodles per package instructions with flavor packet.  Drain off most of the liquid.  Toss with soy sauce, peanut butter, Sriracha, and chicken (if using). Garnish with green onion slices.  Eat immediately and enjoy all that extra money you saved by not eating out.

Lasagna Soup

Sometimes you deeply crave something. And, often times, it's something that is either incredibly time consuming to make or super expensive to make.  I've had a hankering for lasagna but it takes soooo lonnngg to make! Plus, it's not the cheapest meal.  At least not the way I make it.  I came across a recipe for Lasagna Soup on the the Deen Brothers website when I was recovering from surgery and was only being allowed soft foods.  I finally gave it a try - with my own spin, of course - and was not disappointed!  I wouldn't recommend skipping the ricotta - the soup is very rich, and a little bit of ricotta in each bite really cuts the richness and makes it PERFECT.

Ingredients: 
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz. chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 uncooked lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
fresh basil, chopped, to taste
grated Parmesan cheese
shredded mozzarella cheese
ricotta

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick Dutch oven. Add the sausage, onion, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned.  Add the broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, salt, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add the noodles; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens slightly and the noodles are tender, about 8 minutes minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in mozzarella. Garnish with fresh basil, Parmesan, and a dollop of ricotta.  

Makes about 6 servings