Wondering what this rice and bean thing is all about? Go here to read about my challenge.

This was a bit if an experiment. I’m not totally sure it worked.

Remember the Black Bean Burgers? We really liked them and I especially liked how they doubled the hamburger, so I thought I would try the same mixture and make meatballs. But when I was cooking the meatballs they were really crumbly, so I went ahead and just broke it up and browned it as I would hamburger. And then I added a jar of sauce and served it over hot cooked spaghetti noodles.

On Our Menu: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Breadsticks (recipe below), Green Salad

Review: It tasted fine, and my husband even said “kudos” because he couldn’t tell there were beans in it, and the kids ate it up, but the texture was a little off for me. But, still, a good way to stretch the meat if that’s what you are going for. I only used 1/2 lb. hamburger where I would have normally used a full pound. I’m thinking I like this version of meatballs with spaghetti better though.

I once read somewhere something along the lines of, “when cooking on a budget, your family will never feel deprived if you serve fresh bread.” I think the breadsticks helped save this meal. However, like I said, everyone else in the family thought the sauce was great, so maybe not. These are probably the easiest breadsticks in the world! And they are so easy for the kids to make. I like to get them involved at dinnertime so they are less likely to get into trouble or be whining at my feet while I cook that they are hungry.

Here’s what you do:

Preheat oven to 375F and melt 2 TBSP butter in a baking dish (in the oven while it heats). Take 1 can of refrigerator biscuits and roll out into “snakes.”

Place biscuit snakes in buttered pan, and roll once to coat. Sprinkle with garlic powder and parmesan cheese (or desired herbs or seasonings) and bake about 12 minutes or until done. (Also good sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar instead of garlic and parm!) Use up those Pillsbury coupons!! (Thanks for the links, The Krazy Coupon Lady!)

$0.50/2 – Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls-(coupons.com)
$1.00/2 – Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls – (pillsbury.com)
$1.00/2 (IE) – Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls – (bricks.coupons.com)
$1.00/2 (FF) – Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls – (bricks.coupons.com)
$1.00/2 – Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls – (boxtops4education.com)

Currently (until 2-21) Kroger has a Catalina offer on Pillsbury Baked Goods: Buy any 4 and receive a $2 Catalina; Buy any 5 and receive a $3 Catalina; Buy any 6 and receive a $4 Catalina. Sweetens the coupon deals!!

More featured coupons:

• Lots of Salad Dressing coupons!!
• Kraft Parmesan Cheese $1/1 printable
• Ragu any $0.30/1~Exp 02/28
• Newman’s Own Pasta Sauce $0.50/1~Exp 03/20
• Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta, any $0.75/1~Exp 02/28
• Barilla Plus Pasta any pkg $1/2~Exp 03/01