Imitation Crab Fettuccine Alfredo

Okay... again, like everything else in this blog, this is NOT a healthy recipe, but it is cheap.

Usually this recipe makes enough for the 8 of us to eat as well as leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day... about 12-15 meals altogether.

Here's the breakdown:
2 pkgs Imitation Crab from Save-a-lot, 12-oz pkg*, $2.99 each -- $5.98
2 cans sliced mushrooms, drained -- $1.50
2 sticks margarine -- about 50¢
1 brick of frozen chopped spinach -- $1.00
2 lb fettuccine -- $1.98
2-3 cups half n half -- abt $2.00
2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese -- like a million dollars unless you get it on sale.  Last time Winn Dixie had it, I think it amounted to about $1.99

In a skillet, melt one of the sticks of margarine.  Add the drained mushrooms.  Cook until just starting to turn brown.  Because of the vegetarians, I remove the mushrooms before adding the crab, but you don't have to.  Add the imitation crab and cook until heated through.  (Sometimes -- I add a little minced garlic before the mushrooms and once the mushrooms are cooked, I'll add some kind of liquor to them, anything from Marsala cooking wine to white wine to Southern Comfort, just an ounce and then let that cook down for a minute.)

In a batter bowl (or microwave bowl), add the cheese, half n half, and the other stick of butter.  Cook it in the microwave and stir occasionally until cooked through.

Most of the time, I just boil the noodles and the spinach altogether, but you can cook them separately if you want, then drain.

Before vegetarians, I would then just toss this all in a big bowl and serve it.  Now, we serve it as a sort of "pasta bar."  When we can afford it, we also have garlic bread and maybe even salad.  But, the total for this meal is just $14.95, and, like I said, it is not unusual for us to get 15 meals from this.


*I'm pretty sure that it is 12-oz.  I know it is at least 12-oz, but it could be as much as a pound (16-oz.)