You can help your own hamburger

Lately I've been cooking on the cheap. I was thinking you might be too. So I've gone back and marked meals that were really affordable to make.

Got ground beef? got pasta? You don't need sauce. You don't need Hamburger Helper. We're in a recession. Do it this way and spend about $1.25 a serving.

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3/4 lb ground beef, browned & drained
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup small pasta (I used mini bowties)
• lemon pepper
• dried basil
• dried oregano
• dried parsley or chervil

Saute onions & garlic in olive oil until translucent.

Brown ground beef & drain.

Add ground beef, tomatoes and sprinkle with lemon pepper.

Prepare pasta separately, strain, then stir in.

Add herbs to taste.