The Student Blogger Series; The Starving Student ~ Homemade Spaghetti with Garlic, Chilli & Herbs

I’m a pretty lucky kid.
I live at home with the ‘rents and get my washing done for free.
Yeah, it’s all pretty chill, there’s no complaints here.
(Muchus gracias mum and dad by the way!)

Although, ya know, every now and then I have to dive into the moola to fuel a sometimes always pit-less stomach.
And you know what this means?
I need cheapness. A whole lottttta cheapness.

I like to say that i’m ‘frugality at it’s finest‘ when it comes to money, which is kinda true….
Yes, I do bring a packed lunch to Uni.
Yes, I sometimes eat my breakfast before going to a cafe for a breakfast meet up , so I can save money. (where I end up just sitting there feeling dumb and sorry for myself sipping on my peppermint tea (why am i even paying for leaves in water…. Note to self; bring tea from home) )
and Yes, I certainly do put my foot on the clutch and car into neutral going down any hills to save petrol…. cause well let’s be honest, that stuff ain’t cheap, and nobody got time for dat.So, when push comes to shove, and my bank account is like “Beccccccccc yo givin’ me a bashin, lay off the unnecessary junk that you think you need, but buy anyway cause your life motto is stupidly ‘yolo‘” (yes my bank account talks gangsta, what of it)

In response, I go into lockdown mode. (Well not literally, but the wallet sure seals up for a week at my best)

Result?
This budget friendly (and uber delicious) Homemade Spaghetti with Garlic, Chilli & Herbs.
But you’re probably all wondering about the title of this mysterious ‘Student Blogger Series’ mischief  i’m guessing.
Well my friends, this is an exciting collaborative series with a few other wonderfully talented cooking fanatics (headed up by the wonderfully sweet Wallflour Girl ). Get round it pals, this is gonna be drool worthy 3 weeks alongside these other talented cooks! (links below)
Soooooo this weeks theme was budget (hence the title ‘The Starving Student’, annnnd my random shbeel above).

Pasta was first thing that came to mind that was a common staple to most. It is cheap, easily accessible AND scrumptious (yep, it is possible to eat cheap without compromising flavour, you heard it here first ).

And believe it or not, but I literally spent around $10 all up shopping for this meal that serves 4. (Taking into account having the basic ingredients at home; eggs, garlic, olive oil).
But far out folks, this is one cracking pasta dish.
And the secret?

Simple. Homemade pasta goodness!
It literally makes a world of difference, I tell no lie.
It’s light (so we can eat more, woooo), quick to cook and literally makes just about any sauce sing to its heart’s content.
With a sauce that relies on soul and all manner of simplicity, so every little nook and cranny of flavour shines, and boy is it good.

I made this for lunch on Sunday, and came home in the evening raring for more. I could pretty much hear the pasta welcoming me home.
But no. Dad and the bro had literally consumed the whole other 3 servings of pasta themselves.
To say my stomach was fuming at the is an understatement…

But we’re gonna pick ourselves up, and I just guess I’m gonna have to make it again… what. a. pity. 😛

Homemade Spaghetti with Garlic, Chilli & Herbs

Ingredients:
400g ‘OO’ Flour
4 eggs
6 garlic cloves
2 fresh chilli, cut in half, seeds removed
1/3 cup olive oil
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup fresh parsley
1 cup fresh mint
2 lemon worth of juice (+ more to garnish)
salt and pepper to season
parmesan grated to serve

Method:
1. Place the flour and eggs in a food processor and blitz until ball of dough is formed.
2. Knead the dough for around 2 minutes, then cover in plastic wrap and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
3. Cut the pasta dough into quarters. On a floured surface flatten one of the quarters slightly, then run through the widest setting on your pasta maker. (1 being widest, 6 thinest). Work your way up the widths, making sure the dough remains intact and smooth. Be sure to continually dusting flour over the dough and on top of the presser helps to make sure the dough doesn’t stick. (As the dough becomes longer and longer, and therefore harder to handle, I find to easier to cut it in half at width 4 and then continue).
4. Run the thinned dough through the spaghetti cutter, then dust generously with more flour then set aside on a lined baking tray. Repeat this with the remaining dough.
5. Toast the sliced almonds on a fry pan, until golden, then remove the nuts from pan, setting aside for the final assembly.
6. Blitz the garlic and chill in a food processor, until in very small pieces, then heat the oil on a large frying pan. Add the garlic and chilli mix, and cook, stirring, for around 5.
7. Turning the heat to low, add the homemade spaghetti, and toss to fully coat the pasta in the olive oil garlic chilli mixture. (if there seems that a little more olive oil is needed, don’t be afraid to add a good glug on to coat it all nicely). Season with salt & pepper and the juice of 2 lemons, then toss through the herbs and almonds.
8. Serve fresh off the pan, with another good coating in pepper, a wedge of lemon, and of course a generous handful parmesan.

Enjoy!
Show our #gradstudentbloggers and #undergradstudentbloggers your support! Check out the whole list of featured Starving Student recipes now:

Brussel Sprouts and Sausage Pizza via Bacon Egg Cheese(cake)
http://www.baconeggcheesecake.com/blog/brussel-sprouts-and-sausage-pizza

Strawberry Greens Salad via Go Bake Yourself

http://gobakeyourself.com/2014/09/01/strawberry-greens-salad/

Chicken and Jalapeño Quesadillas via PicNic

 http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/chicken-and-jalapeno-quesadillas.html

Chocolate Sea Salt Date “Caramel” Bars (GF, V, Raw) via Wallflour Girl
http://wp.me/p4vNEx-17z

Orange Zucchini Bread via Blahnik Baker

http://blahnikbaker.com/orange-zucchini-bread

SAY WHAT? As a fun as bonus to this roundup, us student bloggers  were asked some fun, wacky questions about our (im)balanced school/blogger lives http://wp.me/p4vNEx-17z” read our answers now on our hostess’s blog, www.wallflourgirl.com ‘Wallflour Girl’

Want to join, or know a university food blogger who would?
 We would love to have you: email Ala at wallflourgirl@gmail.com to sign up!

The #gradstudentblogger and #undergradstudentblogger series showcases the lives and talent of insanely busy food bloggers from across all stages of their higher education pathway. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again in two weeks!

Thanks for stopping by folks!