Five-Ingredient meals that are easy-to-make, tasty and affordable!

Posted by Sandy Gluck

Putting dinner together when you've got a pantry, fridge, and freezer packed full is a pretty easy task, but try it with a handful of ingredients and it may seem like a difficult feat. In her latest of 11 books "Ciao Italia Five Ingredient Favorites" author Mary Ann Esposito shows you how easy, economical, and above all, delicious five-ingredient meals can be.

Take a look inside and you'll find everything from a guide to what to keep on hand, to recipes from antipasti to desserts, each with just five ingredients. I'm particularly intrigued by Zuppa di Paradiso (Paradise Soup) whose tiny meatballs are actually made from a combo of breadcrumbs, cheese, eggs, a touch of nutmeg, salt and pepper. Then I'd love to sit down to a salad of Radicchio, Ricotta Salata, and Dried Apricots -- a tasty mix of bitter, sweet, and slightly salty.

Mary Ann insists on the freshest of ingredients and teaches that using them will give you terrific results, for a lot less money and time than you might think. Inspired, I prepared a salad  (see photo on right) for Monty and Shavon of cooked beans (I used canary beans but you can use any white or yellow bean you prefer), edamame, brown rice, homemade tomato sauce, and a good olive oil. Tasty and hearty, and a snap to prepare. What 5 ingredient meals are you making these days?