Mix-and-Match Soup: Budget Meal Planning
Many people I’ve talked with recently have expressed concern about how to cut the cost of their family’s food budget. Stocking up and buying on sale is a great way to do that, but then what to do with a stockpile of canned beans, stewed tomatoes, and frozen hamburger?
The following recipe is not only easy and delicious, it’s also a simple way to use up canned, dried, and other easily stored food items in a delicious homemade soup. (Excerpted and adapted with permission from Frozen Assets: Cook for a Day, Eat for a Month by Deborah Taylor-Hough.)
Mix-and-Match Soup
(8 generous servings)
Broth (choose one)
Tomato: One 12-ounce can of tomato paste plus two 16-ounce cans of tomatoes with juice (chopped) plus water to equal 10 cups total
Chicken/Turkey: 10 cups broth or 4 bouillon cubes dissolved in 10 cups of water
Beef: 10 cups broth or 4 bouillon cubes dissolved in 10 cups of water
Protein (choose one — 1 pound or 2 cups, cooked)
Ground beef, browned
Leftover meatballs or meatloaf, chopped
Cooked chicken or turkey (cut up)
Ham (cut up)
Lentils
Frankfurters, sliced (or any sausage or Kielbasa)
Pepperoni, sliced
Beans, cooked or canned (pintos, kidney, Great Northern, etc.)
Grain (choose 1 or 2 for a total of 2 cups)
Rice, cooked (any variety)
Barley, cooked
Pasta, raw
Corn
Dumplings (add near end of cooking time)
Vegetables (raw, cooked or canned, choose 2 or more for a total of 1 to 2 cups)
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Onion
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Green beans
Turnips
Parsnips
Broccoli
Peas or pea pods
Cauliflower
Bell pepper
Zucchini (add raw)
Seasonings (choose 2 to 4 spices, 1 to 2 teaspoons each)
Basil
Cayenne (dash)
Chives
Cumin
Garlic
Marjoram
Onion powder
Thyme
Rosemary
Parsley
Oregano
To Prepare Soup:
Bring the broth to a boil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add all of the ingredients and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat and simmer one hour.
Slow Cooker Prep:
Pour the boiling stock and other ingredients into a slow cooker and simmer for 8 to 12 hours or overnight on LOW setting.
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
The Author:
Deborah Taylor-Hough is the author of the popular book Frugal Living For Dummies® and the bestselling Frozen Assets cookbook series.
Photo. Steve PB
