Fall is a wonderful time to pull out the soup recipes and cook up batches of chicken noodle soup, beef stew, lentils and chili for cold days to come.
Whether you are cooking for a big family or a few, soups can create a healthy addition to the weekly menu. They are easily expandable depending on your numbers and divide nicely into freezable portions.
My mother always made a simple beef stew in the winter that would last the evening plus a day or two of leftovers. You can vary this recipe in a number of ways by simply keeping a few soup basics on hand: potatoes, celery, carrots, crushed tomatoes, and onions.
Mom’s Beef Stew (adapted for a slow cooker):
1 ½ lbs lean stewing beef, cut into 1” cubes
1 cup onions, chopped
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
¾ tsp. salt
3 medium-sized potatoes, cut in 1” cubes
28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 large carrots, chopped in slices.
1 bag frozen lima beans and corn (or a 16 oz. can of each)
Optional: Frozen bag of mixed veggies (i.e. broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
In a large skillet, brown beef and onions in oil until beef is brown on all sides. Add to the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker or crockpot sprayed with non-fat cooking spray. (Tip: If you drain the juices, add equivalent in water to create your soup base.) Mix and cover. Cook on low for 8-9 hours.
Looking at other recipes for a basic beef stew, I noticed that one suggested adding a ½ tsp. of marjoram which is a gentle spice similar to oregano. It also suggested adding bacon bits and red pepper sauce on top as a garnish just before serving. Add pepper to taste for a little extra zing or let your family add it themselves to taste.
Of course, with homemade soup brewing, you can cook up a batch of cornbread following the simple recipe on the side of the cornmeal container. A few basic ingredients make a quick and tasty side.
Saving money on food takes planning but with the right ingredients stored in bulk, healthy meals can come together quickly with minimal additions to the weekly shopping list. You can reduce the nightly cost of your menu while increasing the healthy ingredients you feed your family.
