Simple Soups And Stews To Save Your Food Budget
I never quite warmed up to those pre-packed microwave instant “soup in a second” type soups or stews. We’re missing the pleasure of simmering and stirring a gigantic pot of delicious, aromatic ingredients. A big pot of soup or stew does more than fills your family’s bellies… it says “we’re home.” Ladle out big bowls of homemade soup and you not only thrill your family, but your pocketbook, as well.
Chances are, you’ve cooked up a few batches of Beef Stew and Chicken Soup for your family through the years. Recently, however, you look at your wallet and even though homemade soup is less expensive than prepackaged, a batch of Beef Stew just doesn’t make the cut when it comes to your food budget. Or maybe you’d like to serve soup more often but don’t know how to vary your recipes. Fortunately, when you look at some of the old fashioned soups, stews, and chowders that use simple ingredients, you’ll find that, not only are they high in nutrition and fibre, but they’re very gentle with your budget.
Very often, the first ingredient in any soup is chicken broth. Yes, I sometimes use those canned and boxed varieties. However, never underestimate the power of your own homemade chicken broth. First, you control the salt that goes into your own broth. Second, you control the flavor. I like to use a lot of onion, celery, and black pepper, but no carrots at all. Other people like carrots, but no celery. How you make it is up to you, but the main thing is you can make yourself a nice supply of chicken broth, freeze it, and it’s ready when you are, and for a great deal less money.
Once you decide to make your own chicken broth, you can choose between a couple methods. If you have a leftover chicken carcass from a roasted chicken dinner, go ahead and boil up those bones with whatever seasonings and vegetables you would like. You can also purchase a whole chicken to use, and you’ll have cooked chicken to chop up and store to use for other meals. Just be sure to cool it as rapidly as possible, then store in freezer-safe containers.
Soups and stews often use meaty bones to create the stock base. All meat departments will have soup bones available for purchase. If you don’t see them on the counter, ring the butcher and ask. They will be more than happy to sell them to you. Soup bones are very reasonably priced and offer great flavor and some will have enough meat left on the bone after you are done simmering it, so you can pick off enough to add back into your soup or stew. Don’t forget your dog! If you have a sturdy bone, like a “knuckle bone”, your pup will love to finish it off for you after you’re done with it.
Beans, peas, and lentils have recently made a comeback for several reasons. Many vegetarians use beans as a meat-substitute, but they are also a vegetable, so beans have a wide range of nutrients to help everyone balance their diet. Beans and peas add wonderful flavor to soups and stews as well as thicken and add texture. Just when you think you’ve tried every recipe there is for Black Bean Soup or Split Pea Soup, you’ll find ten more with added tweaks. Then there are the more unusual combinations to try like Chickpea and Butternut Squash Stew. If you’re watching your wallet these days, you’ll soon understand why cooking up a batch of bean, pea, or Lentil Soup. Besides, they’re yummy, too!
When I was growing up, our family always turned to Potato Soup as our first defense against a tight pocketbook. It’s a quick meal if you want to make it fast, or you can let it simmer all day. Either way, Potato Soup is a wonderfully thick and creamy soup either all alone or built up with vegetables and ham. I like the classic beginning, but melt in some cheddar cheese and top each bowl with a handful of crispy bacon. Whether you add something to your Potato Soup or let it stand on its own merits, Potato Soup is a nutritious and filling soup that won’t empty out the bank account.
We can’t forget to mention the whole family of Chowders. Whether you’re cooking Corn Chowder using the most basic of recipes, or you’re working some magic by adding seafood or ham, any Chowder can hold it’s own against your family’s appetite. This is a dish that is very satisfying, meaning no one leaves the table hungry. Your food budget will thank you, too.
A couple of “soup nights” each week will not only please your hungry family, but will give your food budget a well-deserved break. The aromas that fill the house as your soup simmers on the stove is a bonus that just makes the day’s end seem a little nicer, too. Enjoy!
