Soups And Stews – Fill Your Tummies Without Emptying Your Wallet
If you don’t remember the last time you dragged out that big ol’ soup pot down from the top shelf of the pantry, do yourself a favor and get it out. Your family has been missing one of the greatest meals imaginable – a big hearty bowl of soup! If you’ve been microwaving those little instant bowls of so-called soup, you know you haven’t been really satisfied, now have you? Your poor tummies need something comforting and your wallet needs a break, too!
If you have a traditional family recipe for chicken soup or beef stew, but you have not ventured much further, this struggling economy could, and should, be the time to experiment. There is a vast variety of soups, stews, and chowders that are just waiting for your creative hand. And, don’t worry, just because they are economical doesn’t mean they are less nutritious. On the contrary, you may be surprised by the amount and quality of nutrients in these simple dishes.
We’re going to start with chicken broth as it’s the beginning to many soups and stews. If you buy the canned or boxed kind it’s certainly convenient, but can wreck havok on your budget. I’m here to say that it is within your power to make your own homemade chicken broth! You may not feel up to the challenge, what with all the TV cooks opening up a can or box, but trust me, you are ready. By making your own chicken broth you control the salt and flavors. You can skim the fat off after cooling, or leave it as is. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to fill your freezer with containers of broth and feel proud that you now have a supply ready to use when you need it, and at pennies instead of dollars.
There are two ways to make chicken broth. One is to simmer a whole chicken. This leaves you with a nice supply of cooked chicken in which to make other dishes. The other way is to simmer the leftover carcass and bones from a roasted whole chicken dinner. The method is the same. You put the chicken in a big pot, cover it with cold water, throw in your veggies, and cook it up. Cool it down quickly and then freeze it. Whether you use a whole chicken or the bones, you will create a broth that is suitable for using to cook up a hearty batch of soup or stew.
The old fashioned soup bone is making a comeback. If you’re looking to create a beef or ham soup or stew, you’ll find that these soup-starters may be the most budget friendly way to start. Check the meat counter, but if you can’t find what you need, ask the butcher. They love getting rid of soup bones, so don’t be shy. Happily, simmering a big soup bone often leaves you with enough pieces of meat falling off the bone to add back to the soup. Even without any additional meat, these bones add tremendous flavor and make a good, rich stock. One other benefit… your pup! If you buy a nice ‘knuckle bone’ or other bigger bone, your dog will be more than happy to get rid of it for you once you’ve finished boiling it for soup.
Now, as to some of the best and most economical soups, one of my favorite ingredients for soup these days is beans. They are delicious, nutritious, and economical. Beans and peas add a great depth to soups and stews, both in flavor and in texture. I have tried just about every combination of bean soup that’s imaginable. From the simplest Black Bean Soup and Split Pea Soup, to more complicated Chickpea and Butternut Squash Stew. Any and all ingredients have had some kind of trial in my kitchen. There is always room for one more bean, pea, or Lentil Soup recipe in my cookbook.
Potato Soup in all forms was one of the staples in our house when I was growing up. Potatoes were plentiful, flavorful, and cheap, so that was all we needed to know. My Mom would take a big ham bone, start it simmering in the morning with some onion and celery, and by dinnertime we were diving face-first into steaming bowls of creamy, yummy Potato Soup. This is a great simple pot of soup to build off from by adding cheese, bacon, ham, and vegetables, but the traditional beginnings are always the best when it comes to Potato Soup.
Chowder is always a welcome meal. Whether you rely on the tried and true Corn Chowder, or you’ve expanded your recipes to include adding seafood or ham, Chowder is definitely a satisfying soup. Some folks add a lot of potatoes to their Chowder to make it nice and thick, while others like theirs to be a little more like soup. When you make your Chowder you don’t have to follow any hard and fast rules. Just so you enjoy the end result… a delicious, nutritious, and filling meal that’s budget friendly,too.
When you’re planning your menu for the week, have you included at least one or two soup nights? There will be no complaining when your family comes home to the wonderfully warm aroma wafting through the house. Ahhh… soup. We’re home.
Adding soup to your regular weekly menu can be a real budget saver. Starting with a Simply Delicious Black Bean Soup one night, then trying some Kale Soup with White Beans another night seems like the perfect way to introduce your family to their new favorite food… soup!
