Broccoli-Veggie Soup

4-5 cups peeled, cubed potatoes $.25
2 cups peeled, cubed carrots free from garden
1-2 cups chopped celery $.10 (from dry storage - dried celery)
1 cup finely chopped onion $.33
2 tsp salt $.01
3 cups water
1/4 - 1/2 cup olive oil $1
1 1/2 - 2 cups flour $.25
3-4 cups milk $.40
6 tsp chicken bouillon $.25
1 Tbsp dry mustard $.10
1/2 tsp pepper $.01
1 lb Velveeta Lite Cheese (add in chunks to melt better) - STRETCHER SUBSTITUTE - I only use 1/2 pkg of Mac & Cheese when I make the Kraft kind for my kids and save the rest - I put in the other 1/2 pkg here and saved $5-8 on cheese!!! (and got the Mac & cheese for 33 cents- so tops - this cost about $.10)
10 oz pkg Broccoli or 2 1/2 cups from GARDEN!

Simmer ingredients from vegetables to water together until veggies are tender.

In a smaller pan, make a white sauce by blending oil & flour together, add milk and heat to boiling, then add bouillion, mustard, pepper & cheese. Once smooth, add to veggies. Add broccoli and cook 5 more minutes. Serve with bread & salad.

TOTAL COST: $2.80 (and makes 2 meals) = so for 1 meal = $1.40

Cream of Anything Soup

BIG STRETCHER!

To make a mix

2 cups powdered milk ($.75)
1 cup cornstarch ($.50)
3 Tbsp chicken boullion ($1)
2 Tbsp onion flakes ($.10) - then grind if desired
1 Tbsp celery seed ($.10) (or 1/4 tsp ground)

Store in an airtight container. (I just stick it all in a Gallon Ziploc Bag and mix with it zipped).

TOTAL COST: $2.45 for 9+ servings below or <$.27 per "can" - beat that!

To use mix:

1/3 cup mix
1 1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp Margarine (I ALWAYS use Olive Oil)

Stir and cook until it comes to a boil, about 3 minutes (I've never had it boil in 3 minutes, closer to 10, but I always triple it at least).

Can be used for any recipe calling for a can of cream soup. May add chicken, broccoli, cheese, mushrooms, celery, or ANYTHING!

Taco Soup

Cook together then drain the following:

1 lb hamburger (or beans) ($.50)
1 small onion, chopped ($.50)

Add:

2 1/2 cups mild salsa (even Mango Salsa is good - I just tried it!) (free, but can be $1.50)
1 large can tomatoes (free, but can be $1)
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans (undrained) ($.50)
1 can niblets corn (undrained) (free, but can be $.50)
1/2 tsp chili powder ($.01)
1/2 tsp garlic salt ($.01)
1 TBSP taco seasoning ($.10)

Mix all together and heat through.

Serve with grated cheddar cheese sprinkled on top, sour cream, and corn chips (sliced olives, optional)

MEATLESS VERSION:

I substitute beans for the hamburger - I've used black, kidney, pinto, garbanzo, and many white beans - they are all great. Cook it with the onion and then add the rest (including more beans - the more the merrier)

**Another substitution: I ran out of canned corn but have an ample supply of zucchini and squash, so I just added some chopped yellow squash and nobody complained at all, especially when they could douse all the food in cheese and sour cream.

TOTAL COST: $1.62 8/31/10, but up to $4.62 or even $6 with meat

White Chicken Chili

2 lb White Beans, rinsed, & soaked ($1)

12 cups chicken broth (or 12 cubes + 12 cups water) ($.50)

2 tsp chicken chicken bouillon (.10)

1-2 onions, chopped (.50-$1)

1-2 Tbsp oil (.10)

1-4 cloves garlic, minced (.10)

2-3 tsp cumin (.10)

1 can diced green chilies (.50)

3 Tbsp lime juice (.25)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (.01)

*Can also add 2 tsp oregano & 1-2 tsp lemon pepper (.02)

2-4 cups cooked & diced chicken or turkey ($2-3)

Combine beans, brother, bouillon, lemon pepper, & cumin. Bring to boil and cook (simmer) for about 1 1/2 hours. Then saute onions and garlic in oil. Add these to soup, plus spices, green chilies and meat. Simmer another 30 minutes.
Garnish with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, chopped green onion, chopped tomatoes, chopped cilantro, green chilies sliced, salsa, or green taco sauce.

Serves 10-12

Total Cost = $4.50 + toppings, so about $6-7; freeze half and you spend about $3.50 per meal

Vegetarian Chili

2 cups dry beans (mixture of white, kidney, pinto, black, garbanzo, etc.) ($.30)

1/2 cup dry soup mix (.01)

3 Tbsp olive oil (.30)

1 Tbsp minced garlic (.05)

3/4 cup diced onion ($.50)

3/4 cup diced carrot ($.25)

1/3 cup dry green/red peppers - reconstituted (to 1 cup) (.25)

1 cup canned diced tomato ($.50)

3/4 cup tomato juice ($.30)

1/3 cup water

1 tsp cumin (.01)

1 tsp chili powder (.01)

1 tsp oregano (.01)

1 tsp basil (.01)

1 bay leaf (.01)

2 tsp salt (.01)

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tsp Tobasco sauce (.01)

2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar (.05)

Soak beans overnight. Cook in pot with 1/2 cup dry soup mix for 1 1/2 hours. Drain and cool. In large stockpot, saute garlic, onions, carrots and peppers in olive oil for about 10 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato juice, and spices until Salt, simmer 1 hour. Then season with S&P, and other seasonings.

Serve with bread & salad.

Total Cost = $2.58 (probably at least 1 other meal to freeze) SO about $1.29 per meal