It’s about eating well.
And it’s all about saving money.
It’s winter; it’s the end of the month. It’s been a busy time, and it promises to be a busy weekend.
If that’s an all-too-common lament around your household, here’s a solution that is easy on the budget, great for winter evenings, or lazy days at home; and should be a family-pleaser as well.
Make a big pot of soup – let it simmer on the stove for a couple of hours; then simply serve it up with a good bread or fresh rolls, or even favorite crackers and a bit of cheese. Preparation is simple; clean-up is easy. And, best of all, you can prepare a great soup with just what you might have on hand – no shopping; no special ingredients needed.
“Souper-simple” Country Cabbage Soup:
Four ingredients: Cabbage -- half a head or so, 4 or 5 carrots, 1 onion, 1 can of diced tomatoes. (If you have other vegetables you would like to add, go ahead; experiment.)
First, simply sauté the onions and carrots in a bit of butter and/or oil until just tender, but not brown. If you wish, you can add some celery and fresh cloves of garlic; season with plenty of whatever you prefer – parsley flakes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper; perhaps basil leaves or thyme.
Add the canned tomatoes, 4-8 cups of water, and a couple of large bouillon cubes. (Use whatever flavor you prefer to add additional flavor to the mix – tomato, chicken or beef all work equally well. Vegetable bouillon is fine, also.)
After it all comes to a boil, turn the heat down and let it bubble on low heat until the carrots and onions are tender.
Then, about 30 minutes before you want to serve it, add the cabbage which should be in fairly good-sized chunks, and let it simmer until you dish it up.
You could bake biscuits, make cornbread, or just have bread and butter – it makes a warm and satisfying, quick and easy dinner. It's healthy, nutritious, prepared with fresh ingredients, and appealing in color and texture.
It would be suitable for a “Meatless Monday” dinner if you’re following that increasingly popular trend. And, it’s oh so economical. Total cost for this meal should be no more than about $4, and you could reasonably expect a pot of soup this size to feed six people.
End the meal with fresh fruit, ice cream, or even a brownie, and enjoy your evening.
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