It’s getting chillier outside, especially at night, which means it’s time to start making soup!Homemade soup is one of my absolute favorite frugal dinners. It’s tasty, nutritious, and costs practically nothing. Even better, the fragrance of homemade soup simmering away on the stove is just about the coziest, most welcoming smell in the world. A big bowl served with homemade bread, biscuits, or muffins is the perfect hearty dinner for a cold winter’s day!
Thankfully, homemade soup is incredibly easy to make. Fill a large pot with chicken, beef, or turkey bones, plus any vegetable peelings you have on hand. Sprinkle liberally with your favorite spices, and cover with water. Simmer over medium-low to medium heat for at least an hour. Drain through a sieve that has been lined with a cheesecloth (actually any damp piece of cloth will do—I use fabric from an old T-shirt!)
Return the broth to the pot and add whatever you have on hand that sounds good to you. Add vegetables and meat first. After they’ve simmered over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, add your choice of starch (Donnie’s and my favorite is spiral-shaped Rotelle pasta!) If your starch is already cooked, don’t leave the pot on the stovetop too long. Three or four minutes—just enough time to warm your rice, noodles, or potatoes—should be enough. Serve with homemade bread, biscuits, or muffins.
What are your favorite frugal meals for fall?
Originally published December 2007.
5 comments:
I like to make chicken and noodles. I buy bone-in chicken breasts instead of fillets, then fillet them myself. I save the bones; there is plenty of meat left on the bones to simmer and then pick off. I thicken a chicken stock, add the chicken meat, maybe some carrots or celery and homemade noodles.
I also like chili, ham and beans with cornbread, homemade pot pies and lots of casseroles.
My favorite frugal fall meal is chili & homemade bread. I am light on the beef & heavy on the beans so it's very frugal and one recipe can make at least 2 full meals & a lunch!!!
One of my family's favoite soups is taco soup, made with ground meat, corn, beans, taco seasoning, and tomato sauce or paste.I've served this with crackers, cornbread, or over cornchips. We usually top it with grated cheddar cheese, and I like to add a dollop of sour cream. I change it up sometimes with different varieties of beans, and have used tomato soupd & cheddar cheese soup together once in a pinch.
We love having soups in the fall. I have a cheesy ham and potato soup that I make sometimes with or without ham and or bacon. Thank you for sharing your soup recipe!
I am so with you on this! Soup is my all-time favorite meal to make my family in the fall. We are eating homemade soup at least twice a week right now (once for dinner, leftovers for lunch).
Fall and winter are all about comfort foods for me.
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