Last week, I stockpiled some of the items that are on my staples list. I’ve found this is the best way to use coupons to save money. The items on my staples list are the items that you can consistently find coupons for that can be paired with a sale. When you find these products on sale, you can get a large quantity for very little money.
By paying only .19 for a can of tomatoes, and stocking my pantry with as many cans of tomatoes as I have coupons for, I can then use the rest of my grocery budget to pay for those items that there are rarely coupons for – like organic milk or fresh produce. It is the key to being able to eat healthy and stick to a budget.
The very best part? The items on my staples list can quickly come together to create a satisfying, healthy meal. By having these items on hand at all times, you can create a very inexpensive meal that leaves you with plenty of your grocery budget left!
Every Tuesday I will be featuring a healthy recipe made only from ingredients on my staples list. This week, I made Spicy Black Bean Soup to warm my family during these -25 degree days and nights!
Spicy Black Bean Soup Serves 4-5
2 strips of bacon, chopped
1 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh oregano, or 1 t dried oregano
1/2 t chili pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 t ground cumin
1 t salt
1 large potato, diced (can peel, but I like the skin)
3 C chicken broth
2 C water
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1. Cook bacon in a large saucepan until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. In the saucepan, heat olive oil. Add onion and garlic and saute for 4 minutes. Add oregano, chili pepper flakes, salt and cumin and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
3. Add potato, stock, water, tomatoes with juice, beans, and bacon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!
Submitted to Tasty Tuesday
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I am such a fan of black bean soup! This version sounds super tasty!