My favorite budget-friendly recipe

[Signe Bishop]

Hi All,

When I was an AmeriCorps Member, I was always looking for fast, tasty,
and budget-friendly recipes. Here's my favorite one: Quick Black Bean
Soup! This recipe is great for chilly fall and winter days, and you
can make it vegan by using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.

What's your favorite AmeriCorps-friendly recipe?

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/4 cups chopped onion
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried
3 15-ounce cans black beans, drained, 1 cup liquid reserved
2 14 1/2-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and thyme;
sauté until onion is golden, about 8 minutes. Add beans, reserved 1
cup bean liquid, broth, tomatoes with juices, cumin and hot pepper
sauce. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until
flavors blend and soup thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about
20 minutes. Working in 2 batches, purée 2 1/2 cups soup in blender
until smooth (or use a blending wand). Mix puréed back into soup in
pot. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls.

Retrieved from: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quick-Black-Bean-Soup-101661

[Katie Doran]

Here is my FAVORITE dish to make. I'll even whip it up during the
summer because I just can't leave it for the cold winter months only.
Disclaimer: I don't cook with measurements (I know, a little
unsettling for many).

Veggie Chili (also known as: a little of this 'n that)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red or orange bell pepper chopped (sometimes I do two!)
1 clove of garlic minced
1 small onion chopped
Two handfuls of chopped mushrooms
1 large can (28oz?) diced tomatoes
1 small (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can black beans
Chili Powder to-taste (at least 2 table spoons)
Garlic powder to-taste (1 teaspoon)
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce (don't over-due this
ingredient!)

Heat olive oil in pot (make sure the pot is deep enough for your
finished pot of chili). Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and mushroom,
and sauté until veggies are tender. Add canned tomatoes, tomato
sauce, corn, and black beans to the pot. Heat until steadily
simmering/ low boil. Add Chili powder, garlic powered and
worcestershire sauce. Let simmer steadily for 15 minutes. And it's
done!
*Make sure to taste-test after adding the seasoning. Add chili powder
to desired heat. You may also add ground beef or turkey to the dish,
by cooking it thoroughly with the veggies.

Serve with Frito chips, and in large quantities.
Enjoy!

Katie Doran

> Retrieved from:http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quick-Black-Bean-Soup-10...