Recipe of the Week

I think its safe to say that a lot of homes in America are effected by the recent economy changes. With that being said, a lot of women and moms have had to get creative with dinner. Lets face it, most health food stores are a little more costly than Walmart and if you are like me, you gotta go where the dollar stretches!

And here is a great recipe that can feed a family of 4-6 people for under $10! If there are only 2-3 people to feed, then you've got a mountain of left-overs! Takes only an hour and you only dirty up one pot! Easy clean ups are my favorite too...hehe!

Whats more is a lot of these ingredients are already in your cupboard. Who doesn't already have a few bacon strips left over from the package? And what about the can of beans you bought thinking you were out and you get home to discover 8 different cans in your pantry? And everyone knows one bulb of garlic will last for weeks...so here's how you get started:

Five Bean and Bacon Soup

2 cups beef stock
1 can white beans
1 can red beans
1 can light kidney beans
1 can dark kidney beans
1 can green beans (any cut)
1 garlic clove-smashed and diced
1 small onion
3 strips bacon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3-5 bay leaves
2 tsp zesty season salt
salt/pepper to taste

Heat stock pot over med. heat. Dice onion and simmer in olive oil until softened. Add garlic and a little salt and simmer until onions are translucent. Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces and add to pot along with bay leaf. Simmer over med heat until edges of bacon are just cooked. Add stock and cans of beans, un-strained. Mix well and add other seasonings to taste. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 45-60 min. Serve with toast or crackers.

A great, feel-good meal that keeps you warm in the winter. It's super healthy, made from scratch, and full of protein. Happy Dining!