Beans & Rice, Rice & Beans, baby!!!

[dividend]

For the past few months, I've done HORRIBLE job of sticking to my grocery budget. It's not like it's too restrictive - $400/month for DBF and I should be more than sufficient. I did a little better in March, but it needs to be better. So in the interests of wallet and waistline, I'm declaring April to be Beans and Rice for lunch month, and since this week contains the first few days of April, I started today. (It also helps that inventoried my deep freeze yesterday.)

So I've got 5 ideas:
1. Curried red lentils and rice. I made this yesterday, and just finished eating a serving of it I'd packed in my bento lunch thermos. This was a good one to start of the month - 10 servings cost me >$9.00, and it's delicious. It's got ginger and garlic and all kinds of curry spices. DBF has it too, we'll see what he thinks. I supplemented with snap peas and some free oranges (and iced tea made from Earl Grey respected Tea Party members that cost $0.02 each after coupon + sale) So I'm pretty sure I kept lunch to $1/day for us this week.

2. Red beans and rice. I've got a smoked ham hock that I'll turn into spicy ham broth, and then use the stock, meat, and cajun spices to flavor dry red beans. Hopefully get some not too expensive cucumbers as a cool side dish.

3. Black beans and rice. Recipe from the Goya can, recommended by someone in Smart Spending, although I may make it with dried beans for extra cheapness.

4. Ham and beans. I found a whole ham in the freezer I'd forgotten about . It looks fine, so I'll cook it and make soup from the bone and some mixed beans.

5. I'm thinking mujadarra(?) Lentils with carmelized onions and rice. I'm not sure yet if this would make a substantial main lunch dish though.

Hopefully, these super cheap lunches plus eating more of what's in the freezer will allow to me sneak an end of April Costco run into the regular budget. But that will require me to hit ~$50/week.

So, any suggestions? Am I nuts to do try 20+ beans and rice meals this month? Anyone have any favorite cheap cheap cheap beans and rice meals?

[thyme4change]

A zucchini, an onion, frozen or canned corn, a can black beans, chili powder and rice. Wrap it in a tortilla or a taco shell. You'll probably get 4 meals out of it - depending on how much you need to feel full.

I put chese on mine - but there are enough flavors you might not need it.

Also, I had brussel sprouts and whole wheat pasta with a little dijon mustard and chicken stock on it for lunch. Not rice and beans - but probably only about a buck's worth of ingredients. I cooked the pasta, then put it in the strainer while I fried up the cut BS for a few minutes. I added the stock and mustard and mixed really well and then put the lid on and let the veges steam through. I added the pasta back in so it would get the mustard sauce coating it. Very filling! And probably pretty good for me.

[chiver78]

Mar 28, 2011 12:52:59 GMT -5 dividend said:

3. Black beans and rice. Recipe from the Goya can, recommended by someone in Smart Spending, although I may make it with dried beans for extra cheapness.

this was me. I live alone, and can stretch a can's worth of that recipe a few days. I'll use those beans with rice for either a meal, or a side dish (with fish tacos, for instance). the next night, I'll throw some in a green salad with pico and some crumbled corn chips. another good dish is to shred some pepperjack cheese and make black bean quesadillas.

if you change it up, you won't get bored. I don't know that I can do 20 meals with it, but you do have more variety than just black beans. I'll do red beans and rice, but not nearly as often, and without the ham hock. I don't do ham. I also like edamame, maybe you can add a veggie stir-fry to that list? use whatever's on sale that week, and get your edamame from the freezer section. yum!

[azphx1972]

I love rice and beans! My favorite dish is a vegetarian version of red beans and rice that was said to be Oprah's favorite. I'm not a cook by any means, but this is so simple to make, and so delicious! Here's the recipe. If you try it, let me know what you think!

www.keyingredient.com/recipes/1065118/oprahs-favorite-red-beans-and-rice/

Yields: 6 servings
1 Vidalia onion , chopped
2 cloves of garlic , minced
½ green bell pepper , chopped
½ red bell pepper , chopped
4 cups vegetable stock or 4 cups water and 3 vegetable bouillon cubes
4 cans (15 ounces) natural organic red beans , drained and washed
1 can (14.5 ounces) natural tomatoes , chopped
1 teaspoon of salt-free Creole seasoning
½ teaspoon cumin
Freshly ground pepper , to taste
Hot pepper sauce , to taste
1 sprig thyme
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt
¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

In a Dutch oven (a heavy metal, covered pot), add the onion, garlic, green bell pepper, red bell pepper and vegetable stock. Braise the vegetables in the vegetable stock until soft. Add the beans, tomatoes, seasoning, cumin, ground pepper, hot sauce, thyme and bay leaf. Simmer for 15–20 minutes. You may need to add more vegetable stock if the beans become too dry.

After the beans have simmered, season to taste with salt and add the chopped Italian parsley. Serve with fresh steamed brown rice and hot sauce.

[ktunes]

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