Since I've given this to a couple people now...

[devilgrrl]

We've been subsisting on veggie soup here because it is cheap, convenient, and one of the 5 things I can cook without burning down the house. This started with my mum making it as a way to clear out tins of old stuff from the pantry and it became a household staple. It's Idiot Soup, it tastes slightly different each time, and it lasts forever.

Main ingredients:
3 tins of beans of choice
2 tins of crushed tomatoes
2.5 tins of water/stock
1 small bag of mixed veg
1/2 - 3/4 cup of barley.
salt, pepper, etc to taste.

Last night's batch included garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and black eyed peas, fire roasted crushed tomatoes, and a full bag of fava beans because I cannot control myself. I'd been using edamame before. I also used chipolte pepper hot sauce because I like the kick it gives to it. You can sub in rice or pasta for the barley, if wanted. It's damn good with mushrooms, but someone in my house who will remain nameless doesn't like the fungus.

Everything bought at Bread & Circus came to around $9. It could probably be done cheaper if you went with store brand stuff or non-organic.

If you make it, let me know what variations you used. I pretty much eat this all winter, so I'm always looking for new things to chuck in.

Comments

[nyhamsterhouse.livejournal.com]

I don't cook, but... wow, your store is called Bread & Circus? Is that your made up name for it? Or is that, like, a REAL name? If so, that is the awesomest thing EVER. Win!

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

I think it's actually Whole Foods now, but it was Bread and Circus for years. I stick to my Rhode Island roots and refuse to refer to anything that's been renamed :)

Plus, Bread and Circus is way cooler. They should have left it alone as that.

[vonlisbon.livejournal.com]

This is more or less one of my favorite meals, too. Delicious "veggies I found at the grocery store that looked good plus beans and some chicken stock" soup. Yummmm.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

It seriously is so good. I love that it's a little different each time you make it, too.