by Jilliana

Created on: March 19, 2009   Last Updated: March 20, 2009

Want to skimp on cost and not on flavor? We are all feeling the financial crunch nowadays and when it comes to food, it seems like that is one place we try to skimp the most. However, you dont necessarily have to skimp on flavor and satisfaction to save money. This is one awesome family sized meal that will satisfy almost anyone. Depending on how many family members you are feeding, this meal can last up to 4 days and gets better each day.

The recipe I speak of is called "Taco Soup" and my favorite version is from Paula Deen. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/taco-s oup-recipe/index.html

This meal is a absolute pleaser with any age group. I tend to "doctor" mine up according to who is having dinner with us or if we are dinning "just the two of us". This dinner makes a TON. So if there are only two of you, I suggest either freezing part of it, or planning on eating it all week long. lol.

I have also found that if you cannot find some of the ingredients listed, its okay to substitute. Just try to be sure to substitiute with fresh ingredients and dont skimp on the red pepper flakes.

Also, its not necessary to let it simmer for so many hours before eating. We usually bring it to a boil, turn down the heat, and when it looks like its thickening up a bit or we just can't wait any longer due to hunger pains.

The aroma from this soup is amazing, you'll want to dig in as soon as possible and unlike some other recipes, its okay to do just that. If its hot all the way through,"GO FOR IT". Its hot, its ready..time to eat!

We always keep the bottle of red pepper flakes on hand...just in case we need to spice it up a bit more. This is one recipe that the next day feeding is even better than the first.

The soup thickens up after being refrierated and the flavors mix so well. Just make sure that when you begin to re-heat this soup after being refrigerated, you do it on a low temp and slow. It has a tendency to burn if not enough time to liquify some.

Another awesome money saver and what we are having tonight for dinner is a recipe I just stumbled across. I was in the grocery store just staring at the different items, and trying to come up with a new idea for dinner.

I found myself staring at the dinner mixes in a packet such as McCormick ect... Looking at the many different ideas, I focused on what looked rather tasty, "WHITE CHICKEN CHILI". I had never heard of it.

I took down the packet, read the back for ingredients, and low and behold only 3 ingredients needed! I decided to give it a try, lucky for me my fiance is wonderful at trying new things, so I knew I wasnt in any danger of a "turned up nose" look coming my way.

I am so fortunate that my fiance is so easy and awesome at trying new things. He loves almost any type of food with salmon being the excemption. Needless to say, I don't cook it.

Getting back to the "WHITE CHICKEN CHILI", the three ingredients are:

1 pound of chicken (I use breast meat) but you can use whatever you want as long as you can cut it up into chunks.

1 large can of white beans (use 2 reg cans of great northern beans) DO NOT DRAIN; and the packet of "WHITE CHICKEN CHILI" from McCormick seasonings. Oh, and some water, hopefully thats still free.

I just follow the instructions on the back of the packet, and it takes as little as 15 minutes to put together.

To make this wonderful meal, I also purchase the "boil-in-bag" its quick and easy AND cheap. After fixing the rice and letting the Chili simmer, I begin my assembly.

Rice-chili-sour cream-shredded cheddar cheese, jalepino pepper slices for garnish. We lOVE it hot. Again, if there is any left, its still wonderful the day after.

These are two of my absolute favorite recipes, I hope they will be yours as well. Enjoy!

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