red beans & rice dinner

I'm going through a bunch of the old recipes and trying to put together some meals with grocery lists to save y'all some time. This first one is a basic, soul-food style southern meal. This may not be up everybody's alley but don't worry, I have more "complete meal ideas" on the way!

The complete meal ideas will usually include one main dish and at least one or two sides (a vegetable and a starch unless the main dish is heavy in one or the other). When you prepare a well rounded meal in this fashion, it is more satisfying and you'll feel less "deprived" over not having a fancy (and expensive) meal served to you at a restaurant.

This meal includes:

Louisiana Red Beans and Rice $8.48 recipe
Stewed Okra and Tomatoes $2.88 recipe
Cornbread (no recipe, follow box directions) $0.76 (prepared)

Total: $12.12

Serves: 6, plus 4 left over servings of beans & rice (tomorrow's lunch!)





Below is an example of my grocery list and a list of items that I already have on hand in my pantry or refrigerator. Use the grocery list as a guide but as always, check the pantry list for items that you may not have or need to restock and check the grocery list for items that you might already have on hand. Adjust the lists as necessary.

GROCERY LIST
1 lb.	kidney beans
1 lb.	smoked sausage
1 med.	yellow onion
1 bunch	celery
1 bunch	green onions
1 med.	green bell pepper
1 box	corn muffin mix
1 lb.	frozen, cut okra
1 can (10 oz.)	stewed tomatoes w/ green chiles (Rotel)
1 can (8 oz.)	tomato sauce

PANTRY ITEMS / ON HAND
1 Tbsp	vegetable oil
4 cloves	garlic
2 whole	bay leaves
1 tsp	thyme
1 tsp	oregano
4 cubes	bullion
1 tsp	cajun seasoning / Tony Chachere's
2 cups	long grain rice
1/3 cup	milk
1 large	egg
1 Tbsp	butter

STEP 1: Begin making the Louisiana Red Beans and Rice. Total cooking time is between 2 and 3 hours so start this first.

STEP 2: Toward the end of the simmering time on the Red Beans & rice, prepare the Stewed Okra and Tomatoes.

STEP 3: When about 15 minutes remains on the Red Beans & Rice and the Okra & Tomatoes, make the corn muffins according to the box directions (Combine the mix with 1/3 cup of milk and one large egg. Pour into muffin molds and bake as directed).


LEFTOVERS

The only ingredients that you should have leftovers of is the celery and maybe the green onions. The celery can be cut and eaten as a snack with either peanut butter or salad dressing (ranch or blue cheese). To use more of the green onions, you can slice them and add them to the vegetable "trinity" made in the beginning of the Red Beans & Rice. Otherwise, you can slice them and add them to salads, sandwiches or omelets.

If you had to buy items in the "Pantry" list, you will probably have leftovers but those items will stay good in your pantry or refrigerator and can be used in many different recipes. They are good to have on hand.