Corn and Potato Soup

I am going to call this poor girl's healthy(ish) corn chowder. This is another one of my creations that I love. Not long ago I bought a 10lb. bag of potatoes at Costco and this recipe is helping me use those up! I used to make potato soup like my mom does, a ham bone (yum) and lots of fat. When I was volunteering in Mexico in 2012 I couldn't find chicken stock to use in my soup but they have a wonderful thing I can only really describe as corn stock. I have yet to be able to find it here in the states, I have come close with corn soups, so here is my U.S. adaptation of that potato soup.

Corn & Potato Soup

• 5-10 potatoes (Sometimes I peel them, sometimes I don't- always chop them up small)
• 1-2 containers of chicken stock
• 1-2 cans cream corn
• 1 can corn (do NOT drain)
• 1-2 Finely Chopped Carrots
• 1/2 Onion
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Butter to taste (optional)
• Sometimes I throw in some garlic
• If I have a ham bone, I usually use that too (cook the ham bone in the soup, after awhile cut off the ham and throw it in, also great to do for fresh green beans)

Stir it pretty frequently, let it simmer for an hour or so. Once the potatoes are cooked I mash them up a little but I like my soup pretty chunky. If you like a soupier soup (great word I just made up) add some water in too (I always rinse out my corn cans and throw the water in the soup for flavor). Soup it delicious and it freezes well!

Easy and Inexpensive Vegetable Soup (Meat Optional)

This soup has kind of been a trial and error dish developed over the last few months. Growing up my mom never used recipes, so every time I ask her how to make something I get the same answer "I don't know I use whatever I have," which for a long time I replied, "Mom, I keep trying but everything I make tastes like crap." Well I am starting to get the hang of it. I started out with just veggies, but decided to add some ground turkey for a heartier meal. Here's my basic vegetable soup recipe.

Vegetable Soup

• Browned Ground Turkey (Optional)
• 1 Can Corn
• 1 Can Green Beens
• 1/2 head of Cabbage Chopped up
• 1 Large Can of Tomatoes
• 1 Container Vegetable Stock
• 3-6 chopped carrots
• 1/2 onion chopped
• Oregano to Taste (I use a LOT so I can cut down on salt)
• Garlic (optional)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• I rinse out all of the above cans with a little water and throw that in too.

• Let it simmer for 45 min- 2 hours. Stir Occasionally.

This soup tastes amazing it is sweet and savory, and perfect on a warm winter night. Feel Free to experiment with other vegetables. I throw in whatever is in my fridge and needs eaten. One day I will try with all fresh vegetables, right now on a budget these are things I generally have at home. This is a very healthy and hearty soup this recipe as listed could feed a good sized family for under $10.00.

Please let me know what additions you make and how they turn out!

$10 off Coconut Oil!

I was on another blog today, How does She?, and found a $10 Coupon for Coconut Oil! I am so pumped because I spend a good deal on it!!

Read my Coconut Oil posts (and hers) it's an amazing products that will do wonders for your weight, hair, skin, and overall health!

$10 off Coupon - Coconut Oil

 

This is the brand of coconut oil I usually get, but this is about half of what I pay for it at my local natural foods store, after I use my $10 coupon, I'm going to get this deal!

Lemon Juice & Baking Soda Face Mask

Best Blackhead Face Mask

Equal parts baking soda and lemon juice. This is great for summer! If you have blackheads and giant pores (like me!) you will want to try this!

Let the baking soda and lemon juice mask sit on your face for 20 min. it will burn a little so make sure you are occupied not just sitting thinking about it, also try not to talk a lot your baking soda will flake off! Especially if you have sensitive skin only do this once or twice a week! The baking soda pulls out the dirt and gross things in your skin and the lemon juice tightens your pores, my face was almost glowing when I was done!

 

(I found this recipe from Beauty Bet's amazing Blog)

Take advantage of sales!

Freeze Sale Bananas!

 

Take advantage of sales at your grocery store! Tonight when I went to the store they had bunches of bananas that were pretty ripe on sales I bought two huge bunches of bananas, one for 57 cents and one for 87 cents! I cut up all the bananas and froze them for my smoothies! Perfect and cheap!

Frozen bananas are perfect for my yummy Peanut Butter Banana Green Monster Smoothie! 
The best part of freezing "older" sale bananas for your smoothies is they are sweeter and creamier when blended into your smoothie than newer more green bananas!

Love Rubbermaid Products!

I love my Rubbermaid containers. Rubbermaid USED TO be made in my hometown, until they got sold a few years back, long story, however, we still have a warehouse store I love getting these on their sale floor! This is an AMAZING price for a 50 pc. set though!