This is one of the easiest soups to make on a blustery day. Makes a great meal or first course. Freezes well.

Split Pea Soup
prep time 15 min
cooking time 120 minutes

Ingredients
1 ham bone (we used a left over ham with a bone)
1  16 oz. pkg split peas
1 onion diced
3 stalks celery diced
2 carrots diced
salt/ pepper to taste

Put ham bone in a soup pot and cover with water. Add onions, celery, carrots and dried split peas. (I did not add seasoning because the ham has lots of seasoning in it. I seasoned to taste at the end). Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 90 minuets to 2 hours. Remove ham bone and cool to remove meat from the bone. You can serve the soup as it is or blend for a smoother soup. Stir in meat and serve.

This week we are making a pastry dough to practice for our pies for Thanksgiving.  So we made a quiche for Sunday brunch. See our special posting for Thanksgiving Dinner for 10 for under $25. The sweet potato soup is very good and is easy to make. It can also be served as a first course for Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you for your interest on this blog and we love to get your comments!

SUNDAY
Brunch Bacon Quiche, toast w/ jam, orange juice
Dinner Roast Chicken with lemon, frozen vegetable, mashed potatoes/gravy, fresh or canned fruit

MONDAY
Breakfast Cereal hot or cold, orange juice
Lunch chicken sandwich, carrot sticks
Dinner  Sweet potato soup, fresh  or canned fruit

TUESDAY
Breakfast Cereal hot or cold, orange juice
Lunch bacon quiche, fresh or canned fruit
Dinner Mexican lasagna, salad greens

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast cereal hot or cold, orange juice
Lunch Sweet potato soup, fruit
Dinner chicken and pasta, salad greens, fresh or canned fruit

THURSDAY
Breakfast Breakfast sandwich, orange juice
Lunch  chicken sandwich, carrots
Dinner   BLT Salad, fresh or canned fruit

FRIDAY
Breakfast cereal hot or cold, orange juice
Lunch mexican lasagna, fresh or canned fruit
Dinner chicken wraps  (make a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie)

SATURDAY
Brunch Breakfast hash, orange juice
Dinner tacos , fresh or canned fruit

SHOPPING LIST

whole chicken, hamburger or ground turkey, can of diced tomatoes w/chilies, corn tortilla, shredded mexican cheese, can of refried beans, carrot sticks, bacon, eggs, cereal (hot or cold), frozen vegetable, head of lettuce, tomatoes, pasta, bread, orange juice, milk, fresh fruit

This year the American Farm Bureau Federation reported that the average meal with turkey and all the trimmings for 10 will cost $49.20 on average. We at twentyfivebucksaweek.com took that as a challenge to see if we can feed that same group of 10 for $25. We think we succeeded.  We know that the biggest cost is the turkey itself. The turkey in many grocery chains is a lost leader to get you in the door. Many times you can find a great deal on a turkey for less than a dollar a pound. Our shopping at a number of chains and national chains found many good deals to produce the following meal for $25.

Turkey 12 lb found them from 48 cents to 99 cents a pound
stuffing (dressing) made from day old bread 89 cents
sweet potatoes 99 cents
green bean casserole beans and soup at 59 cents french onions 99 cents
cranberry sauce whole cranberry sauce 99 cents
mashed potatoes/gravy 10 lbs at $1.69
dinner rolls 12 made from frozen dough baked at home 99 cents
pumpkin pie home made $2.00 each

We already have the roast turkey recipe posted on this site. We will this week make all of the recipes for you and share some shopping secrets for the rest of the meal. Have a happy thanksgiving!

This week I found a great buy on a sirloin pork roast that I was able to cut in half. Freeze one half, stuffing and roast the other half. By doing this you can lower your weekly food costs. The frozen tilapia was on special as a single serving portion. The vegetable soup is made with a can of whole tomatoes, a head of cabbage, onions and potatoes that you should have in the pantry. Add any frozen vegetables that you have on hand to enhance the flavor. If you find a good buy on a beef bone add that in as well. This menu is a guide on how to maintain a slim budget and look for specials as you are shopping. It might not be tilapia on special but you will find some nice piece of fish on sale.

SUNDAY
Brunch Breakfast hash, toast w/ jam, orange juice
Dinner Stuffed Pork Sirloin Roast, frozen vegetable, salad, fresh fruit

MONDAY
Breakfast Cereal, orange juice
Lunch ham sandwich, carrot sticks
Dinner  Vegetable soup, fresh fruit

TUESDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch pork sandwich, fresh fruit
Dinner Roast Chicken and garlic, mashed potatoes, salad greens

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch vegetable soup, carrots
Dinner Hot Pork Sandwich, salad greens, fresh fruit

THURSDAY
Breakfast Breakfast sandwich, orange juice
Lunch  chicken sandwich, carrots
Dinner   hamburger, carrot sticks, chips, fresh fruit

FRIDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch vegetable soup, fresh fruit
Dinner chicken and broccoli stir fry w/ rice  (make a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie)

SATURDAY
Brunch Breakfast sandwich, orange juice
Dinner  Broiled Tilapia, frozen vegetable, salad, fresh fruit

SHOPPING LIST

sirloin pork roast, hamburger, whole chicken, can of whole tomatoes, small head of cabbage, carrot sticks, rice, eggs, cereal, frozen vegetable, head of lettuce, bread, orange juice, fresh fruit

This soup is easy to make and has a refined elegance to it. Great as a first course at a dinner party or serve with a crusty bread and salad for a complete meal. Freezes well. Thank you Bonnie for another delicious recipe.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup
prep time 15 min
cooking time 90 minutes

Ingredients
1 Head of cauliflower in small florets 
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
2  cups diced potatoes
2 quarts vegetable broth or water
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 8 oz tub cream cheese with chive and onion

Toss cauliflower florets in olive oil and roast in shallow pan in oven at 445 degrees for 45 minutes. In large saucepan saute onion in two tablespoons butter then add diced potatoes. Add roasted florets and stir in vegetable stock or water . Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese. When cheese melts  put in blender until smooth. Serve with croutons.