Soup for a Troop! How to Make Budget-Friendly Soup with 12 Simple Ingredients
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Some of you may relate to being the only female in the family. I am the only one in mine. The others here are big guys, each well over six feet. By dinnertime they are pretty hungry. Not that can girls can’t eat—there have been a few times when I’ve outeaten my husband. (Don’t tell anybody.) Sometimes you need a budget-friendly meal option!
Just imagine preparing a full meal during World War 2. Imagine a bunch of hungry men or women home from hours of farm or factory work. Then, imagine feeding them on rationed goods and limited meat. Yikes!
Ground Beef to the Rescue
This is a situation where ground beef could have come to the rescue. During the War it was available, cheaper and required fewer ration points than the same amount of cut beef. It was budget-friendly and extremely versatile.
Ground beef would have been a wonderful way to stretch the ration. It could be combined with other ingredients in countless ways. It would work with summer or winter vegetables from the victory garden. Rice or pasta could be added, or croutons made from the ever-popular (not!) National Loaf. That was some serious whole wheat bread!
It's a Homemaker’s Hero
In short, ground beef is a homemaker’s hero. It lends itself to many quick and easy recipes. One of my family’s favorites is Hearty Hamburger Soup. Even the one who isn’t a fan of soup likes it. The amazing thing is that we all eat as much as we can hold and still have soup left over! The ingredients are simple but they add up to a rich, filling hot meal.
It’s especially great because you can change it up depending on whatever you have on hand. The basic ingredients make a mouthwatering base for lots of options. It’s a budget-friendly homemaking star.
If they didn’t make a soup like this during the War, they should have!
Check out below to try out the recipe for Hearty Hamburger Soup and see how far a pound of ground beef can stretch in your family. Chances are, you already have the ingredients in the kitchen.
Hearty Hamburger Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
- Brown beef in a large stock pot. Drain fat. Return meat to stock pot along with all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; then, reduce heat and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.
- If adding rice or elbow macaroni, add during the last 20 minutes of cooking.
- To make the soup even more filling, garnish with cheese or croutons.
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 9:9