Cheap and Filling Recipe!

Here's a great recipe packed with protein and very tasty! Not to mention very cheap to make, all the ingredients are things you probably have on hand already, and save for onion and garlic (and optional celery), are all non-perishable. It's also vegetarian and vegan friendly!

Delicious Lentil Chili

• 1 lb dry lentils
• 1 tsp salt
• 5 cups water
• 1 (16 oz) can of tomatoes
• 1.5 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped (can be left out, but a good way to sneak veggies in)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup cold water

Boil water. Add salt and lentils. Cover and cook on low heat 30 minutes. Do not drain. Add tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion, celery, garlic and cold water. Cover and continue to cook over low heat for an additional 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Turn off heat, taste for seasoning. Can be topped with shredded cheese, chopped onion, a dollop of sour cream, or nothing at all!

I usually serve this with a loaf of homemade (from the breadmaker) bread.

I also double this versatile recipe to have leftovers (which isn't hard, it's very filling), and store the extra in the fridge in an old ice cream container. To change it up, there's a ton of ways to use leftover chili with minimal extra ingredients -

- as taco filling. All you need is taco shells, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped lettuce, and either salsa or sour cream for vegetarian-friendly Tacos!

- as a topper for Chili & Cheese Baked Potatoes. All you need is shredded cheddar cheese and potatoes. Add a side-dish like spicy rice and you've got a meal!

- as lasagna filling. All you need are some cooked lasagna noodles, shredded mozzarella cheese, some tomato sauce, and (optional) ricotta cheese. Layer it all in a baking pan and heat it up in the oven until it's warm all the way through and the cheese is melted (maybe 10 minutes or so) for some vegetarian Lasagna!

Cook once, and get four dinners out of it! Very economical, and time-saving, plus lentils are one of the cheapest sources of protein there is. Now that's cooking like a Recessionista!