I tried off and on for years to make something we considered edible in the beans and rice category, and failed miserably every time. But when our family lived in Florida, a friend from the Dominican Republic came over and taught me to make her black beans and rice, along with a delicious chicken. Slowly, her recipe morphed into one that is totally shelf stable and our family loves it! –Mellyn
Continue reading
Category Archives: Oregano
Chicken-Lentil Soup
We love soups for lunch and on chilly fall evenings. They’re easy to make out of just a few ingredients and are tasty next to a sandwich. I’ve also noticed that with soup on the side, we tend to eat fewer chips and crackers, as well. Although this soup has a dark color (from the lentils), its flavor is more like chicken noodle. If you’d like the color to match the flavor, just cook your lentils separately, and add them to your soup after draining off the cooking liquid. –Mellyn 
Continue reading
Continue reading Vegetable “Stone” Soup
From Teresa J.
My friend, Teresa, first introduced me to this version of stone soup. She hosted a kids’ activity at her home where we read the book Stone Soup and then made our own soup using a combination of fresh and canned veggies the kids brought to share. Since then, my kids have enjoyed making stone soup on a regular basis. We simply chop up whatever veggies we have in the fridge and supplement with tomatoes and whatever else looks good from the pantry. I’ve adapted it below specifically for shelf-stable food storage, but it’s much tastier with fresh, in my opinion. –Mellyn
Twirly Italian Chicken Soup
The flour in this soup gives it a creamy texture without the additional calories of cream, and the oregano and basil give it an Italian flavor that my family finds irresistible! The Hobbit (our curly-haired youngest with the appetite of a hobbit!) eats 2 or 3 bowls of this every time I serve it! –Mellyn
Continue reading
Zucchini Tortilla Casserole
–From Andrea M.
Andrea shared this recipe with us last year when we were literally drowning in zucchini! It quickly became a family favorite. By changing the kind of beans and veggies you use, this can always look like a new dish. –Mellyn
Continue reading
Continue reading Stove Top Lasagna
Another classic from Karen! This quick meal is easy to satisfy my picky eaters.
Continue reading
Italian Spaghetti Sauce
This sauce is jam packed with protein and flavor. The ingredients are so basic that it is easy to always have the things I need on hand to make a quick and delicious meal.
Continue reading
Vegetable Quesadillas
This recipe could be made out of fresh veggies right out of your garden, but they taste just as good from veggies right out of a can. I have made them both ways and they look and taste so close I never hesitate to make the canned version.
Continue reading
Kara’s Bruschetta
– From Kara K.
Kara whipped up this yummy bruschetta for lunch one day out of ingredients we had on hand. It was so tasty, we had to make a second batch! I don’t store this recipe as a meal in my 19×19, but I use it to help rotate my storage. If I find myself with a lot of tomatoes that are approaching expiration (okay — and a lot of times just because I like it), we treat ourselves to Bruschetta for lunch.
I also love to keep the tomato mixture made up in the fridge…it’s good in omelets, along with some cheese and fresh spinach, and delicious as a sandwich filling –just spoon it over your turkey and avocado. Mmmm! –Mellyn
Pumpkin Chili
This chili is so super easy with the convenience of dehydrated veggies and beans. Add the pumpkin, and you have one nutrient-packed bowl!
Continue reading