Make $18 an hour cooking dinner; cheaper and healthier soups

I was asked to help teach a class in budgeting about the same time I got a recipe I had requested that looked rather more expensive than my usual thing. So I did a lot of research and pricing (even found a site with how many teaspoons in an ounce of various spices so I could estimate costs using my spice shelf) then used three versions as an example of how we can adjust our spending in more ways than we might think. Each recipe includes actual prices I have gotten, either this week or things in my storage.

Here's the recipe I got with notes from the sender, (it's really tasty and very easy, a handy recipe)

Southwest Chicken Soup                       

1 Chicken (I used Costco rotisserie chicken)   $5.99

64 oz. Chicken broth (any brand will do) $4.00

1 Package Near East Brand Rice Pilaf, Spanish Rice Flavor $2.19

                (I have used other brands, but this one is the best)

1 – 12 oz. container Salsa (I prefer fresh or refrigerated, but bottled will work). I like mild. $3.45

1 – 16 oz. pkg. frozen sweet corn (white or yellow) $2.39

Debone chicken, tear into chunks. Add broth, heat. Also use the juices from the rotisserie container. Add Rice, flavoring packet, and salsa. Cook until rice is done. Add corn, heat through. This soup can get quite thick, especially if you make it the day before – you might want a little more broth.

Serve with: sour cream, cilantro, cheese, tortilla chips. Could add chopped green onions, or even avocado slices.

to make enchilada casserole-. Sometimes the broth just disappears. Then I add black beans to the mixture. Layer it with corn tortillas and cheese. Bake it at 350 for about 40 minutes. Then top it off with fresh tomato chunks, green onions and olives.

The cheapest chewy artisan bread added $2.99. This makes a total of $21.89

(Optional additions - though of course you probably wouldn't use entire containers) could add up to $8.85, making it a casserole could add $8.15

Second is a version I would more likely make at my house: (Budget) Southwest Chicken Soup 
also easy, delicious, could be just as fast if you use previously made & frozen stock

Remains of a rotisserie chicken bought on sale and used for previous dinner (figure 1/4 meat left from $4.99 chicken, $1.25) 

2 bouillon cubes ($.09)

onion, half chopped and half used in simmering broth $.37

1 jar sale salsa (got some yesterday for $1) or canned diced tomatoes with green chilis

rice (white - $.08 for amount equal to packaged, or half box of instant brown rice for healthier soup - $.80) 

can corn or Mexicorn  (got lucky, a 50 cent sale) 

can black beans, rinsed and drained ($.69, more sales)

favorite spices (approx. 3 tsp. about $.30)

Cover the chicken carcass with water (include juices from package) and simmer with boullion and half onion, some leafy celery ends if you have them on hand. After about 30-40 minutes, strain. Brown the other half onion (chopped) and add broth, meat off chicken, salsa or diced tomatoes, rice, corn, beans. I like to use Penzey's Adobo seasoning, cumin, ancho powder. Simmer til rice is cooked.

serve sprinkled with saved tortilla chip crumbs (freeze) and a little bit of grated cheese. (.30)

Sale French bread saved in freezer $1.29

Total $6.62 with white rice, $7.34 with brown. 

And if you want to really save and use food storage items and have twice as much soup and bread...............

(Economy) Southwest Black Bean Soup instructions at link

black beans bought in bulk - $.67 lb

turkey carcass free (well, you were going to toss it, weren't you?)

onion, carrot, celery leaves for broth total about $.52

chopped onion, minced garlic, $.20

spices $.30

can of chopped tomatoes with green chilis (sale) $.87

squirt of lime juice .05

carrots, sale can corn, about .50 each

three corn tortillas torn up (saved in freezer) about .20

Homemade French Bread .60 (two loaves)

total $4.18

Think of it this way, you can save about $18 cooking the cheaper way, and the total work time is only about an hour more so you earned $18 an hour and ate healthy food with plenty for another dinner.