I do have the best intentions

I can't believe that the Frugal Cooking Carnival was over a week and a half ago. I had every intention to participate, but if you read my post that day I had a lot of my plate. I'm not sure how I thought that I would get to it. I decided that though it's over, I still would love to share a family favorite that is very inexpensive. Along side the ingredients I will post prices for our neck of the woods, and will be using the price I get ground beef at in this example. Since it's awfully difficult to determine the price of spices in quantities so small.. I'm just going to add $0.25 and I think that should be more than sufficient to cover those.

Barleyburger Stew
1 lb ground beef, venison, or turkey $1.99
1 c chopped onion $0.25
1/2 - 1 c chopped celery $0.60
1 can (46 oz) tomato juice $1.39
1 c. water
2 tsp salt
2-3 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c. uncooked barley $0.20

In a 3-quart saucepan, cook and stir meat and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Stir in remaining ingredients; heat till boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until barley is done and is a thick stew/chili like consistency. About 45 minutes - 1 hour.

This serves 4-6. It serves our family for dinner which is comprised of 4 children, and 2 adults who like seconds. I usually double this when I make it because it freezes excellently. Men love this meal. Total cost of the above recipe : $4.68, depending on 4 - 6 people it's $1.17 - $0.78 per person.

And of course since I'm breastfeeding, I like to divide the cost by 7 since Shiloh is getting nourishment from the meal too making the bottom line $0.67 per person. Because that makes me feel really good despite how silly it may seem.