Lentil Rice Casserole

I really like lentils. They're probably my favorite legume. They are versatile, quick cooking, and like most beans, they're inexpensive. One of my favorite lentil recipes is one I got from a dinner group member while I was at BYU. So thanks LaRisa, wherever you are now.

Here is the original recipe:

Lentil Rice Casserole

3 c water
3/4 c lentils
1/2 c brown rice
3/4 c chopped onion
1/2 t basil
1/4 t oregano
1/4 t thyme
1/4 t garlic powder
1 T chicken stock
Shredded cheese for garnish

Mix together and bake for 2 hours or cook in slow cooker for a few hours. Top with cheese.

That recipe is good, but I use the lentil/rice mix as a meat substitute for tacos, so here is my variation:

3 c water
3/4 c lentils
1/2 c brown rice
1/4 c chopped onion or 1/4 t onion powder
1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
1/2 t paprika
1/4 t oregano
1/4 t garlic
1 t salt
1 t pepper
optional: 1 can regular diced tomatoes or Rotel

Mix everything but salt and tomatoes in slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours. Add salt and tomatoes and cook on low until ready to serve. Depending on your slow cooker, you may need to add water to keep it from burning.

I serve this in tortillas with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Best Budget Meals: Classic Black Beans & Rice

Now that my husband has graduated and has a "real" job, we are poorer than ever. True story.  So I am planning very economical meals and thought I would do a collection here. I'm always mystified when people talk about $10 dinners as if that is cheap. A $10 dinner every night is $300 for a month - that's more than our entire monthly food budget - and what about breakfast and lunch?  These meals are much less than $10 and they are some of our favorites.

We have this meal almost weekly and it never fails to satisfy. I don't even look at the recipe anymore - I just eyeball everything and it always turns out delicious. I haven't added up the cost, but I'm guessing it is about a $2 dinner.


Classic Black Beans and Rice

2 T olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 can of black beans (undrained, although I sometimes do drain and rinse them)
3/4 cup water
1 t oregano
1/4 t sugar
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/4 t ground cumin
several shakes of garlic salt
1 T apple cider vinegar


Heat oil in a medium saucepan and saute onion, green pepper and garlic until tender, 8-10 minutes. Add in remaining ingredients and stir until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced, about 20 minutes. You can mash some of the beans with the back of a spoon to flavor the sauce. Serve over white rice (I typically use brown rice, but this is one meal where I always use white rice). I like to serve this with thick slices of tomato on the side and probably another green or orange vegetable.


 I have also gone through some previous recipes and added a "budget" tag, so you can click on the tag at the bottom of this post to see more examples of inexpensive and easy dinners.