Who wants a money saving tip?

Ready for my first money saving tip? Thought so.

 Say you're a family like mine. Dinner doesn't just include the meal, but also the needed leftovers for a packed lunch the next day; for 2 people. This means I'm normally making double the amount of food. I am not a "meal planner." The idea is good, and I've tried many times over. It's just not for me. I do plan on trying again, though. Maybe one day I won't get lazy for meal planning and actually stick to it. Today, is not that day. Even if you're not a family like mine, this tip could still help you save money. So, read on.

Scenario:  Making dinner tonight, I decided to make tacos. I love tacos. When I was gathering the ingredients for the tacos, I discovered I only had 1lb. of ground beef, and since I need to make 2 taco kits, I need 2lbs.  What's a girl to do? My answer is: beans. Yep, beans. You know, beans, beans, they're good for the heart; the more you eat, the more you fart. Sorry, had to do it. Anyhoo, beans are a great substitute for meat. I always seem to have a few cans of beans laying around that I don't know what to do with. My bean of choice is the garbanzo bean, a.k.a. chick peas. I loooove them. I can eat them straight from the can. They are REALLY good for you, too. You could probably use other beans, but in my opinion, the g bean is for me. They have a great texture, so they hold up really well, and don't get mushy cooking in liquid.

So, if you find yourself short on a lb of ground beef (or turkey, which is another great substitute), simply pop open a can of beans, drain and rinse and put into a food processor* or blender and chop them up a bit. Cook your meat and drain, and then add the garbanzo beans. Add your water and seasoning and cook like the directions tell you to. Wa la. Trust me, you won't even know the difference. You can even do this in burgers. I have made many 'o beef and bean burgers. Yummy.

*If you don't own a food processor, I really suggest you get one. I love mine. Don't worry, you don't have to spend a ton of money to enjoy a food processor. I got a cheapy one at Wal Mart for like $5 and I've been using it for years. May not be as good as an expensive one, but it does the job for me. :)*