lima bean bake with garlic rapini

This is a perennial favorite around here. We've been making it for years; not just for the family, but as potluck dishes for recitals, parties, homeschool clubs, etc. It is amazing! The buttery bean, contrasted with the bitter, garlicky rapini is a flavor explosion! I can't go on enough about it. The cooking broth is always sopped up by the children with French or Italian bread. Mmmm.

It takes just 15 minutes to make on the stove, but requires a few hours of baking in the oven. I always overindulge on this. Oh, well.

The recipe is enough to feed a family o five, but the leftovers from this are in demand, so I always double this recipe.

Cost Breakdown:

2 cans of beans: $2.50

onion, carrot, garlic : $1.50

tomato: $1

rapini: $3

bread: $3

Total to feed a family of 5:

$11.00

toasted noodles with kale and navy beans

Tonight is Italian/Pasta Night

Although tonight's meal is not Italian, but Jewish, it is a pasta dish.


The kids love this meal and requested a repeat, especially Kate who did not want me to forget about making garlic bread! Traditionally it is simply referred to as 'fideos'; the noodles are first sauteed in olive oil and then baked with just enough vegetable broth to soften them. After baking I crispen them in the oven on broil. I added kale and navy beans this time around. I know the kids will add some Better Than Sour Cream -it is just how they roll and this can be traditional as well.

Then they'll do an un-traditional thing and put it on some fresh garlic bread. Yeah, we live adventurously here.

Cost Breakdown:

brown rice pasta: $2.50

vegetable broth (homemade): $.50

tomatoes: $2

1/2 kale: $1.50

bread: $2

garlic and onions: $.50

Better Than Sour Cream: $1

beans: $2

Total to feed a family of 5:

$12.00

Toasted Noodles with Greens and Beans Recipe