The Recipe (Improvised)
Olive oil or Coconut oil plus salt (coconut oil can be found in a jar at the dollar store or dollar general)
Diced onions
2-4 cans of pre-cooked white kidney beans, black eyed peas, navy beans, or chickpeas
tomato paste
chili paste
garlic powder
turmeric (optional)
2-3 cans of pre-cooked carrots (dice the carrots up as well)
cayenne pepper or black pepper
Old bay seasoning (optional)
Cumin (Optional)
Honey Habanero sausage or any type of sausage that you have on hand
If you don’t have sausage you can substitute with cooked ground beef coated generously with maple syrup and chili flakes or paprika (add this to the bean stew and mix well)
Special alternative (you can substitute the other meat options with Venison instead which adds a bit of flair to the stew)
Sides and Additions ⬇️
you can include toasted rye bread, pita bread, soft tortillas, wheat bread, bagel bread, or sourdough bread (be sure to butter it or create a garlic cheesy bread 🍞 🧈 🧀 🧄)
can add a cold drink of your choice to it (my personal favorite would be a grape soda float aka “Grape Stampede “which consists of grape soda with vanilla ice cream added in and then topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with purple Kool-Aid mix)
Dessert options: On a budget there are some ways to simulate the traditional Turkish sweets and here are a few of my favorite options (Pound cake, marble cake, sweet potato pie, & Fig Newtons cookies)
I’ve always believed in showing up with heart when the chips are down, even when the odds are stacked. Right now, I’m navigating food insecurity and housing instability while building toward a new and brighter future for myself. If my work, my words, or my story have resonated with you, I’d be deeply grateful for any support you can offer. Every donation helps me stay fed, cover transportation fees, and buy much needed resources while I finish out my Army enlistment and stay focused on the path ahead. Even $1 makes a difference.