Whether or not the recession has knocked at your door, saving money is always in season. Beans aren’t just special for their musical qualities, they can also do wonders for your pocketbook. In some recipes, you can replace pricey meat with beans, or just use beans to reduce the amount of meat in the recipe. They’re hearty and provide a great amount of fiber and flavor.

Speaking of flavor, Shirley from Plum Bush Cottage uses a ham hock to liven up her Smokey White Bean & Ham Soup. Ham hocks are like soup bones, in that they add a hefty amount of flavor, without a hefty price. The small white beans she uses are mild, so they allow all the other ingredients to shine through.

And you don’t even have to worry about opening up a can of broth, because the ham hock, ham steak, and aromatics will make your mouth water all on their own. This may be a slow-cooked soup, but it definitely won’t last very long in your bowl!