Tulsa Public Schools Brown Bean Chowder/A Taste of Nostalgia

School Lunch Brown Bean ChowderPhoto byJustina Price

Tulsa Public Schools Brown Bean Chowder/A Taste of Nostalgia

Getting ready for the new school year is always a mix of the excitement of seeing old friends and the possibility of meeting new people blended with the thought of ‘I don’t want summer to end.’

I attended Jane Addams Elementary is West Tulsa, my favorite cafeteria meal was Brown Bean Chowder and Homemade Cinnamon rolls. This was such a popular meal that the local newspaper posted the recipe for TPS Brown Bean Chowder and Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.

The highlight of the school year was the fall open house. There were games, cake walks and lots of wonderful food. It was something fun that I looked forward to every year. The amazing cooks always made Brown Bean Chowder and Cinnamon Rolls to sell at the open house. We made sure to have dinner in the school cafeteria that night.

This is the Tulsa Public Schools Brown Bean Chowder recipe. It serves 12, but It can easily be increased for a crowd or cut in half.

1 lb. pinto beans

2 tbsp. chili powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 quarts of water

1 lb. coarse ground beef

1/2 medium onion (chopped)

½ tsp. garlic powder

1 2/3 cups tomato puree or diced tomatoes (I used 1 can of roasted diced tomatoes.)

1 tbsp chili powder

1tbsp salt

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

· Cook the brown bean in 3 quarts of water, you may have to add more depending on how dry the beans are. When the beans are nearly done add 2 tbsp chili powder and 1 ½ tsp salt. Let simmer on low-medium heat.

· While the beans are finishing cooking, brown the hamburger meat, onion, and ½ tsp garlic powder in a skillet.

· Add the canned tomatoes,1 tbsp chili powder and breadcrumbs to the beans and stir, next add the meat mixture, and mix well. Cook over a low heat and add water if necessary and more chili powder to taste.

Serve with crackers and shredded cheese on top. Enjoy!!

TPS Cinnamon roll article coming soon.