Red beans and rice -- celery, onions, green pepper, (one cup or so each) garlic (a few cloves); chopped and fried in a little oil. Red beans, soaked overnight and drained; ham hock; whatever combination of red, white, and black pepper suits you. Simmer for 2-3 hours, with a ham hock, ham shank, or browned sausage, as suits your budget and fancy. Serve over rice.

Kelly's Asian Chicken is a little more high end, but not much. (You can google for the recipe; it's won awards.)

Chicken soup made from a stewing hen -- when you can find them, they're inexpensive.