Saturday, July 9, 2011
Homesteading in Wisconsin?
I have had this desire lately.....to become way more self-sufficient. I have been reading a lot about this topic. I wonder if anyone homesteads in Wisconsin I man serious off the grid style? There are some beautiful properties near the Mississippi in Cassville, WI that are super cheap. if I was brave? I would go for it. Alas, I think it will take a lot of pumping myself up (and the family up) and learning before I can take this on.
July 9th
Hi Ya'll! It's been a week since my last post. I have to be honest here, we did a lot of eating out last week and BLEW our budget. Grrrrrr....... So I've got DH on board no more eating out! From now on we will be making all of our snacky treats at home. OK anywhoo.......we went to the farmers market today and we got all this for 20.00or less I think!
1 bunch of carrots ( I have never head super fresh carrots I'm excited!) 1.00
2 kohlrabi 1.00
1 HUGE bunch cilantro 1.00
1 bunch basil 1.00
1 lb new red potatoes 2.00
2.5 lb broccoli 3.25
4 lemon cucumbers (!) 2.00
1 bouquet of flowers for a friend 3.00
1 package of dill Havarti ends 1.00
1 bunch HUGE white onions 1.50
So we will combine this with what is growing in our garden and what is in our pantries to make some awesome dinners! Pics and recipes to follow. Promise :)
1 bunch of carrots ( I have never head super fresh carrots I'm excited!) 1.00
2 kohlrabi 1.00
1 HUGE bunch cilantro 1.00
1 bunch basil 1.00
1 lb new red potatoes 2.00
2.5 lb broccoli 3.25
4 lemon cucumbers (!) 2.00
1 bouquet of flowers for a friend 3.00
1 package of dill Havarti ends 1.00
1 bunch HUGE white onions 1.50
So we will combine this with what is growing in our garden and what is in our pantries to make some awesome dinners! Pics and recipes to follow. Promise :)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Farmers Market Shopping week 1!!
This is our first trip to the farmers market this year. This is also the beginning of us cutting down on out food bill and eating as healthy and local as possible. There was a lot at the farmers market today unfortunately a lot of it was what we are already growing on our garden :/
However we did score these fine items:
2 kohlrabi (I have no idea what to do with them) 1.50
1 HUGE nappa cabbage 2.00
1 BIG ol bunch of green onions 1.00
6 vegan cookies (could NOT resist) 4.50
8 oz crimini mushrooms 2.50
1 pint of super yummy strawberries (which were pretty much gone by the time we left the farmers market) 3.00
10 garlic scapes (again unsure of what to do with these) 1.00
4 or 5 patty pan squash (my fav!!) 3.50
1 lb peas 4.00
1 bunch of dill 1.50
So according to my husband we only spent 24.50! That is a lot less than we had thought we would spend. :)
At our local co-op we bought:
8 oz of simple soyman tofu (locally produced!) 2.06
1 box fantastic foods taco filling 1.89
so total we spent 3.95
Seems like we are super healthy right? Well maybe not so much because we also went to pick n' save (keep in mind when I list these my husband and daughter are not completely vegan)and got:
2 bottles of root beer 1.90
1 pint ice cream 1.25
1 bag frozen french fries 3.39
2 green bell peppers .81
6 ears of sweet corn (!) 1.20
6 purple tomatoes 3.69
mixed fruit slices 2.07
chocolate covered pretzels 1.40
8 oz cheddar cheese 2.00
total of 19.65 (which leaves us with 80.35 of grocery store money for the month)
So my next posts over the week will be what we made with this stuff :)
Tonight we are having sloppy joes, corn on the cob and my husband's famous coleslaw!
However we did score these fine items:
2 kohlrabi (I have no idea what to do with them) 1.50
1 HUGE nappa cabbage 2.00
1 BIG ol bunch of green onions 1.00
6 vegan cookies (could NOT resist) 4.50
8 oz crimini mushrooms 2.50
1 pint of super yummy strawberries (which were pretty much gone by the time we left the farmers market) 3.00
10 garlic scapes (again unsure of what to do with these) 1.00
4 or 5 patty pan squash (my fav!!) 3.50
1 lb peas 4.00
1 bunch of dill 1.50
So according to my husband we only spent 24.50! That is a lot less than we had thought we would spend. :)
At our local co-op we bought:
8 oz of simple soyman tofu (locally produced!) 2.06
1 box fantastic foods taco filling 1.89
so total we spent 3.95
Seems like we are super healthy right? Well maybe not so much because we also went to pick n' save (keep in mind when I list these my husband and daughter are not completely vegan)and got:
2 bottles of root beer 1.90
1 pint ice cream 1.25
1 bag frozen french fries 3.39
2 green bell peppers .81
6 ears of sweet corn (!) 1.20
6 purple tomatoes 3.69
mixed fruit slices 2.07
chocolate covered pretzels 1.40
8 oz cheddar cheese 2.00
total of 19.65 (which leaves us with 80.35 of grocery store money for the month)
So my next posts over the week will be what we made with this stuff :)
Tonight we are having sloppy joes, corn on the cob and my husband's famous coleslaw!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wow it's been a while....
So I'm back and doing the blogging thing again. A few things have changed, I am no longer a hater of tofu (I've learned to prepare it to my liking) and seitan (I'm just starting to get along with.) I fell off the vegan wagon a couple of times (damn you cheese) and paid for it dearly.....which leads me to believe I am lactose intolerant. Also found out our daughter needs braces ($$$$).
Since we are going to have to save up a ton quickly I am trying a new experiment; 300.00 a month to feed 3 people 3 meals plus snacks. The deal my DH and I came up with is this; 50 a week (or less depending on how many paydays fall in a month) to spend at the farmers market and our local co-op and 100.00 a month to spend stocking up at the grocery store. This starts next week and I'm actually very excited about it. I just hope we can stick to it, or even trim it! (OK that's high hopes).
Since we are going to have to save up a ton quickly I am trying a new experiment; 300.00 a month to feed 3 people 3 meals plus snacks. The deal my DH and I came up with is this; 50 a week (or less depending on how many paydays fall in a month) to spend at the farmers market and our local co-op and 100.00 a month to spend stocking up at the grocery store. This starts next week and I'm actually very excited about it. I just hope we can stick to it, or even trim it! (OK that's high hopes).
Monday, March 28, 2011
Cream of Broccoli Soup
Saturday night I went to my sister-in laws 30th birthday party. Sunday I was a hung over mess. I did manage to make some soup with the help of my amazing husband.(He did all the chopping.) I thought it was pretty damn good. Don't cry, I'll share.
Hangover Cream of Broccoli Soup
1 large white onion chopped
1-2 T olive oil
1 parsnip peeled and chopped
2 big bunches of broccoli (cut the florets pretty small, peel the stocks and do a rough chop on them keep them separate)
6 or more cups of veggie broth (I make my own or use this great bouillon ,you could use store bought too)
2 t or more to taste of dried dill weed
2 t of oregano
2 cloves garlic minced
s & p to taste
a couple T of almond milk (or whatever non-dairy milk floats your boat)
2 small Yukon gold potatoes, or 1 mammoth one cut into smaller chunks
1/2 C chopped parsley
1 C dry white wine (optional , you can just add the stock instead BUT if you do that, I would suggest a squeeze of lemon juice)
Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a good sized pot. Add the onions, parsnip, dill and oregano and a dash of salt and pepper and cook until the onions and parsnips are soft.
Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. (garlic is you friend until you burn it, then garlic is your mortal enemy, so careful not to burn it)
Now for my favorite part... stand back a little and pour in the wine, and deglaze!
Let the wine cook down to about half of what you put in, then add the stock and the broccoli stems along with the parsley and the potato. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat cover and simmer for about 25-30 min until all veggies in the soup are tender.
Take the soup off the heat and allow to cool for a little bit, then working in batches puree the soup until smooth.
Add the almond milk to get to the consistency you would like your soup at. If it is fine as is, then you don't have to add any.
Put the soup back in the pan and add the broccoli florets cook over a medium low heat covered stirring frequently until the florets are cooked to you liking.
Hangover Cream of Broccoli Soup
1 large white onion chopped
1-2 T olive oil
1 parsnip peeled and chopped
2 big bunches of broccoli (cut the florets pretty small, peel the stocks and do a rough chop on them keep them separate)
6 or more cups of veggie broth (I make my own or use this great bouillon ,you could use store bought too)
2 t or more to taste of dried dill weed
2 t of oregano
2 cloves garlic minced
s & p to taste
a couple T of almond milk (or whatever non-dairy milk floats your boat)
2 small Yukon gold potatoes, or 1 mammoth one cut into smaller chunks
1/2 C chopped parsley
1 C dry white wine (optional , you can just add the stock instead BUT if you do that, I would suggest a squeeze of lemon juice)
Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a good sized pot. Add the onions, parsnip, dill and oregano and a dash of salt and pepper and cook until the onions and parsnips are soft.
Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. (garlic is you friend until you burn it, then garlic is your mortal enemy, so careful not to burn it)
Now for my favorite part... stand back a little and pour in the wine, and deglaze!
Let the wine cook down to about half of what you put in, then add the stock and the broccoli stems along with the parsley and the potato. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat cover and simmer for about 25-30 min until all veggies in the soup are tender.
Take the soup off the heat and allow to cool for a little bit, then working in batches puree the soup until smooth.
Add the almond milk to get to the consistency you would like your soup at. If it is fine as is, then you don't have to add any.
Put the soup back in the pan and add the broccoli florets cook over a medium low heat covered stirring frequently until the florets are cooked to you liking.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I'm a Vegan and I don't like tofu!
As I post more recipes in here you will find there are not very many with tofu, or seitan or tempeh in them. So now you know why, I simply don't like them. I do cook them from time to time mostly for the husband and kiddo so I'm sure they will pop up.
Maybe it's me, maybe I'm not wired correctly. I have heard so many people sing the praises of these bean and wheat meats that I figured I would like them. I guess in closing; I gave up meat and I'm not looking to replace it.
Get out and garden!!
If you are reading this blog, chances are you are vegan. Since I am taking that leap o' faith I would say you like vegetables. Then I would assume you like fresh vegetables. So if you haven't already done so, start an awesome garden! It's easy and much cheaper (not to mention way more punk rock) than going to the grocery store for all your produce. If you are unsure how or where to start... never fear! There are some amazing gardening books on sale at pure citizen right now. Perfect timing!!
When I started gardening it gave me a whole new appreciation for veggies I didn't even like before. There is nothing like watching your hard work turn into some tasty freakin' veggies and herbs! Believe me you have never tasted a better tomato then the one you grow and pick right before you put it into dinner.
I happened to have the help of being married to a former organic farmer. Without him, I would've been lost. So since everyone can't go out and marry an organic farmer (though i highly recommend it!) pick up a book, if you are not buying one check one out at the library, it will save you from some serious frustration. I will link a couple other books I think are pretty great for starting up.
Happy digging in the dirt day! (It's not a "REAL HOLIDAY", it could be if you wanted it to be though)
When I started gardening it gave me a whole new appreciation for veggies I didn't even like before. There is nothing like watching your hard work turn into some tasty freakin' veggies and herbs! Believe me you have never tasted a better tomato then the one you grow and pick right before you put it into dinner.
I happened to have the help of being married to a former organic farmer. Without him, I would've been lost. So since everyone can't go out and marry an organic farmer (though i highly recommend it!) pick up a book, if you are not buying one check one out at the library, it will save you from some serious frustration. I will link a couple other books I think are pretty great for starting up.
Happy digging in the dirt day! (It's not a "REAL HOLIDAY", it could be if you wanted it to be though)
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